Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It didn't matter that the final shot of the game, a 3-pointer at the buzzer by LSU star guard Khayla Pointer, dropped through the net and counted.

It didn't matter that Tigers coach Kim Mulkey, a longtime headliner in women's college basketball, stepped onto the court Sunday afternoon at Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center with 635 more career victories than Gators interim head coach Kelly Rae Finley.

And it didn't matter that LSU had won 17 of 19 games in Mulkey's first season in Baton Rouge or that the Tigers entered the game ranked 11th against a Gators program that hasn't appeared in the national polls since December 2016.

Those cold hard facts offered a stark contrast, for sure, as did Mulkey's black business suit and high-heel pumps as she roamed the bench area, compared to Finley's "We Back Pat" long-sleeved T-shirt and sneakers. But once the teams tipped off, it was clear the Gators were in the same league.

"It was a game where they started out tougher,'' Mulkey said. "We hung in there. We battled. They were much more physical."

What about when Florida's 73-72 win was final? It was clear this one did mean more to the home team.

Despite Pointer's game-high 35 points and that shot at the buzzer, once the horn sounded, the Gators raced to midcourt to celebrate their fifth consecutive Southeastern Conference victory. They deserved to, considering that's their longest conference win streak in 13 years.

"We have a group of fierce competitors,'' said Finley, who improved to 15-5 since being named interim head coach in July. "A belief we are enough. When you operate from that space, everything becomes quite a bit easier."

The Gators haven't made it look this easy in years.

The team's turnaround has included a victory over rival Florida State, a double-overtime win at No. 25 Texas A&M, and a 25-point win on the road against a ranked Kentucky team. Add Sunday's win over LSU to the surprising list of achievements for a program that entered the season in turmoil following the exit of head coach Cam Newbauer under a cloud of controversy.

Oh, and we haven't even mentioned that the team's top scorer from a season ago, All-SEC selection Lavender Briggs, recently announced that she would miss the rest of the season due to an injury, and second, that she was transferring to Maryland. Since Briggs opted to leave the program, Florida is 5-0.

The Gators have endured some lean seasons of late – Florida was 46-71 overall, 15-47 in the SEC in four seasons under Newbauer – but have found their mojo since UF Athletic Director Scott Stricklin tabbed Finley interim coach last summer.

Finley would be the leading candidate to be named Interim Coach of the Year if there was such an award.

On Sunday, a ringing endorsement came from the stands as she exited the court with sophomore forward Jordyn Merritt.

"You go, Kelly Rae Finley." Stricklin was there, too, offering a congratulatory hug to the 36-year-old Minnesota native who has produced results and turned the page to an interesting new chapter.

Finley opted not to dribble down an open lane in her postgame press conference when asked what a victory over LSU and three-time national champion coach Mulkey meant to her personally.

"I'm just proud of our staff and our team,'' she said. "I'm proud of them every day, regardless if we had won. Coaches coach games. Our job is to help them. Players make plays. Our players make big plays in big moments."

They did Sunday, starting with guard Kiara Smith, who played all 40 minutes. Smith scored a team-high 23 points, dished eight assists and grabbed seven rebounds. With the game on the line, Smith received ample support, including a steal and layup by Nina Rickards that put the Gators up for good, 68-67, with 2:05 left. Zippy Broughton, who finished with 14 points, hit a jumper and pair of free throws in the final 54 seconds to help hold off the Tigers.

Meanwhile, Merritt turned in one of the best performances of her career, blocking a late shot by Pointer and filling up the box score. Merritt finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, four steals, two blocks and led both teams with a plus-13 on the plus-minus chart.

"Literally everything that we showed you guys starts in practice,'' Merritt said. "We believe in each other. We keep fighting until the end."

With the victory, the Gators seem sure to land in the national rankings this week for the first time since former coach Amanda Butler's final season. They have the week off to get ready for their next home game, next Sunday against No. 1-ranked South Carolina.

Despite their recent run of success, few will give them a chance. Then again, this is a team that has proven good at overcoming the odds.

They did it again against LSU.

"We stuck to the game plan,'' Finley said. "Not everything was perfect, but we don't expect it to be perfect. I think we are getting pretty darn good at battling through adversity."

Like she tells the players, they are enough. Enough to win if they show up, play hard, and let their talent take over.

If they keep it up, they will be enough to make the NCAA Tournament. That would be quite a story.

One worth checking out.

"Hopefully, everybody that was able to attend enjoyed and can feel and see why I think our team is so inspiring,'' Finley said. "We're encouraged by the people that have been able to make it to games. We hope that more people will come. I think we play a fun style of basketball."

They sure did on this late January afternoon.