Gator Backcourt Club

The Official Booster Club of the University of Florida Women's Basketball Team

Gators Defeat Columbia 83 to 81 in Bahamas Tournament

Florida women’s basketball defeated Columbia 83-81 Wednesday afternoon at the Baha Mar Tournament. The win against Columbia pushes Florida’s record to 5-1 this season.

The final four seconds saw three lead changes, with Aliyah Matharu hitting a three-pointer to give the Gators the win. Matharu led the Gators with 26 points, followed by Ra Shaya Kyle with 18.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz9rLsbR3bU/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=675&rd=https%3A%2F%2Ffloridagators.com&rp=%2Fnews%2F2023%2F11%2F22%2Fwomens-basketball-gators-defeat-columbia-to-in-bahamas-tournament.aspx#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A11569.299999998882%2C%22ls%22%3A2411.7999999988824%2C%22le%22%3A6055.199999999255%7DIN THE FIRST:

  • Florida had four points off fast breaks in the first with a total of 19 possessions
  • Leilani Correa led the Gators in scoring with six points going two-of-three from the three 
  • The Gators hit 22 points in the first  – their game high in scoring which was matched in the third and fourth quarters
  • Florida forced five Columbia turnovers and grabbed five defensive rebounds
  • At the end of the first, both Florida and Columbia had a total of seven rebounds

IN THE SECOND:

  • Faith Dut hit her season scoring high during the second with eight points, shooting 57.9–percent from the field 
  • Columbia took their first lead of the game at 31-30 with 6:11 left in the half
    • Ra Shaya Kyle regained the lead at 32-31, after hitting both free throws at 5:54
  • Columbia took its biggest lead of the half into halftime (43-39)

IN THE THIRD:

  • Florida capitalized on the Lions six turnovers, securing nine points
  • Matharu’s eight points led in the Gators in third-quarter scoring
  • Florida ended the third shooting 50 percent from the field and 80 percent from the line

IN THE FOURTH:

  • The Gators were 7-of-13 from the field (53.8) in the final quarter, led by Matharu’s 10 points
  • Florida forced five turnovers on the Lions in the last 10 minutes of play
  • Florida trailed 79-74 with 2:41 left, regaining the lead (80-79) after a Rimdal three-pointer at 1:50 and a Kyle layup with just four seconds remaining. Cecelia Collins’ layup gave Columbia a 81-80 edge with a second remaining.
  • Matharu hit her second 3-pointer with time expiring to give UF the 83-81 win

WORTH NOTING.

  • Florida had four players reach double figures
    • Matharu (26)
    • Kyle (18)
    • Correa (14)
    • Dut (10)
  • This was the first Florida-Columbia meeting
  • The Gators collected eight threes from 23 attempts
  • Matharu was one point away from her career high of 27
  • Dut set a season high in scoring with 10 points
  • The Gators come out of the Bahamas undefeated, winning 52-49 Monday versus Purdue

SERIES RECORD
Florida takes the first game of the series between the Lions and the Gators. The series now stands at 1-0.

NEXT UP
The Gators continue their seven-game road stretch Wednesday, playing Georgia Tech in Atlanta. The match-up is part of the 2023 ACC/SEC Challenge and airs on the ACC Network.

Georgia Tech (4-0, 0-0 ACC), most recently defeated Kennesaw State 77-38 and will have two more contests before playing the Gators on their home court. Georgia Tech is competing in the Cancun Challenge, playing Creighton Thursday and New Mexico Friday.

GEORGIA TECH