Correa scores 15, Florida women open big lead and hold off Missouri 66-60 in SEC first round

Updated Mar. 6, 2024 4:29 p.m. ET

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GREENSVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Leilani Correa scored 15 points, Alberte Rimdal hit a key jumper and 11th-seeded Florida turned back 14th-seeded Missouri 66-60 in the first round of the SEC Tournament on Wednesday.

With the help of a 16-0 run to start the second quarter, the Gators opened a 48-28 lead early in the second half. The Tigers got back in the game with a 14-0 run in the third quarter and closed within 60-57 with 4:07 to play.

Rimdal's jumper blunted an 8-0 Missouri run and after both teams missed several chances, Jeriah Warren scored for the Gators. Aliyah Matharu made two free throws with 39 seconds to play for a 66-57 lead. Mizzou closed the game making 1 of 9.

Florida (15-14) takes on eighth-seeded Vanderbilt on Thursday night.

Matharu had 14 points and nine rebounds for the Gators. Rimdal had 12 points and Warren added 10 with eight rebounds.

Ashton Judd scored 17 points for Missouri (11-19) and Grace Slaughter had 14.

Correa's jumper started Florida's surge in the second quarter. She had another basket and Rimdal made a pair of 3-ponters, the last making it 29-16. The Gators were on top 42-26 at the half.

After pushing the lead to 20, Judd started Mizzou's rally and by the time Slaughter scored her seventh point on a 3-pointer, the Tigers were within 48-42.

The lead was 11 with 6:42 in the game before Mama Dembele's layup, four points from Judd, and then another Dembele layup pushed it to 60-57.

___ Get alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here ___ AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

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