Florida Gators
Akron
Women's Hoops Defeats Akron 77-38 for First Win
Saturday, November 27, 2004 | Women's Basketball
The University of Florida women's basketball team earned its first win of the season using a devastating 35-7 run that began midway through the first half en route to a 77-38 victory over Akron in the consolation game of the Junkanoo Jam held at St. Georges High School in the Grand Bahama Island.
Benice Mosby scored 14 points with 10 rebounds to post her 11th career double-double, leading a balanced Gator attack where 10 of the 11 players on the roster scored. Dalila Eshe contributed 13 points and nine boards, while Sarah Lowe added 11 points and Briana Phillips tallied a career-high 10 points for the Gators, who forced 35 Akron turnovers and held the Zips to a 26.5 shooting percentage (13-49).
The 39-point win is the second largest margin of victory for UF under third-year coach Carolyn Peck, while the 38 total points scored by Akron is the lowest opponent output since Dec. 20, 2000 when the Gators defeated Chicago State 79-30.
"Today we played the type of basketball that we're capable of playing," Peck said. "Every one contributed and it was a lot of fun. I thought it was very important that we not just win today, but that we play well and win. It was a great confidence booster. We played a solid second half and showed how good we can be."
Florida (1-2) shot a steady 55.9 percent (19-34) from the floor in the second half, 43.5 percent for the game, while holding a 47-36 rebounding edge. The Gators also dished 22 assists and collected 22 steals in the game.
"We really picked up our defensive pressure and again Depree Bowden had a lot to do with our run," Peck said. "It got our momentum going and helped create scoring in transition. We got some easy baskets and it took pressure off our offense. Once our shots started falling, we started having fun."
Jessie Crooks was the only Akron player to score in double-figures, netting 10 for the Zips.
After Akron (0-4) took a 12-6 lead with 11:41 remaining in the opening period, the Gators turned up their defensive intensity and began to pound the ball inside, resulting in a 26-4 run to end the half with a 32-16 lead entering the locker room. Seven different Gators scored during the scoring spree, with Bernice Mosby tallying six. UF also crashed the boards harder than in their previous two games, earning a 28-22 advantage that included 13 offensive rebounds that the Gators turned into easy put-backs.
Neither team looked comfortable in the first half, as UF shot 31.4 percent (11-35) and Akron just 24.1 percent (7-29). The Zips turned the ball of 18 times in the first 20 minutes, compared with the Gator's 13 miscues.
Florida next plays host to UCF (1-2) on Tuesday in the O'Connell Center beginning at 5 p.m. Live audio of the game can be heard in Gainesville on WRUF AM850 and through the internet at GatorZone.com. Fans also can watch the game thru GatorVision OnLine, a live streaming video service available at GatorZone.com.
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