The South Florida Sun Sentinel has put together “Messi’s Setlist,” complete with songs about his exploits on the field and his World Cup team, Argentina. He’s been particularly associated with Argentinean cumbia and recently starred in a reggaeton video with Maluma that was filmed at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Check out the playlist right here and get to know the soccer superstar through song.

The Heat fell into an early 22-point deficit, but had rallied within striking distance in the final minutes of the defeat, which dropped the Heat to the No. 8 seed in the East with four games left in the regular season.

—  The report said Heat guard Tyler Herro should have gone to line for three free throws with Heat down five with 55.1 seconds to play, with, instead, no call made on Herro’s errant 3-point attempt.

According to the NBA report, “(T.J.) McConnell (IND) makes contact with the part of Herro’s (MIA) hand that is not on the ball during his release and affects his jump shot attempt.”

— When the Heat trapped Pacers center Myles Turner and forced a turnover with 17.1 seconds left and down two, the officiating report said a foul should not have been called on the Heat, with Heat forward Haywood Highsmith coming up with the ball. Turner instead converted a pair of free throws for a four-point Indiana lead.

According to the NBA report, “(Bam) Adebayo (MIA) makes clean contact with the ball, simultaneous to Herro (MIA) making incidental hand-on-ball contact to dislodge it from Turner (IND).”

The NBA, however, confirmed the call of a lane violation on Herro on intentional free-throw miss with 3.5 seconds left and Heat down two.

According to the report, “Herro (MIA) extends beyond the plane of the free throw line before his free throw shot attempt touches the basket.”

The NBA only offers reports for the final two minutes of games that stand without three points at any point of the final two minutes. The report on Heat-Pacers cited 18 correct calls and the two calls deemed incorrect, a ratio that is not atypical.

Here, we’ve compiled some intriguing and informative columns from the past year, all in one spot for your reading enjoyment. (You may find previous “Ask Lois” columns at sunsentinel.com/tag/ask-lois.)

Also, don’t forget, if you’ve got a question, send an email to AskLois@sunsentinel.com. Here’s to more questions in 2024!

Where can I find authentic soft-shell crabs in South Florida?
(Originally published July 22, 2023)

Q: I am looking for restaurants in South Florida that serve authentic soft-shell crabs, either fried or sauteed. All these crab boil places say they have them, but when you check the menu they don’t or don’t know what they are. — George Sentell, Hollywood

A: I can see why you’re having trouble finding South Florida restaurants that serve soft-shell crabs, because there aren’t a lot of them. The creation of soft-shell crabs is a labor-intensive process. Anglers and seafood farmers have to harvest the crab at precisely the right moment, during a window of just a few hours, when the animal sheds its hard exterior (they call it “molting”) and the meat becomes not too soft or too hard but just right: tender and buttery.

The season on Florida’s east coast began in March and lasts into November. There’s also a similar Gulf Coast season, from spring through fall.

The crab’s soft shell is edible, as is most of its body, and is usually served fried.

“It’s definitely an acquired taste. It’s a little squishy,” said Kim Kelly, of Hurricane Alley Raw Bar & Restaurant in Boynton Beach.

Find some eateries in Broward and Palm Beach counties that have soft-shell crabs as regular menu items here: sunsentinel.com/softshellcrabs. You may want to call ahead.

Think you’re seeing less of the Goodyear blimp? There’s a good cause for it
(Originally published Oct. 26, 2023)

Q: The blimp hangar in Pompano Beach has been the winter home of one of Goodyear’s airships. It seems as if in the last few years it hasn’t been flying overhead as much as in the past.  Am I correct? Is it still based here during winter months? — Dennis Ulmer, Fort Lauderdale

A: It does seem like seeing the blimp over the ocean is no longer guaranteed during a South Florida beach visit. But Goodyear spokesman Daniel Smith said the airship is traveling around South Florida as much as ever, just with new objectives.

