GAINESVILLE, Fla.—Florida held off the Lady Raiders in a second half surge, defending the O’Dome with a final score of 67-64. UF’s Thursday night victory solidified UF’s spot in the 2025 WBIT semifinals. Florida’s postseason run will continue next week at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as the Gators take on Minnesota in the WBIT Final Four.
 
As a whole, Florida went 23-56 from the field (41.1%) with two players in double figures for scoring. Liv McGill led all with a 22-point performance, followed by Ra Shaya Kyle posting 21. Kyle also went an impressive 9-9 from the free throw line and led the Gators on the defensive end with 12 points. Kyle’s 21-points and 12 rebounds marked her sixteenth double-double of the year.

A GLIMPSE INTO FLORIDA’S S 2025 POSTSEASON:

• UF advances to the WBIT semifinals for the first time in program history
• Florida will appear in its first postseason semifinals since 2013
• The Gators are 5-1 in postseason play for 2025
• UF holds an all-time record in the WBIT at 3-1
• Florida is now on a three-game win streak in the postseason
• The Gators will now own a winning record for the 2024-25 season
• Coach Finley recorded her first postseason quarterfinals win as head coach

HOW IT HAPPENED:
IN THE FIRST:

• Florida had a game low 11 points in the first period
• 73 percent of Florida’s points were posted inside the paint (8-11)
• Warren hit back-to-back blocks to silence the Raiders on offense
• UF kept Texas Tech scoreless for the initial six minutes of play
• McGill led in scoring for UF with four points, shooting 50 percent from the field
• Reynolds, Kyle, and O’Neal each brought in three rebounds to post nine of UF’s 12
• Florida led 11-6 at the conclusion of the first

IN THE SECOND:

• The Gators posted 16 points and increased their field goal percentage to 40 percent (6-15)
• Texas Tech received a technical foul, allowing UF to convert for five points

  • Two from the charity stripe and a three ball from maintaining possession

• McGill led UF across the board with eight points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal
• Kenza Salgues was responsible for both Florida’s three pointers going 2-5 from beyond the arc
• The Lady Raiders picked up their first lead of the game at 24-23 (4:25)
• Florida was outscored by Texas Tech 25-16 in the second period
• UF trailed by four at the half (31-27)

 
IN THE THIRD:

• Texas Tech went on an 11-4 run to open up the second half (42-31)

  • The Lady Raiders 11-point lead was their largest of the game

• Florida had a game high four steals
• UF tallied nine points in the first six minutes, Dizeko was responsible for five
• Kyle secured consecutive key plays to post seven points in upwards of two minutes (3:04-1:02)
• Kyle led all in scoring with nine points in the third
• The Gators regained the lead at 43-42 (1:51)
• 16 of Florida’s points were scored inside the paint
• Florida outscored the Lady Raiders 22-14

 
IN THE FOURTH:

• There were four lead changes in the final period of play
• The score stood within a margin of three for the final seven minutes of the contest
• Kyle led the Gators in scoring with 10 points, followed by McGill with six
• UF secured 10 rebounds and Kyle led on the boards with six
• Florida saw the free throw line 14 times to convert for 11 points (78.6%)
• UF and Texas Tech were knotted at 10 rebounds each
• The final period was heavy on personal fouls, UF had eight and Texas Tech tallied 11

 
WORTH NOTING:

• Kelly Rae Finley now has 75 wins as Florida’s head coach
• Kyle hit her 16^th double-double of the season scoring 21 points and bringing in 12 rebounds
• UF had two players in double figures for scoring

  • McGill (22) and Kyle (21)

• McGill has hit double figures in 33 of her 36 outings as a Gator

  • 14 of those games have been 20+ point performances 

• The Gators outscored Texas Tech in two periods of play
  
• 32 of Florida’s points were tallied in the paint
• In total UF went 17-23 (73.9%) from the charity stripe 
• Kyle led the way in free throws shooting 100 percent and going 9-9
• Florida forced 16 turnovers on Texas Tech to convert for 17 points
• 13 of UF’s points were credited to the bench
• The Gators posted 20 points off fastbreaks
• UF made 16 of their 28 layup attempts
• McGill was responsible for 44% of UF’s steals, snagging four of the team’s nine
• Six Gators brought in three or more rebounds
• The Gators were out-rebounded by the Lady Raiders 44-37
• Florida distributed a combined 10 assists

  • McGill led in distribution with six
  • McGill has now led in assist distribution 28 times this season

• The Gators have secured 20+ points in 61 of 146 quarters played this season
• Florida recorded a game total 67 possessions, converting for 1.0 points per possession
• In total UF only led over Texas Tech for 26 minutes and 15 seconds
• UF now has 12 home wins for the 2024-25 season
• Florida’s four-point win marks their fourth time this season defeating an opponent by a margin of five or less

CAREER HIGHS:

Ra Shaya Kyle
FT Made	9	vs Tulane 11/28/24, vs Alabama 02/06/25, vs Texas Tech 03/27/25
Laila Reynolds
Steals	3	vs Mississippi St. 02/16/25, vs Texas Tech 03/27/25

 
TEAM RECORDS:

Florida: 19-17, (6-12 SEC)
Texas Tech: 19-18, (4-14 Big 12)

SERIES RECORD:

The Gators and Texas Tech have now met twice with an all-time record at 2-0 in favor of the Gators.

GATOR BITES:

Head coach Kelly Rae Finley on the team’s growth over the past year:

“I think this team could attest to it, and it’s something that we’ve talked about a little bit. We need to just be more consistent through the summer, and just overall need to be more consistent earlier on. But that comes with experience. Only a year ago, Liv was playing in the State High School tournament in Minnesota, and it’s not an excuse, but it takes experience to know what it takes to make it. I think that we’ve learned what it takes throughout this season and I fully expect us to be playing this weekend next year, just in a different tournament.”

 

Freshman Liv McGill on her motivation and what drives her to perform:

“Family is everything to me so the reason why I play is for my family. It gives me that motivation and that inspiration. I’m very appreciative that my family can come to these games and support me. To look over and my mom and my niece is in the stands, and then Chas in the stands, it reminds me that that’s who I’m playing for. And, you know, I just try to be the best I can. The best teammate and to be the best player I can every game.”

NEXT UP:

The Gators have secured their spot in the 2025 WBIT semifinals and will play Minnesota on Monday, Mar. 31, at 5 p.m. ET. The final four contest will be played at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind.

 

Minnesota entered the postseason tournament as the No. 2 seed and defeated the No. 4 seed Gonzaga 82-77, on Thursday evening. The Gophers were led in scoring by Amaya Battle with 35 points, followed by a 20-point outing from Grace Grocholski.

 

  MINNESOTA 23-11, (8-10 Big 10):

• WBIT semifinals
• Date: Monday, Mar. 31
• Time: 5 p.m. ET
• Site: Hinkle Fieldhouse
• Stream: ESPNU

 
ABOUT THE WBIT:
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Selection Criteria
Updated Bracket
 
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