Women’s Basketball: Career Highs and big wins are the result of new roles for the Gators

Florida has won their first two games by a combined 63 points.

Senior Guard Jeriah Warren (Chris Spears photo)

By Loren Meadows, GatorBaitMedia.com

The Florida Gators have opened the season with two resounding wins to open the season. Under the leadership of Kelly Rae Finley the Gators continue to show improvement behind the play of three veterans and a top newcomer. The trio of Ra’Shaya Kyle, Jeriah Warren and Kensa Salgues have provided veteran leadership and performance while freshman Liv McGill looks to be settling into her role as one of the conference’s best newcomers.

Kyle who missed most of the 2023 season with a knee injury has been stellar in her first two outings this season. The 6-6 senior had 17 points, six rebounds and three blocks in the Gators win against Florida Atlantic and followed that up with her first double-double of the season scoring 19 points with 12 rebounds in the Gator victory against Florida A&M last Thursday. For Kyle the road to return has been tough, but her ability return a month ahead of schedule has been key. “I concentrated on being consistent on my conditioning”, stated Kyle. “My body actually healed better than expected”. On her play early this season Kyle remarked, “I feel I can play better”.

For Warren, the first two games have meant a resurgence of an offensive game that had been in her back pocket for her first three years of her Florida career. A great high school two-way player Coach Finley challenged her senior guard to take a more assertive role offensively for the benefit of a young Gator team. Warren has heard the call from her coach and then some as the senior guard from Lake Charles, Louisiana has started the season on an offensive tear averaging 17 points per game in the Gators first two games. Most importantly Warren is hunting her shot averaging over 10 attempts per game after attempting just four in 2023. Warren hit her career high of 21 points in the Gators opening win against Florida Atlantic. “Jeriah understood what we needed from her this season”, stated Finley. 

Combo guard Kenza Salgues also hit the transformation button this summer and has become a major contributor in her final season. Salgues, who battled injuries during during most of her collegiate career is healthy, in shape, and looking to make an impact. Salgues leads the Gators in minutes played, three pointers made, and fourth in scoring. Salgues has been tasked with starting at the off guard position as well as running the offense in a reserve role. So far this season she has played well for Finley and the Gators.

Most impressive may be the play of 2024 McDonalds All-American Liv McGill who has come in and made the Gators a more efficient basketball team. McGill has an impressive 2+ to 1 assist to turnover ratio while scoring 17.5 points per game. McGill has shown maturity beyond her years handling an offense that starts three seniors. McGill is a workaholic that Finley and others have credited with being exactly what the Gators need this season. “Liv is very fun”, Kyle stated. “Liv’s going to be great she’s very special”.