GAINESVILLE, Fla. (Interstat) — Liv McGill scored 28 points and orchestrated a dominant first-quarter surge that propelled the Florida Gators to an 89-71 victory over the Missouri Tigers in a Southeastern Conference women’s basketball game Sunday at the O’Connell Center.

The Gators, improving to 13-8 overall and in league play, seized control from the opening tip and never trailed. Missouri, which also moved to 13-8, struggled to match Florida’s early intensity and offensive efficiency.

The most critical phase of the game unfolded in the first quarter, where Florida built an insurmountable lead. The Gators raced to a 26-8 advantage after the opening period, shooting a blistering 11 for 18 from the field while holding the Tigers to just 3-for-15 shooting. McGill, a 5-foot-9 guard from Minneapolis, was the catalyst, scoring 11 points in the quarter and assisting on several other baskets as Florida’s offense operated with precision.

McGill finished with a near triple-double, adding nine rebounds and seven assists to her game-high 28 points in 37 minutes. Her performance was a decisive rebound from a recent stretch where the Gators had lost three consecutive conference games. She spearheaded a Florida attack that scored 38 points in the paint and converted 19 points off Missouri turnovers.

Missouri’s top scorers, Grace Slaughter and Shannon Dowell, fought to keep their team within reach. Slaughter, a 6-2 sophomore from Grain Valley, Missouri, scored 29 points, while Dowell, a 5-10 guard from O’Fallon, Illinois, added 23. Their efforts helped the Tigers win the second quarter 21-19 and match Florida’s output in the third and fourth quarters, but the early deficit proved too large to overcome.

The Gators’ offensive balance was overwhelming. Alongside McGill, Me’Arah O’Neal scored 17 points, Alexia Dizeko added 16, and Laila Reynolds contributed 14. Florida shot 53% from the field (34 of 64) and 40% from three-point range (10 of 25). Their offensive rating of 120.1 points per 100 possessions far outpaced Missouri’s 102.4.

Missouri shot 40% overall (22 of 55) but was hampered by nine turnovers in the first half and an inability to contain Florida’s interior game. The Tigers did force 11 Florida turnovers and shot 19 of 26 from the free-throw line, but were outrebounded 38-30.

The victory allowed Florida to snap its three-game skid and even its conference record. Missouri, coming off a 94-69 win over Arkansas, saw its two-game winning streak halted.

Florida next travels to face LSU on Monday, Jan. 26. Missouri returns home to host Mississippi on Thursday, Jan. 22.

An announced crowd of 1,824 watched the game at the O’Connell Center. Florida covered the pregame spread as a 5.5-point favorite, and the total score of 160 surpassed the over/under line of 143.5.