History on the hardwood will be on the line this week for the Gators.
No, this is not a reference to the men’s basketball team – with its quest for a third title in program history at the Final Four in San Antonio.
Five days before the men’s, Florida women’s basketball team will look to add some banners at the semifinals of the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBIT). The Gators face Minnesota Monday at 5 p.m. at the Hinkie Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. A win sets up an appearance in the tournament final against either Belmont or Villanova at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Buzzer beater changes everything for Florida women’s basketball
The Gators' appearance in the WBIT was their second in a row. Last season, UF was upset at home by St. John’s. On March 20, Florida avoided the same fate with a double-digit win over Northern Iowa behind 28 points from senior Jeriah Warren.
However, a home win over Horizon League foe isn’t going to change the program. A win three days later may have done just that, though.
The Gators traveled west to Las Vegas and UNLV. A back-and-forth resulted in UF controlling possession with eight seconds left. Liv McGill lost possession and passed it to Jeriah Warren. In the corner of her eye, she saw Kenza Salgues. She got the pass and immediately knocked in the game winning 3.
McGill leads the show vs. Texas Tech
Florida needed to make sure that what happened in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas vs. a Texas Tech squad that had upset top-seeded Virgina Tech.
At home, UF trailed by 11 to the Red Raiders in the third quarter. Like the men two days later, the squad stormed back with a 12-0 run and retook the lead before the end of the quarter. In a grind-it-out fourth quarter, the Gators made their foul shots and prevailed 67-63. In high-stakes moments, Florida has chosen to remain together — a rare skill in a team.
"It takes a long time to build that chemistry of poise and composure down the stretch, because you could very easily crumble, but that's not what we've chosen to do," Finley said.
Two-thirds (43) of UF’s points came from McGill or ...
