STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Florida Gators picked up their third SEC win in the last four games, Thursday, as they bested Mississippi State 71-56. Liv McGill scored a game-high 30 points on 12 of 22 shooting, and added five rebounds and seven assists. The victory improved Florida’s record on the year to 16-12 overall and 4-9 in conference, and was the team’s first road win in SEC play.

KEY RUNS

1st Quarter (Gators 24, Bulldogs 14)

• Mississippi State led 12-10 with 4:48 on the clock, but Florida rattled off 12 straight to go up by double figures for the first time. The Bulldogs made just four of 13 shots from the floor while the Gators connected on nine of 16. Liv McGill led all scorers with eight points, all of which came off of driving layups. Florida also forced seven Mississippi State miscues in the period.

2nd Quarter (Gators 43, Bulldogs 30)

• Florida’s lead vacillated between nine and 15 points throughout the second quarter. The Gators continued to connect at a high rate from the field making seven of 14 shots, while the Bulldogs improved slightly to six of 14. McGill again paced all scorers netting nine in the period.

3rd Quarter (Gators 54, Bulldogs 43)

• It was another even, albeit low-scoring, quarter as the Gators’ lead bounced between 10 and 15 points. Neither team shot particularly well as Florida went three for 12 from the floor, and the Bulldogs made five of 13. Mississippi State’s Madison Francis scored six points and grabbed eight rebounds in the period, while McGill and Laila Reynolds each scored five to lead the Gators.

4th Quarter (Gators 71, Bulldogs 56)

• Mississippi State sliced the Gators’ advantage to 12 on four occasions in the final stanza, but could never get any closer. McGill’s eight points led all scorers and gave her 30 on the night.

KEY STATS

• The Gators made 46.4 % of their field goal attempts (26 of 56), while the Bulldogs made 37.5% of theirs (21 of 56).
• Florida went 15 for 19 from the free throw line while the Bulldogs made 13 of 21.
• The Gators made four of 18 shots from beyond the arc, while Mississippi State went one for 12.
• Florida outscored Mississippi State 16-10 in fast break points, and 44-34 in the paint.
• The Bulldogs outscored the Gators 9-0 in second chance points.

GATOR BITES

• The Gators are now 29-28 all-time against Mississippi State, and have won three straight games against the Bulldogs.
• Florida’s last road win in conference play prior to tonight was on Feb. 20, 2025 at Texas A&M.
• That marks’ the 18th time this season that Florida has held an opponent below 70 points, and the ninth time they have kept a team below 60 points.
• Liv McGill scored in double figures for the 28th straight game (30 points), 20 or more points for the 16th time this season, and 30 or more for the fifth time
• Liv McGill’s 30 points in the game give her (1,203) for her career, moving her closer to Haley Lorenzen ’18 on the Gators’ career scoring chart with 1,214 points.
• Liv McGill’s 30 points give her 592 on the season, which is 39 behind Tonya Washington’s single-season program record of 631 set in the 1999-2000 campaign.
• Me’Arah O’Neal scored in double figures for the 21st time this season (10 points).
• Laila Reynolds scored in double figures for the 19th time this season (19 points).

NEXT OPPONENT
           The Gators return to Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Sunday for a 12 p.m. tip against Alabama. The game is being broadcast on SECN.

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