First, a correction: Pompano Beach is not the winter home of the blimp; it’s one of three year-round blimp bases. The others are in Carson, Calif., and Suffield, Ohio.

So what are blimps, anyway? Goodyear describes them as semi-rigid airships, about the length of a football field, inflated with helium. Historically, they have been used as advertising vehicles and to provide overhead cameras for sporting events, for teams such as the Dolphins, Heat, Marlins and Panthers. There’s also regular soccer, golf and NASCAR coverage.

“In short: if it’s a big event, the Goodyear Blimp is there,” Smith said.

The Pompano Beach-based blimp, named “Wingfoot Two,” employs about 20 people, including pilots, mechanics, broadcast technicians, crewmen and base staff. As for passengers, there are seats for 10 guests and two pilots in a gondola underneath the balloon, known to the blimp crew as “the envelope.”

The blimp travels a lot, but the crew only spends about 100 nights a year away from Pompano Beach, an amount that Smith said hasn’t changed much in the past two decades. On the 200-plus nights that the blimp is in South Florida, where does it go besides sporting events? Smith said blimps used to take aerial strolls just to get publicity, but no longer: Now its focus is charity.

“Though there is no way for a member of the public to simply purchase a ticket to ride the Goodyear Blimp, we instead donate ride certificates to nonprofits throughout South Florida,” he said. “Each year, these certificates raise hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction, all of which is kept directly by those organizations.”

Many of the days at home are spent fulfilling these charity certificate rides. The blimp will fly along the beach about 10 miles in either direction, before turning around and heading back to pick up the next group.

“So although folks outside of this flight path may see the Goodyear Blimp less often, it’s our way to actually increase its impact throughout our community here in South Florida,” Smith said.

Can I get a green burial in South Florida?
(Originally published Jan. 13, 2023)

Q: I’ve been investigating the “green burial” movement and apparently the only option for me in Florida would be the Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery in Gainesville. This would be quite a schlep and expense for my family on short notice. After reading your column on Jewish burial customs, I made a copy of it for my “last instructions” file. Although I’m not Jewish, I’ve always thought their burial practices are the most sensible. I’ve looked into Jewish cemeteries, and the only local one I’ve found with a section for outsiders requires a pine coffin to be placed in a concrete vault with its bottom cut out to allow access to the earth below. I understand the need for the vault, so that the ground above won’t be collapsing. But it’s not quite as “green” as the Gainesville site. I’m not quite ready to go, but one never knows. If you come across any local options for me, I’d be glad to hear about them. — Tom, Boca Raton

A: We all reach an age when we start to think about these things. I guarantee you are ahead of most of us by making an instructions file for your family. This is difficult stuff to talk about, but at a certain point we have to tackle the issue of death to make it easier on our descendants.

I’m glad my column on Jewish burial practices got you thinking. In that column, a Catholic reader asked me why Jews are buried in a white shroud and placed in a plain pine box. Rabbi David Steinhardt of B’nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton detailed the Jewish value of equality and dignity in death and the concept of returning directly to the earth for burial.

Green burial has much in common with these Jewish practices. As in the Jewish tradition, there’s no embalming, as green enthusiasts say those chemicals leach into the earth. And there’s no fancy vault that won’t biodegrade.

The Green Burial Council, which certifies cemeteries for environmental friendliness, has four criteria for a natural burial: Minimal environmental impact, low carbon emissions, protection for workers and preservation of habitat.

Jews in South Florida seeking a green burial have the option of South Florida Jewish Cemetery near Lake Worth Beach, which is called a “hybrid” cemetery by the green council. The cemetery’s director, Rabbi Jay Lyons, said the site consists of “green burial throughout” but got the hybrid designation because its graves have traditional granite monuments. The green council rejects upright headstones in favor of flat markers.

In any case, Lyons told me the cemetery is open only to Jews.

