Florida women’s basketball knocks off Mississippi State with buzzer-beating 3-pointer
It’s been an up-and-down season for the Florida women’s basketball team, with the squad battling to stay on the right side of .500. A buzzer-beater on Sunday afternoon will go a long way toward that goal.
The team managed to pull even to 13-13 on the year when senior Jeriah Warren bounced home a shot off the iron from well beyond the 3-point arc.
The shot broke a 66-66 tie and gave Florida a 69-66 victory. You can check it out below.
Entering Sunday’s game against Mississippi State, Florida had lost six of its last seven contests and was spiraling a bit.
But a well-rounded effort on the home court helped the Gators edge past the Bulldogs. Four different players scored in double figures, led by Liv McGill‘s 20. Laila Reynolds added 14, Warren provided 12 and Ra Shaya Kyle notched 10.
Micah Handlogten returns for Florida
Following a gruesome leg injury in the SEC Tournament championship game last season, Florida men’s basketball big man Micah Handlogten had initially planned to redshirt for the 2024-25 season.
But with his rehab going well and his team now in need with Alex Condon suffering a lower ankle sprain, Handlogten reversed course and sprung into action against South Carolina.
He played 20 minutes and scored two points, grabbed three rebounds, dished out five assists, blocked two shots and recorded two steals. A productive day.
“I was very excited, very proud,” coach Todd Golden said. “You know, Micah is a big reason as to why this program is where it is right now. You know, he came in last year after our first year, which didn’t go great. Whatever, we’re .500, but you know, he saw our vision. He saw how he could fit into our program, and he believed in us. And, he came in here last year and started every game on a tournament team.”
Golden weighed in on how tough things have been for Handlogten weighing the decision to return this season for Florida.
“And, obviously it’s been difficult not having him, you know not having him out there playing, but he’s been an elite teammate all the way. And you know, again, we talked about Tommy (Haugh)’s unselfishness. How about Micah’s unselfishness, right? Like, it could be very easy for him say, ‘Ah, you know, I only got this many games left. I don’t want to waste it.’ And he’s like, ‘Dude, I have a chance to go play with my buddies and compete, to go try to win, you know, a lot of games down the stretch.’ And it’s, it’s been a long journey for him, obviously.
“All of us, but him specifically, he’s living it. And, I just can’t imagine how joyful he feels to be able to go out there and play 20 minutes now, you know. Got a bucket, nice little and-one. He had five assists, one turnover, two blocks, two steals. He was impactful. You know, he made winning plays. It’s great to have him back out there.”
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