Florida Florida/South Carolina S. Carolina Women's College Basketball recap on ESPN

"We got a lot of players with a 'no doubt' attitude," said McCain, who had 29 points and hit a career-high seven 3-pointers as the Lady Gators (No. 12 ESPN/USA Today, No. 10 AP) won their 11th straight over South Carolina 97-85 Sunday.

"It's something that we've had all year, no matter the situation," she said.

And the Lady Gators (15-2, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) needed it in this one.

They had lost Sherisha Hills, who averaged about 20 minutes and six points a game, to a season-ending knee injury on Jan. 18. They were down to 10 players, including two walk-ons.

"I had a lot of concerns about this one," Ross said.

But McCain's shooting helped the Lady Gators prevail.

McCain hit four 3-pointers in the first half, then had five points during a 15-3 run in the second half that pushed the Lady Gators from a one-point deficit to a 74-63 lead with 8:15 left.

McCain's final 3-pointer capped that run and took the fight from the Lady Gamecocks (7-11, 3-3), who could get no closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Tamara Stocks scored 23 points, 17 in the second half, and Naomi Mobley added 20 for Florida, which has won six of its past seven games.

"They did a really good job of answering us," South Carolina coach Susan Walvius said. "Anytime you shoot 51 percent and score 85 points, you expect to win."

McCain kept popping open for Florida, especially in the first half, when South Carolina's hot shooting threatened to move the Lady Gamecocks out front. Her fourth 3-pointer tied the game at 29-all while her next one regained the lead for Florida, 47-45.

After South Carolina went ahead 58-52, McCain's next long-range shot tied things at 58-58 while her last one closed the decisive spurt.

McCain said she and her teammates knew the situation they faced -- long minutes and an improved South Carolina -- and did what they could to overcome it.

"I think that's what we're going to see in any Southeastern Conference game," she said. "We have to find people to step up."

In the second half that was Stocks, who was constantly past the Lady Gamecocks defense beneath the basket.

"We did a good job taking advantage of some gaps in their defense," Ross said.

McCain's long shots led to South Carolina marking the outside perimeter and slacking off on the inside.

"If our defense was on the way it usually is, that wouldn't have happened," South Carolina center Teresa Geter said.

Almost everyone who played for Florida made their mark. Reserve Vanessa Havey had nine rebounds and three blocks. Starting guard Monique Cardenas had four steals.

Stocks, in for 22 minutes, was the only starter for Florida to play less than 35 minutes.

Tombi Bell had 15 points and nine assists for Florida.

Tatyana Troina led South Carolina with a career-high 26 points and seven of her own 3-pointers.

Her sixth 3-pointer gave the Lady Gamecocks their largest lead of the second half, 58-52, with 14:51 to go.

Shaun Gortman added 23 points for South Carolina.

Mobley had 13 points and in the first-half shootout that saw the lead change seven times. The last came when Mobley grabbed a loose ball beneath her basket and powered in a shot with 2.6 seconds left that put the Lady Gators ahead 44-43 at the break.

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Florida Clubhouse

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