GAINSVILLE, Fla. — Jenna Staiti scored 30 points, Maya Caldwell added 27, both career highs, and No. 17 Georgia pulled away from Florida for a 95-80 win on Sunday.
Combined with No. 19 Kentucky’s loss to Ole Miss, Georgia secured a top-four seed and a double-bye in next week’s Southeastern Conference tournament.
There were seven ties and 12 lead changes, the last coming when Que Morrison made two free throws and Caldwell followed with a layup to give the Lady Bulldogs a 51-48 lead midway through the third quarter.
The Gators hung in there until a 9-0 run, started and ended by Caldwell and featuring Stati’s second 3 of the game and fifth of the season, broke it open under the four-minute mark.
Morrison scored 14 points, Mikayla Coombs 11 and Gabby Connally 10 for Georgia (18-5, 10-5 SEC), which has won eight straight in the series. Stati also had 13 rebounds, for her eighth double-double of the season, three blocks, two assists and a steal.
Floor Toonders, Jordyn Merritt and Kiara Smith all scored 16 for the Gators (10-12, 3-11) and Nina Rickards added 14. They have lost four straight since leading scorer Lavender Briggs (19.5) was lost for the season with a foot injury.
Florida was not daunted by Georgia’s defense that allows 59.2 points on 36.6% shooting, but the Gators did have 19 turnovers that were turned into 22 points.
The Lady Bulldogs were efficient on offense, shooting 58.2%, highlighted by a 10-for-13 fourth quarter and 22-of-31 (71%) second half. Staiti was 13 of 21 and Caldwell 11 of 15 with both hitting 2 of 3 behind the arc.
