Gator Country

Jennifer Mossor scored a team-high 19 points in Florida's 74-56 victory at Ohio./Gator County photo by Tim Casey

ATHENS, Ohio – Juniors Jennifer Mossor and Steffi Sorensen led four Gators in double figures as the No. 18 Florida women’s basketball team scored a 74-56 victory over Ohio University Saturday evening.

The win, which was Florida’s 14th consecutive, improved the Gators’ overall record to 14-1 this season, the program’s best start in its 35-year history.

“I am pleased that the win streak is continuing,” coach Amanda Butler said. “This certainly wasn’t our best effort, but as well as Ohio played, and I give them a lot of credit, to still be able to hold them under their average of 60 points, is a good win. It’s a win on the road and I guess you can’t get too picky with that.”

Mossor scored a team-high 19 points, hitting 8-of-16 from the floor, including a 3-of-4 effort from behind the 3-point line, while Sorensen added 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting, with 4-of-7 coming from long range, where the Gators were 10 of 22. It was the third time this season UF had converted 10 3-pointers, one shy of the school record.

“Jenn and Steffi were our most consistent players tonight,” Butler said. “They were the ones who continued to hit shots, get that tipped ball or rebound. Jenn was very composed tonight, took good shots and it seemed like every time we started a run, she was the one heading it up for us.”

Sha Brooks added 13 points along with seven assists and zero turnovers, while Sharielle Smith had her second double-double of the season and third of her career with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Senior Marshae Dotson, who grew up in Columbus, Ohio, had 10 rebounds, nine points and three blocked shots, a career high.

Ohio, which lost its third straight game, battled throughout and cut Florida’s 10-point lead to four points, 53-49, with 11:15 remaining. That’s when the Gators mounted a game-changing 18-5 run over the next 6½ minutes to assume a 71-54 lead and the Bobcats never recovered.

The Gators shot just under 43 percent from the floor and held a 48-44 rebounding edge, while forcing 16 Bobcat turnovers. The Gators open their SEC schedule Thursday by playing host to Mississippi State at the O’Connell Center. Tipoff is at 5 p.m. and fans can stick around to watch the BCS National Championship Game between Florida and Oklahoma on four video screens.

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