“As a Jewish cemetery, we only offer burial to people who identify as Jewish,” Lyons said. He said a centuries-old Jewish law deemed burial grounds as sacred spaces that should be available only to Jews.

The Green Burial Council also places Brooksville Cemetery north of Tampa in the hybrid category, and then offers its full endorsement to Prairie Creek, which Lyons also highly recommended.

“For what it’s worth, it’s a beautiful cemetery run by very honorable people,” he said.

Prairie Creek goes a step beyond green burial by using burial fees to protect the land and restore it to its original condition through a conservation easement. In keeping with the minimalist approach, staffers use an Amish burial cart to move the body to the gravesite (no gas-guzzling black hearses allowed). Gravesites get a simple brass memorial marker instead of a tombstone.

Though not certified by the Green Burial Council, I found two other Florida cemeteries that offer natural burials: Heartwood Preserve, near New Port Richey, and Glendale Memorial Natural Preserve in the Panhandle.

If you want to get as close as you can to a green burial in South Florida, there are several ways to minimize the environmental impact of your death. See if you can skip the embalming and concrete vault and request a sustainably grown wood box with organic liner that will decompose. And don’t get cremated, as many say cremation adds tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere each year.

Which Broward restaurants have family restrooms for wheelchair-bound & other diners?
(Originally published April 5, 2023)

Q: My mother is wheelchair-bound due to a recent fall. She still enjoys going to restaurants and I take her out at least two times a week. When she needs to use the restroom, I provide assistance to make sure she safely moves from the wheelchair to the toilet.

Since I am male, I cannot accompany her in the women’s restroom. Some restaurants that don’t have separate restrooms have offered to provide assistance, but I am not comfortable with this. This has definitely become an issue which limits the choice of restaurants.

Is there a way that the Sun Sentinel could solicit input from readers and especially restaurant managers and owners that have individual, one-person, wheelchair-accessible restrooms in order to compile a list and make the public aware? I am sure other caregivers would also greatly appreciate this and it would be an opportunity for restaurants to increase traffic among another user segment. — David Sellers, Weston

A: This is such an interesting problem that I’m learning many people encounter. I know some restaurants have restrooms for individuals while others have several stalls for each gender, but I hadn’t thought about the challenges the latter create for people who need to accompany their opposite-sex meal partner to the toilet.

I did some research on when restaurants are required to have one-person restrooms. Leonard Vialpando, director of Broward County’s Resilient Environment Department, said the Florida Plumbing Code has detailed requirements regarding number of stalls, their size and accessibility to disabled users. But the codes don’t specify when family restrooms are required, leaving this decision to individual establishments.

There are several apps that help people find public restrooms, including Squat or Not and Bathroom Scout, but one that may best help your situation is Flush, which tells you whether the bathroom has disabled access or requires a key (which often means there’s a private stall).

You told me you have discovered several Broward County restaurants that meet your mom’s needs, so I’ll list them here: Brio Italian Grille in Plantation, Cooper’s Hawk in Fort Lauderdale and Coconut Creek, and Seasons 52 and Grand Lux Cafe, both at Sawgrass Mills in Sunrise.

I called 10 Broward restaurants but found only two that said they have individual restrooms: North South Grill in Pembroke Pines and Ferro Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria in Tamarac.

So readers and restaurant managers, it’s now in your hands: Send names of Broward eateries that have one-person bathrooms to Ask Lois@sunsentinel.com. David, his mom and a host of disabled people will be very grateful.

Will we ever get a break from South Florida traffic congestion?
(Originally published Aug. 28, 2023)

Q: With horrendous traffic and constant accidents on I-95 and U.S. 1 and other roads, why isn’t it considered a public health emergency to provide alternative and better public transport options? An example would be a tram/streetcar or bus-only lane along U.S. 1, which would encourage people to actually use it since it’s not obstructed by traffic. Obviously we can debate merits of train vs. bus, but something has to be done so that South Florida does not become unlivable. — Anil Nasta, Fort Lauderdale

A: I agree that we are in a transportation emergency. Besides the frequent accidents that you mention, I daily experience excessively long waits at lights and lane closures that bring traffic to a crawl. I watch drivers running through stop signs and cutting others off. I have to admit I have been enjoying this summer with its reduced number of cars on the road, but we all know that will change in the coming months as tourists and seasonal residents return and our streets re-congest.

