GAINESVILLE, Fla.- The Gators will continue their run in the WBIT after defeating Northern Iowa 83-71 on Thursday evening. UF had four players log double digits and used the fourth quarter to push past the Panthers. Florida awaits their fate in the second round as Hawaii and UNLV face-off later this evening.

Florida was led in scoring by Jeriah Warren posting a career high 28 points while going 10-16 from the field and 4-8 from the three. Alexia Gassett followed with 13 points, Ra Shaya Kyle chipped in with 12, and Laila Reynolds finished with 11.

Defensively, the Gators were led by Me’Arah O’Neal and Kyle recording seven rebounds apiece. UF outrebounded the Panthers 40-30 and forced 19 NIU turnovers.

A GLIMPSE INTO FLORIDA’S S 2025 POSTSEASON:

• UF advances to the second round of the WBIT for the first time in program history
• The Gators are 3-1 in postseason play for 2025
• Florida has now lifted their 2024-25 record to 17-17
• UF now holds a 1-1 all-time record in the WBIT

HOW IT HAPPENED:
IN THE FIRST:

• UF held the lead for a combined 8:57 in the initial period
• Florida posted 24 points and shot 50 percent from the field (9-18)
• 11 of UF’s points came from fastbreaks and a combined 16 were tallied inside the paint
• UF secured eight of their nine layup attempts
• The Gators totaled 22 possessions and converted for 1.1 points per possession
• Reynolds led on the boards with three of Florida’s nine rebounds
• Florida led by seven at the end of the period 24-17

IN THE SECOND:

• The Gators were held to only 14 points and shot a game a low 38.5 percent

• Florida was led in scoring by Warren with seven points
• Me’Arah O’Neal led on the boards with three of UF’s 10 rebounds
• McGill led in assist distribution throwing out two of Florida’s four
• UNI took its first lead of the game at 32-31 (3:14)
• The score was knotted at 38 to end the first half

 
IN THE THIRD:

• UF posted seven points in less than two minutes to start the half
• Florida shot a game high 58.8 percent (10-17) from the field
• 16 of Florida’s 23 points came from inside the paint
• Warren led on offense with nine points, shooting 4-5 from the field and 1-2 from the three
• Reynolds and McGill led in ball distribution with three assists each
• UF recorded a game high eight assists on the period
• Florida had a three-point lead at 61-58 to conclude the third

 
IN THE FOURTH:

• Florida posted 22 points and shot 44.4 percent (8-18) from the field
• 10 of UF’s points were tallied inside the paint and seven were off second chances
• Warren led on both ends of the floor with eight points four rebounds
• Gassett distributed four assists for a career high
• UF saw the free throw line five times to convert for four points (80%)
• McGill snagged the Gators only steal of the period

WORTH NOTING:

• UF had four players in double figures for scoring

  • Warren (28), Gassett (13), Kyle (12), and Reynolds (10)

• Gassett tied her career high in scoring with 13 points
• McGill has hit double figures in 31 of her 34 outings as a Gator

  • 12 of those games have been 20+ point performances 

• The Gators outscored UNI in three of the and four quarters

  • (Q1) 24-17, (Q3) 23-20, (Q4) 22-13

• In total UF went 13-15 (86.7%) from the charity stripe 
• Four Gators shot a perfect 100 percent from the free throw line

  • Warren (4-4), Reynolds (3-3), O’Neal (2-2), and Gassett (1-1)

• 46 of UF’s points were tallied inside the paint
• Florida forced 19 turnovers on UNI to convert for 20 points
• 20 of UF’s points were credited to the bench
• The Gators posted 16 points off fastbreaks and 17 from second chances
• The Gators out-rebounded the Panthers 40-30
• Kyle and O’Neal led Florida on the boards with seven rebounds each
• Florida distributed a combined 20 assists

  • McGill led in distribution with six, followed by Reynolds with five
  • McGill has now led in assist distribution 26 times this season

• The Gators have secured 20+ points in 57 of 138 quarters played this season
• UF secured 19 layups in 27 driving attempts (70%)
• Florida recorded a game total 76 possessions, converting for 1.09 points per possession
• In total UF led UNI for 34 minutes and 28 seconds

CAREER HIGHS:

 
GATOR BITES:
Head Coach Kelly Rae Finley on the team’s chemistry and Me’Arah O’Neal’s growth:
“Jeriah and Shay had good chemistry offensively and defensively as well, so that was huge. I thought Me’Arah played huge minutes and dominated on both ends of the floor. It’s something that she’s growing in, and just understanding the gravity of a two-point game with four minutes to go. These minutes are huge minutes, whether it’s one possession or 10, that one can make a difference.”
 
TEAM RECORDS:

Florida: 17-17, (6-12 SEC)
UNI: 17-17, (11-9 MVC)

SERIES RECORD:

The Gators and the Panthers have now met twice, with UF securing wins in both meetings to put the all-time record at 2-0.

NEXT UP:

Florida will now advance to the second round of the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament and face either UNLV or Hawaii on Sunday afternoon. The No. 2 seeded UNLV will host Hawaii Thursday night at 9:30 p.m. inside Cox Pavilion.

 

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