Gator Country

Florida sophomore center Azania Stewart goes up for a shot during the Gators' 78-49 win against Ohio University on Monday in the O'Connell Center. / Gator Country photo by Casey Brooke Lawson

Florida sophomore Azania Stewart tied a career high with 18 points and the Gators scored 42 points off of 39 Ohio turnovers in a 78-49 win against the Bobcats in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center on Monday.

The Gators (6-6) used a balanced effort that saw playing time for each of its 13 players who dressed for the contest, with none seeing more than 21 minutes of action. Florida took advantage of its post presence to out-score Ohio 40-24 in points in the paint and employed a stifling man-to-man defense, led by senior guard Lonnika Thompson’s career-high seven steals.

The 39 turnovers forced by the Gators were the most by a UF opponent since forcing 41 against Southwest Texas on Dec. 5, 1998.

Stewart’s 18 points came on 6-of-7 shooting from the floor to complement 6-of-7 from the free-throw line. She also brought down four rebounds and blocked three shots. In her last four home games combined, Stewart is averaging 15.3 points per game.

Sophomore guard Jordan Jones, who has hit a 3-pointer in every game this season and 23 consecutive overall dating back to her time at South Carolina, chipped in 14 points, including four 3-pointers.

Freshman forward Jennifer George and Thompson each added nine points. George and senior guard Steffi Sorensen led the Gators on the boards with six rebounds apiece.

Ohio (3-9) was led by senior guard Jenny Poff’s team-high 12 points that included eight in the first seven minutes of the game.

Florida returns to action on Wednesday when it plays host to Jacksonville. Tip-off in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center is slated for 4:30 p.m.

Photo Gallery: UF Women’s Basketball vs. Ohio, 12/28/09 (click here to view gallery)

DIRECTORY OF GATOR COUNTRY PHOTO GALLERIES

About the author

jumper42

Casey Brooke Lawson earned a B.S. in journalism from the University of Florida in December 2008. Lawson was born in Sarasota, Fla., but now still resides in Gainesville, Fla. Lawson picked up her first camera before she could walk, and now, 24 years later, she has made a career of her first love. She has been working as a photojournalist for eight years. She began at her high school, Sarasota High School, interned with the Gainesville Sun, Sarasota Herald Tribune, The Independent Florida Alligator and Sports Illustrated. Now, Lawson is a regularly contributing photojournalist for Gator Country. Trained in sports photography by Gator Country's own Tim Casey, sports photojournalism has become one of Lawson's favorite parts of her job.

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