I reached out to transportation planners in Broward and Palm Beach counties and felt reassured that they are on top of this. Unfortunately, the most appealing projects they are planning, such as light rail and express bus corridors, are a long way off.

Here’s a list of some upcoming projects and when they’re expected to be completed.

BROWARD COUNTY

Commuter rail: The Florida Department of Transportation is planning commuter rail service between Fort Lauderdale and Miami-Dade County’s Aventura, along 11.5 miles of the FEC railroad corridor with stations in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. (2027 completion.)

Light rail: Plans call for Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Port Everglades and the Broward County Convention Center to connect along a 3.5-mile electric rail line by 2028. An eventual westward extension is planned to connect the line to Sawgrass Mills mall in Sunrise.

Automated People Mover: A plan to overhaul Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport includes an Automated People Mover. This light rail system would ferry visitors along a 3-mile loop with stations at the airport’s terminals and parking garages. (2030 completion.)

Sawgrass Expressway to I-95 link: This plan would create high-speed lanes between Interstate 95, the Sawgrass and Florida’s Turnpike while leaving the adjacent Southwest 10th Street as a local roadway. (Construction expected to begin in 2024 and take at least six years.)

State Road 84 at Weston Road intersection improvements: Plans call for roadway widening, repaving, upgraded lighting and sign replacement. (Fall 2026 completion.)

Cypress Creek Road Tri-Rail and bus station, Fort Lauderdale: Bicyclists will appreciate these updates, including new sidewalks on North Andrews Way and resurfacing and new curb on Northwest 59th Court. (Work scheduled to begin in spring 2024.)

Copans Road improvements: From State Road 7 to 49th Terrace, pedestrians would see widened sidewalks, improved bus stops and pedestrian signals. (Winter 2024 completion.)

I-95 express lanes: An overhaul has been underway for years on one of Broward’s mammoth corridors — the stretch of highway by interstates 595 and 95. It includes new ramps, extended express lanes, wider lanes and other improvements, and is one of five construction projects to directly connect the I-595 and I-95 express lanes while extending the existing express lanes north from just south of Hollywood Boulevard to Broward Boulevard. (Spring 2025 completion.)

Rapid transit buses: A county plan includes rapid and high-frequency bus service along six north-south corridors and eight east-west corridors, with 15 miles along Oakland Park Boulevard planned as the first to be completed. (Estimated for 2028.)

PALM BEACH COUNTY

Walk, bike, bus, rail: The Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency, working with municipalities and other transit agencies, has allocated $3.6 billion from 2023 to 2027 for walking and bicycling projects, bus shelters, new bus and rail vehicles, roadway widening projects along key corridors and other maintenance initiatives, said Brian Ruscher, the TPA’s deputy director of multimodal. A study will soon begin to evaluate Military Trail, Congress Avenue, Forest Hill Boulevard, Lake Worth Road, Boynton Beach Boulevard, Atlantic Avenue and Glades Road, looking at safe walking and bicycling routes, including “opportunities for micro-transit (think local transit provider Uber or Lyft services) and express bus services,” Ruscher said. Other projects include: Atlantic Avenue widening from S.R. 7 to Jog Road (2024); Lyons Road widening south of Atlantic Avenue (under construction now); U.S. 1 safety improvements (after 2027) and S.R. A1A resurfacing projects (2024-25).

U.S. 1 from Broward/Palm Beach county line north to Yamato Road, Boca Raton: Drivers getting stuck at long lights would see improved traffic signaling along 6 miles of U.S. 1, with the help of closed-circuit cameras and traffic signals that detect bicyclists and pedestrians. (Summer 2024.)

