Gakdeng, Grant lead balanced No. 19 North Carolina women to 77-57 win over Florida.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- — Maria Gakdeng scored 14 points, Lanie Grant added 13 to lead a balanced attack and No. 19 North Carolina raced past Florida 77-57 on Wednesday night at the Jumpman Invitational.
Grant hit consecutive 3-pointers and Trayanna Crisp added another in the final minute as the Tar Heels closed the first quarter with an 11-0 run to grab a 23-7 lead.
Grace Townsend hit a jumper at the last buzzer to make it 41-20 at halftime.
The Gators reeled off 14-straight points in the middle of the third quarter but that only cut a 27-point deficit to 51-38. Laila Hull hit a 3-pointer to start an 8-0 North Carolina run and Florida never got closer than 15 after that.
Alyssa Ustby had 11 points for North Carolina (11-2), which had 12 of 13 players score.
Liv McGill scored 14 points to lead Florida (7-5), which had a four-game winning-streak snapped. Laila Reynolds added 10 points and Ra Shaya Kyle had eight with 11 rebounds.
Florida, sixth in the country at 50.1% from the field, was just 3 of 14 in the first quarter when the Tar Heels hit five 3-pointers. At halftime Florida was 8 of 30 with one 3, and Carolina shot 55%.
When the Gators made their run in the third quarter it was from the foul line, where they made 12 of 13.
North Carolina shot 39% in the second half but Florida finished at 32% for the game.
It was the first meeting between the schools since 1997 and the Tar Heels lead the series 4-1 with all games at a neutral site.
North Carolina is home on Saturday against Norfolk State when Florida plays host to North Florida.
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Game Information
- Referees:
- Maj Forsberg
- In'Fini Robinson
- Kristen Bell
2024-25 Southeastern Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
South Carolina | 15-1 | - | 35-4 |
Texas | 15-1 | - | 35-4 |
LSU | 12-4 | 3 | 31-6 |
Oklahoma | 11-5 | 4 | 27-8 |
Kentucky | 11-5 | 4 | 23-8 |
Alabama | 10-6 | 5 | 24-9 |
Ole Miss | 10-6 | 5 | 22-11 |
Tennessee | 8-8 | 7 | 24-10 |
Vanderbilt | 8-8 | 7 | 22-11 |
Mississippi State | 7-9 | 8 | 22-12 |
Florida | 5-11 | 10 | 19-18 |
Georgia | 4-12 | 11 | 13-19 |
Missouri | 3-13 | 12 | 14-18 |
Auburn | 3-13 | 12 | 12-18 |
Texas A&M | 3-13 | 12 | 10-19 |
Arkansas | 3-13 | 12 | 10-22 |
2024-25 Atlantic Coast Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Notre Dame | 16-2 | - | 28-6 |
NC State | 16-2 | - | 28-7 |
Duke | 14-4 | 2 | 29-8 |
North Carolina | 13-5 | 3 | 29-8 |
Florida State | 13-5 | 3 | 24-9 |
Louisville | 13-5 | 3 | 22-11 |
California | 12-6 | 4 | 25-9 |
Georgia Tech | 9-9 | 7 | 22-11 |
Virginia Tech | 9-9 | 7 | 19-13 |
Virginia | 8-10 | 8 | 17-15 |
Stanford | 8-10 | 8 | 16-15 |
Boston College | 6-12 | 10 | 16-18 |
Clemson | 6-12 | 10 | 14-17 |
Syracuse | 6-12 | 10 | 12-18 |
Pittsburgh | 5-13 | 11 | 13-19 |
Miami | 4-14 | 12 | 14-15 |
SMU | 2-16 | 14 | 10-20 |
Wake Forest | 2-16 | 14 | 9-20 |