Vivian Iwuchukwu Leads Florida Past Chattanooga 64-58

Vivian Iwuchukwu Leads Florida Past Chattanooga 64-58

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Vivian Iwuchukwu scored 19 points to lead the Florida women’s basketball team to a 64-58 win over Chattanooga on Sunday, marking the program’s first road victory of the season.

According to reporting from WRUF 98.1 FM | 850 AM, Iwuchukwu took over the scoring mantle for the first time this season, eclipsing the typical production of Kiyomi McMiller. Iwuchukwu shot 7-of-8 from the field and added four rebounds, four assists, and one steal without committing a single turnover during her 33 minutes of play.

The win improves Florida’s all-time series record against Chattanooga to 4-3. The Gators also won three games in seven days to start the Tammi Reiss era.

The Gators’ offensive strategy faced immediate pressure as Chattanooga attempted to neutralize Florida’s primary scoring threats. McMiller, who recently set program records with a 42-point performance against UCF, was held to just five points in the first half.

“Coming into this game I knew they were going to double Kiy, trap her, and Vanessa as well, most of our aggressive, scoring guards,” Reiss said.

Reiss noted that the defensive adjustments made by the Mocs were rapid. Iwuchukwu addressed the tactical shift, stating that while teams will begin to collapse on her as well, she found success by finding her teammates when the defense tightened.

Signed vivian iwuchukwu

Despite the win, the team struggled with efficiency away from home. Florida’s shooting from distance was uncharacteristically low, as the team shot just 17.6% from the 3-point line. This followed a 42% performance in their previous win against UCF. The Gators also faced challenges at the free-throw line, converting 19 of 28 attempts for a 67.9% success rate.

While the perimeter shooting faltered, the defensive side of the ball provided stability. Vanessa Harris, one of the team’s designated leaders, recorded five steals and four rebounds despite accumulating four personal fouls. Harris, who transitioned from an Atlantic 10 Sixth-Woman of the Year to a starter for this SEC program, had previously notched a career-high 26 points against Bucknell.

The Gators also dealt with ball security issues, committing 13 turnovers due to offensive fouls and miscommunications. However, they offset this by forcing 11 turnovers from Chattanooga.

Off the bench, Jade Weathersby played 27 minutes and helped the team. As the sole returner from the 2025-26 season, Weathersby recorded 12 rebounds, an assist, a block, and a steal, while contributing to the team’s scoring without a turnover.

Metric vs. UCF vs. Chattanooga
3-Point Percentage 42% 17.6%
Result Win (30 points) Win (6 points)

Chattanooga remained competitive throughout the contest, with TaTiana Stovall, Izzy McPherson, and Lydia Ledford all reaching double-digit scoring. The Mocs’ performance was aided by a 56.3% free-throw percentage, which Florida’s coaching staff suggests could have altered the game’s outcome had the Mocs been more efficient.

The three consecutive wins place Tammi Reiss in elite company within the Florida program. She joins Carol Ross, Debbie Yow, and Carolyn Peck as the only coaches to win their first three games with the Gators.

The current benchmark for a coaching debut is held by Yow, who won her first nine games. To extend the current streak and tie Yow’s mark, Reiss and the Gators must remain undefeated through their upcoming matchup against Miami on Dec. 2.

“You don’t want to have to lose and learn from a loss,” Reiss said. “I’d rather learn from a win.”

Florida is scheduled to host USF at 6 p.m. this Thursday.

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