NORMAN, Okla. — The Florida Women’s Basketball Team (15-12, 3-9) led the No. 10 in the nation through three quarters of play Thursday evening, but they couldn’t quite pull off the upset as Oklahoma (18-6, 6-5) eked out the 81-74 victory. Liv McGill led all scorers with 29 points, adding seven rebounds and seven assists.

KEY RUNS

1st Quarter (Gators 19, Sooners 15)

• Oklahoma scored the first six points of the game as the Gators turned the ball over on each of their first two possessions, but with 8:22 remaining in the period, Florida scored 12 of the next 14 points to go up four, 14-10. The Gators extended their lead to as many as six in the first. The Sooners took 10 more shots than Florida in the quarter, but only made seven as the Gators connected on eight of 13. Oklahoma forced Florida into nine miscues which they flipped into 11 points. Although the Sooners enjoyed a 7-1 advantage in offensive rebounds, they only outscored the Gators 5-3 in second chance points. Liv McGill went five for seven from the floor and scored 11 points in the stanza.

2nd Quarter (Gators 37, Sooners 26)

• Oklahoma scored the first four points of the second quarter to tie the score, but the Gators countered with a 13-0 run over a span of 2:42 to put Florida up a baker’s dozen, 32-19. Me’Arah O’Neal hit a bucket at the buzzer to keep the Gators up by double digits. Florida went seven for 14 from the floor, but committed eight turnovers in the second. Meanwhile they held the Sooners to three of 13 shooting while forcing seven Oklahoma miscues. The Gators held the Sooners’ leading scorer to just two points in the first 20 minutes of play.

3rd Quarter (Gators 57, Sooners 54)

• The Gators led by 13, 48-35, with 5:35 to go when the Sooners went on a 10-0 run to slice Florida’s advantage to three. It remained a two-possession game for the remainder of the period. Oklahoma made 12 of 15 shots in the third, while Florida went seven for 16. 

4th Quarter (Sooners 81, Gators 74)

• The Sooners tied the score at 64 on an old-fashioned three-point play with under six minutes to go, and a fast break layup on their next possession put them up two. Liv McGill’s put-back tied the score the next time Florida brought the ball up the court, but Oklahoma scored the next seven straight, and never trailed again.

KEY STATS

• Florida forced Oklahoma into committing 17 turnovers which they flipped into 17 points, while the Sooners forced 23 Gators’ miscues, and turned them into 28 points.
• The Gators made 49.2 % of their field goal attempts (29 of 59), while the Sooners made 46.0 % of theirs (29 of 63).
• Florida went nine for 16 from the free throw line while the Sooners made 17 of 24.
• Oklahoma outscored the Gators 16-2 in fast break points.

GATOR BITES

• The Gators are now 1-3 all-time against Oklahoma.
• Liv McGill scored in double figures for the 27th straight game (29 points), and 20 or more points for the 15th time.
• Liv McGill’s 29 points in the game give her (1,173) for her career, moving her closer to Haley Lorenzen ’18 on the Gators’ career scoring chart with 1,214 points.
• Me’Arah O’Neal scored in double figures for the 20th time this season (14 points).

NEXT OPPONENT
           The Gators are off until Thursday, Feb. 19 when they travel to Mississippi State. Tip in Starkville is slated for 7:30 p.m. EST, and the game is being broadcast on SECN+.

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