GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators scored the first 13 points of the game Sunday afternoon, and 22 of the first 24 as they led wire to wire in their 89-71 victory over visiting Missouri (13-8, 1-5). Florida’s (13-8, 1-5) big three of Liv McGill (28 points), Me’Arah O’Neal (17) and Laila Reynolds (14) were joined by Alexia Dizeko (16) in double figures, as the Gators’ quartet combined to outscore the Tigers by themselves in the win.

KEY RUNS

1st Quarter (Gators 26, Tigers 8)


Florida scored the first 13 points of the game, and 22 of the first 24. The Tigers scored their first points with 5:34 remaining in the period. Liv McGill scored 13 in the quarter on five of six shooting as the Gators made 10 of 16 shots as a team. Missouri connected on just two of 12 shots from the floor, and missed all four of their attempts from three-point range. It is the 12th time this season that Florida has held an opponent below 10 points in a quarter.

2nd Quarter (Gators 47, Tigers 29)


Missouri sliced the Florida advantage to 12 on two occasions in the second, but a 7-0 Gators’ run in the back half of the period pushed the lead out to 19. Grace Slaughter single-handedly kept the Tigers in the game scoring 12 points in the quarter on five of six shooting.

3rd Quarter (Gators 66, Tigers 48)


The Gators’ lead vacillated between 13 and 21 points in the third, as Slaughter led all scorers with nine including a pair of triples.

4th Quarter (Gators 89, Tigers 71)


Florida’s lead never dipped below 17 in the final period. Shannon Dowell scored 12 points in the fourth thanks to a seven-for-eight performance from the charity stripe. Alexia Dizeko and Liv McGill each scored eight for the Gators.

KEY STATS


The Gators made 53.1% of their field goal attempts (34-64), while the Tigers made 40.0% of theirs (22-55).
Florida made 10 of 25 (.400) from three-point range, while the Tigers went 8 for 25 (.320). Missouri came into the game making 38.3 percent of their three-pointers (sixth best in the nation).
Florida’s bench outscored Missouri’s 28-6.
The Gators outscored the Tigers 38-22 in the paint.
Missouri went 19 for 26 from the free throw line while Florida made 11 of 15.
Florida outrebounded Missouri 39-27, including 11-7 on the offensive glass, leading to an 18-13 edge in second chance points.
For Missouri, Grace Slaughter and Shannon Dowell combined to make 16 of 31 shots for 52 points. The rest of the team went 8 for 24 for 19 points.

FROM THE GATORS’ MOUTHS


Coach Finley opening statement…

“I think today you guys were able to see us play Gator basketball and what we’ve been working towards for a long time. Felt good to play in a game the way we know we are capable of playing, and we’re just getting better and better and we’re getting better and better together.”


Coach Finley on what aspects of the game they saw working for them and can continue to take moving forward…

“Missouri did a good job of taking away their weak side wing and taking away the roll. I thought Liv did a great job of staying disciplined in her reads when they did that, and I thought Me’Arah did an excellent job of just playing through it to what’s next, not fixating on why not. Me’Arah can take two players, which opens up Alexia, and Liv was able to find her on that weak side. Seven assists tonight for Liv, I think that’s excellent. These two have been working tirelessly on their two-man game, and I’ll just go ahead and say it, they are the best sophomore duo in the country and they’re best basketball is still ahead of them.”


Me’Arah O’Neal on being able to use all facets of the game and have the freedom to take some offensive shots…

“It’s fun, I’m blessed to have the ability to do that, but the only thing that really matters to me is executing for my team and getting the win.”


Liv McGill on what was working on the perimeter defensively to hold Missouri from their usual three-point shooting…

“I would just say we were focused on the game plan. We’re always focused on the game plan but today there was a different focus and that started in warm-ups, that started in shoot around and it felt good. Everybody was focused and everybody was on one accord. They hit some tough shots at the end, but I think we played pretty good defense.”


Liv McGill on how she feels about Alexia Dizeko hitting a career high in points…

“I feel good, I feel happy for her. Again, my teammates make me look good. I just try to put them in the right position, and she was in the right spot. She’s been working on her shot, and she’s confident. Repetition each and every day at practice, and today I don’t know why they kept leaving her open. I’m happy for her and I’m happy to see her succeed, all of her hard work is paying off.”

Post Game Press Conference: Head Coach Kelly Rae Finley, Me’Arah O’Neal and Liv McGill

GATOR BITES


The Gators are now 7-11 all-time against Missouri.
Florida’s 10 made three-pointers are the most they have made in a game this season.
Liv McGill scored in double figures for the 22nd straight game (28 points), and 20 or more points for the 12th time this season. She missed out on a triple double by one rebound (9) and three assists (7).
Liv McGill’s 28 points in the game give her 1,056 for her career, moving her past Talatha Bingham ’99 (1,039 points), Nina Rickards ’23 (1,041) and Kayla Lewis  ’15 (1,053) into 25th place on the Gators’ career scoring charts. Next up on the list is Jana Bragg ’88 with 1,098 points.
Me’Arah O’Neal scored in double figures for the 15th time this season, and for the fourth game in a row (17 points).
Laila Reynolds scored in double figures for the 15th time this season (14).
Alexia Dizeko scored a career-high 16 points, which is her third game this season scoring in double figures.
This marks the second straight game that the Gators have made more then 50 percent of their field goal attempts.

 
NEXT OPPONENT
           The Gators are off the remainder of the week before traveling No. 6 LSU on Monday, January 26 at 8 p.m. EST. The game is being broadcast on SECN.

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