TALLAHASSEE – Senior Sha Brooks scored 18 of her season-high 24 points in the second half to lead the Florida women’s basketball to a 72-57 upset of No. 22 Florida State Sunday afternoon at the Tucker Center.
Brooks, who started her 95th consecutive game, hit 7-of-15 from the field and 10-of-13 from the free-throw line to help the Gators (3-1) earn their first victory over a ranked team since Feb. 26, 2006 when they beat No. 5 Tennessee, 95-93 in overtime, at Knoxville.
The victory over the 3-1 Seminoles halted a 15-game losing streak to ranked teams and denied Florida State its first crack at the 500th victory in its program history.
“This win couldn’t feel more perfect,” Florida coach Amanda Butler said. “I have a ton of respect for Florida State and the job that Sue Semrau continues to do here. I really believe they are one of the best teams in the country, especially their starting five. Trying to put the Florida-Florida State rivalry aside, which is tough to do, this was a big win against a great team on their home court. Hopefully, this win will give our team a lot of confidence from here on out.”
Florida shot 51 percent from the floor (25-of-49), the third consecutive game over 50 percent, and the Gators shot 80 percent from the free-throw line (20-of-25), while holding a 42-35 rebounding advantage over their taller instate counterparts.
Senior Marshae Dotson led the Gators on the boards, collecting a season-high 13 while adding six points. Junior Sharielle Smith joined Brooks in double-figure scoring, scoring 15 points along with seven rebounds and hitting four more attempts from the free-throw line, where she extended her season-opening run to a perfect 14-of-14.
After the Seminoles cut the Gators’ second-half lead to six points, 49-43, with 8:41 remaining, Smith nailed a 3-pointer from the left side to start Florida’s 11-2 run that included a left-handed hook-shot from Aneika Henry, a runner in the lane from Brooks and a driving layup along the right baseline from Jennifer Mossor as the lead grew to 15 points, 60-45, with 6:28 to play.
FSU scored the next three points of the game from the free-throw line, but Brooks responded with a short jumper in the paint off an in-bound play. Cierra Bravard dropped in a shot close to the basket, but Brooks came right back with a pair from the stripe. Mossor followed with a back-breaking three-point play, as she ran the length of the court and was rewarded on a long pass from Brooks, hitting the tough layup and knocking down the free throw, as UF’s lead swelled to 17 points, 67-50, with 4:20 remaining. The Gators kept the Seminoles at bay the rest of the way en route to their third straight win of the young season.
Eight different players scored and nine collected at least one rebound for the Gators, whose field-goal defense held Florida State to a 32.4 percent (22-of-68) shooting effort during the game. With the balance Florida displayed throughout the game, it was Brooks who led the Gators down the stretch, netting her 70th career double-figure scoring game.
“The impact that Sha had was obvious. Every time Florida State made a run, we answered and it seemed to be that it was Sha who answered almost every time,” Butler said. “She can change the momentum by taking the ball hard to the goal or making a play off the dribble. For her to make those plays at the 40-minute pace we played against a team that is as physical and tough as Florida State is just as impressive as her 24 points.”
The Gators don’t have much time to prepare for their next game, tipping off again in approximately 27 hours from the conclusion of Sunday’s win, as Florida entertains Savannah State (2-2) Monday in the O’Connell Center at 7 p.m. The first 250 Gator students who attend Monday’s game will receive a free turkey sandwich at Gate 3, as part of Florida’s “Early Thanksgiving” promotion.
Monday’s game will be Florida’s last home appearance for 16 days. The Gators play four away from Gainesville, before playing host to Coppin State on Dec. 10.