Gator Country

Florida junior center Azania Stewart shoots a layup during the first half of the Gators' 70-64 win against Alabama on Thursday at the O'Connell Center. / Gator Country photo by Tim Casey

Florida’s Jaterra Bonds and Jennifer George each scored a team-high 12 points and the Gators returned to their winning ways Thursday by holding off Alabama, 70-64, in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.

The Gators (13-9, 3-5 Southeastern Conference) used a balanced offensive output that featured seven players who scored seven or more points apiece in the game. The Gators shot 39.7 percent (25-of-63) from the floor in the game, including an impressive 50 percent (13-of-26) shooting performance from the field in the final period. Alabama shot 33.3 percent (24-of-72), but was limited to just 28.6 percent (10-of-35) from the floor in the second half.

Florida, which trailed by two points at halftime and was down by as many as six points in the game, rallied for its third win this season when trailing at intermission. Thursday’s game marked the 13th time in 22 games this season that the Gators had a game decided by 10 or fewer points.

Florida freshman guard Jaterra Bonds scored 12 points and brought down a team-high eight rebounds, which tied her career high on the boards. UF sophomore forward Jennifer George added 12 points and brought down five rebounds in the winning effort. 

The Gators held the rebounding advantage 52-41, improving to 12-4 this season when winning the battle of the boards. Florida was relentless on the offensive glass, outscoring the Crimson Tide 22-9 in second-chance points.

Junior forward Ndidi Madu tallied nine points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes of action, while junior guard Lanita Bartley scored nine points and dished out a game-high five assists. Junior guard Deana Allen also added nine points to go along with seven boards in 20 minutes of play.

Photo Gallery: UF Women’s Basketball vs. Alabama, 1/27/11 (click here to view gallery)

DIRECTORY OF GATOR COUNTRY PHOTO GALLERIES

About the author

TimCasey67

Tim Casey covered the 2007 BCS Championship Game, 2007 Final Four, 2005 College World Series and 2008 Women's College World Series. He’s had photos published in Sporting News magazine, GQ magazine, SI.com, ESPN.com and nearly every newspaper in the state of Florida. Now he's home as Gator Country's Photography Editor.

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