GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida women’s basketball was able to hold-on for a thrilling 66-63 victory over Southern Conference regular season champion, Wofford, in the opening round of the Women’s NIT on Thursday evening.
The Gators (17-14) were led by a season-high effort of 24 points from Leilani Correa, in addition to three steals. Nina Rickards, who score her 1,000th-point against the Terriers (22-10), ended her evening with 18 points, three rebounds and three steals, while KK Deans tallied 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Florida shot 25-of-53 (47.2%) from the field and 5-of-23 (21.7%) from deep while limiting Wofford to 24-of-67 (35.8%) from the floor and 9-of-29 (31%) from long range. The Terriers, who came into Thursday’s contest averaging just 10 turnovers a game, were bothered by Florida’s length, turning the ball over 19 times with four Gators recording three steals, resulting in a 20-9 points-off-turnovers advantage for the Orange & Blue.
Utilizing the size advantage, the Gators swatted six shots, with Correa and Jeriah Warren each securing two. The Terriers controlled the boards, however, with a 45-28 advantage, including 20 offensive rebounds while limiting UF to just four.
Wofford was led by Rachael Rose with 19 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.
The Terriers started hot from the field, knocking down two of their first three attempts from deep to take a 6-0 advantage. Wofford continued to hold the lead at the 6:13 mark, 10-5, before back-to-back scoop-and-scores from Rickards and Deans…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Florida Gators…