College basketball

UF sets record in grudge match with 'Noles

By wire services
Published January 3, 2006

GAINESVILLE - All it took was a little determination.

The Gators erased an 11-point second-half deficit en route to avenging their only loss of the season in a 72-62 win over instate rival FSU. With the win, Florida (12-1) became the fourth team in school history to have 12 wins in its first 13 games.

"Our team did a tremendous job of fighting back from behind - this team is on a mission," UF coach Carolyn Peck said. "We showed a lot of composure and tremendous commitment tonight. Our bench showing the amount of depth we had is very promising as we go into SEC play."

Brittany Davis led the Gators with 16 points and 11 rebounds for her fourth career double-double, while extending her streak of double-figure scoring to 12 games.

Depree Bowden's layup with 13:57 left in the game sparked UF to a 15-0 run, as the Gators went from down 11 to up four, forcing six turnovers along the way and holding the Seminoles without a field goal for more than nine minutes.

FSU cut Florida's lead to 45-43 with 7:40 remaining, but the Gators had eight of the next 10 points.

Led by Bowden (15 points) and Marshae Dotson (14), the Gators bench outscored FSU 29-2. Florida's only loss this season came courtesy of the Seminoles, an 86-72 decision Nov. 23 in Tallahassee.

In other news, UF guard Sha Brooks was the SEC Player of the Week for the second time this season.

USF 63, FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 50: The visiting Bulls led 47-41 with 8:19 remaining before a 15-0 run to ice the game with 3:37 left. USF's 11-3 record marks the best in school history behind the 1976-77 team, which went 12-2.

NO.1 TENNESSEE 83, OLD DOMINION 67: The Monarchs couldn't do enough defensively despite shooting 46 percent (28-of-61), as host Tennessee shot 52 percent (26-of-50) and went 24-of-28 from the foul line. Old Dominion had only seven chances at the line and made six.

NO.2 DUKE 100, WAKE FOREST 54: Leading scorer Monique Currie missed her only shot of the second half, but the host Blue Devils still managed 58 points while shooting 74 percent.

NO.6 MARYLAND 82, MANHATTAN 49: The host Terps prevailed despite shooting a season-low 36.2 percent from the field and didn't trail though Manhattan pulled within six on the first basket of the second half.

N.C. STATE 65, NO.25 VIRGINIA TECH 44: Dawn Chriss scored 14 for the Hokies, who fell to 0-6 all-time against host N.C. State since beginning varsity play in the 1976-77 season.

[Last modified January 3, 2006, 04:46:14]