GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — In a commanding in-state showdown, the Florida Gators women’s basketball team used a dominant fourth-quarter surge to defeat the Florida State Seminoles 89-67 on Thursday night at the O’Connell Center.

The Gators, improving their season record to 5-1, outscored the Seminoles 27-22 in the final period to pull away decisively in a game that was statistically defined by Florida’s defensive pressure and offensive efficiency. The loss drops Florida State to 3-3 on the season.

Florida’s victory was fueled by a stifling defense that forced 25 Seminoles turnovers, converting them into numerous transition opportunities. The Gators also recorded 20 steals and dished out 20 assists, showcasing a balanced and unselfish offensive attack. Florida shot 47 percent from the floor, connecting on 33 of 70 attempts, and capitalized at the free-throw line, making 17 of 24.

The Seminoles struggled to find a consistent offensive rhythm against the Gators’ pressure, committing those 25 turnovers while only managing 9 assists as a team. Florida State finished the game shooting 42.6 percent on 26-of-61 shooting.

The game was a showcase for Florida’s backcourt, led by a spectacular performance from Liv McGill. The sophomore guard from Minneapolis was the engine for the Gators, pouring in 27 points, dishing out 5 assists, and playing a pivotal role in the team’s defensive effort over 39 minutes of action.

She was complemented superbly by Laila Reynolds, who added 21 points and 5 assists from her guard position. The Gators’ frontcourt also made significant contributions, with Me’Arah O’Neal scoring 18 points and Nyadieng Yiech adding 11, providing a formidable inside presence.

For Florida State, the bright spot was center Pania Davis. The 6-foot-6 freshman from Perth, Australia, was a force in the paint, scoring 19 points, blocking 3 shots, and grabbing several key rebounds in just 23 minutes of play. Solè Williams contributed 15 points for the Seminoles, and Allie Kubek chipped in 11.

The game began with both teams trading baskets in a competitive first quarter, which ended with Florida holding a 23-16 advantage. The Gators maintained their lead through a tightly contested second quarter, taking a 41-34 edge into halftime.

Florida State managed to keep the game within reach through the third quarter, but could not string together a sustained run to overtake the Gators. Florida entered the final period with a 62-55 lead before unleashing the game-deciding run, methodically extending their advantage throughout the fourth quarter to seal the 22-point victory.

The announced attendance at the O’Connell Center was 1,746. The result was a reversal of the pregame projection from Interstat’s ELO system, which had given Florida State a 70.8 percent probability to win.

Florida now looks ahead to a road game against Florida Atlantic on Monday. Florida State returns to action at home on Sunday against Illinois.