LAS VEGAS, Nev.—The Gators defeated UNLV 86-84 in an epic road battle to secure their spot in the 2025 WBIT quarterfinals. Florida trailed the Rebels for upwards of 33 minutes on Sunday evening, but their fate was secured at the buzzer off a jumper from Kenza Salgues.
 
Florida secured their season high in three pointers, making 14 and shooting 56 percent from beyond the arc. Jeriah Warren led in three balls going 5-8 to post 18 points. Offensively, Liv McGill led in scoring with a 22-point outing and three other Gators hit the double-digit mark in scoring.

Defensively, the Gators were led by Alexia Gassett and Ra Shaya Kyle, both grabbing seven rebounds. McGill followed on the defensive end with six rebounds and snagging four steals. Overall UF outrebounded the Rebels 37-35.

A GLIMPSE INTO FLORIDA’S S 2025 POSTSEASON:

• UF now advances to the WBIT quarterfinals for the first time in program history
• The Gators are 4-1 in postseason play for 2025
• Florida now boasts a winning record for the 2024-25 season at 18-17
• UF holds an all-time record at 2-1 in the WBIT

HOW IT HAPPENED:
IN THE FIRST:

• Florida’s 17 points were spread across five players
• 12 of UF’s 17 points came from inside the paint
• The Gators shot a game high 57.1 percent from the field (8-14)
• McGill led on both ends of the floor with six points and three rebounds
• Florida outrebounded the Rebels 9-6
• UF had four turnovers in less than four minutes to end the quarter
• The score stood at 23-17, favoring UNLV after 10 minutes of play

IN THE SECOND:

• The Gators posted 22 points and shot 44.4 percent from the field
• Dizeko led Florida in scoring with seven points, followed by Reynolds with six
• Reynolds went 2-2 from behind the arch

• UF hit three consecutive three pointers (5:39, 5:14, and 4:45)
• Alexia Gassett led all on the boards, securing five rebounds
• Salgues led in ball movement, distributing three assists for the Gators
• UNLV went on a 12-0 run to gain their biggest lead of the half at 50-36
• From 30+ feet out, Warren hit a three ball at the buzzer to put the score at 50-39 going into half

 
IN THE THIRD:

• Florida had its highest scoring period of the game with 25 points
• UF shot an impressive 55.6 percent from behind the three-point line (5-9)
• The Gators went 9-18 (50%) from the field and 100 percent from the charity stripe (2-2)
• Warren posted 12 points—all coming from beyond the arc (4-5 3FG)
• McGill distributed four of UF’s five assists
• Kyle led Florida in rebounding, securing five of Florida’s 11
• After starting the quarter down by 11, UF got the score within one to end the period (65-64)

 
IN THE FOURTH:

• Florida took the lead for the first time since quarter one at 69-67 (8:56)
• The game was tied up five times in the final ten minutes of play
• McGill led in scoring with nine of UF’s 22 points
• Salgues and Warren both posted six points in the final quarter
• UF saw the free throw line nine times and converted for four
• Five Gators contributed to UF’s 10 rebounds
• Florida trailed by one with less than 10 seconds left on the clock (84-83)
• Salgues hit the game winning bucket with 00:01 left on the clock to put UF ahead at 86-84

WORTH NOTING:

• UF had four players in double figures for scoring

  • McGill (22), Warren (18), Salgues (13), and Reynolds (13)

• McGill has hit double figures in 32 of her 35 outings as a Gator

  • 13 of those games have been 20+ point performances 

• The Gators outscored UNLV in the final two periods of play
  
• Florida had a season high made 3FG at 14
• UF held UNLV to a season low three steals
• 30 of Florida’s points were tallied in the paint
• In total UF went 8-13 (61.5%) from the charity stripe 
• Two Gators shot a perfect 100 percent from the free throw line

  • Dizeko (2-2) and Salgues (2-2)

• Florida forced 10 turnovers on UNLV to convert for 17 points
• 18 of UF’s points were credited to the bench
• The Gators posted 12 points off fastbreaks
• UF made 13 of their 23 layup attempts
• McGill was responsible for 50% of UF’s steals, snagging four of the team’s eight
• Five Gators brought in four or more rebounds
• The Gators out-rebounded the Rebels 37-35
• Kyle and Gassett led Florida on the boards with seven rebounds each
• Florida distributed a combined 18 assists

  • McGill led in distribution with eight
  • McGill has now led in assist distribution 27 times this season

• The Gators have secured 20+ points in 60 of 142 quarters played this season
• Florida recorded a game total 73 possessions, converting for 1.18 points per possession
• In total UF only led over the Rebels for two minutes and 32 seconds

CAREER HIGHS:

 
TEAM RECORDS:

Florida: 18-17, (6-12 SEC)
UNLV: 26-8, (16-2 MW)

SERIES RECORD:

Florida and UNLV’s all-time record now stands at 2-1. UF’s win over the Rebels on Sunday night marks their first-time defeating UNLV in program history.  

NEXT UP:

Florida will now advance to the quarterfinals of the WBIT and host Texas Tech Thursday, Mar. 27. The game will be streamed via ESPN+ and is set to tip at 7 p.m. ET.

 

  TEXAS TECH (19-17, 4-14 BIG 12):

 
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