Military Trail at Forest Hill Boulevard improvement project: Additional turn lanes, new bike lanes, improved sidewalks and driveways are in the works. (Winter 2024.)

I-95 express lanes: The FDOT has been working its way north from Miami-Dade and Broward to add express lanes in Palm Beach County. Construction now includes lanes from south of Glades Road in Boca Raton to south of Linton Boulevard in Delray Beach. There will be two express lanes in each direction. (Completion later this year.)

SO MANY QUESTIONS …

All this transportation construction raises so many questions. Are South Florida motorists willing to make room on our streets for bicyclists, pedestrians, buses and new rail lines? Will improved bus and rail systems motivate drivers to give up their cars? And will these very expensive projects make a significant difference in our quality of life?

It’s hard to imagine South Florida without our very car-centric culture. But we can always dream.

The trailer for the six-part Apple TV+ docuseries, “Messi Meets America,” kicks off with these words — reminding us of those surreal and heady summer days after the soccer superstar announced his plans to join MLS and don the pink-and-black colors of South Florida’s team, Inter Miami.

The “highly anticipated documentary event” premiered Oct. 11 with three episodes presented on the first day and the promise of three more. This week, Apple TV released the last episode, entitled “One Epic Summer.”

The website synopsis reads: “The club fight for a playoff spot as they wrap an unexpected and extraordinary season with Messi.”

The docuseries promised to take viewers behind the scenes as Messi joined his new squad and helped secure victories — even winning a Leagues Cup title, the team’s first championship.

“From selling out record crowds across America at breakneck speed, to his incredible last-minute, game-winning goal in his very first match, to moments with Messi and his Inter Miami CF teammates, the series chronicles Leo’s immersion in America, the remarkable journey and transformation of Inter Miami CF, and most significantly, the impact he is currently having on soccer in North America,” according to an Inter Miami CF statement.

For more information, go to tv.apple.com.

AJC’s update included both the historical overview of Jewish-Latino relations and shed light on the current state of affairs. Siegel Vann’s insightful presentation left a lasting impact on the attendees, particularly the Consul General of Brazil in Miami, Andre Odenbreit Carvalho. Inspired by the gathering, Consul General Carvalho expressed his desire to connect with the thriving Brazilian Jewish community of Miami, which comprises over 500 families and continues to grow.

Jack Sterenberg, a Brazilian member of AJC’s Latin American Task Force worked with Teichberg and Rabbi Dovi Begun to organize a special evening reception held on May 9th for the Consul General to formally meet the Brazilian Jewish community in their new center.

Centro Judaico de Miami (CJM), located in North Dade, is the Brazilian community’s new vibrant institution representing the Brazilian Jewish diaspora. As the only Brazilian Jewish organization located outside Brazil and Israel, CJM serves as a vital hub for the community’s cultural and religious activities. Rabbi Begun and CJM President Luciano Lautenberg, alongside Sterenberg moderated a Q & A in Portuguese, allowing for an authentic and meaningful exchange of ideas.

There was once a wealthy man with a reputation for both supporting and terrorizing the poor. How could this be? Every Shabbat, he invited someone needy to supper. Sitting him at the head of his table, he peppered the man with so many questions that he had no chance to eat. By the end of the meal, when the food was gone, the host then asked, “Why do you talk so much that you don’t eat?” And the poor soul went away hungry.

When Hershele learned of this indignity, he hatched a plan. He asked the shammes of the synagogue, the caretaker, to wangle him an invitation to the man’s house.

And so it happened that Hershele received his invitation. As he expected, he was seated at the head of the table and introduced like an honored guest.

The host picked up the plate of fish and helped himself. Without offering it to Hershele, he asked, “So where do you come from?”

When Hershele told him, the man asked after a friend he had there.

Reaching across the host to spear a large piece of fish, Hershele replied, “Oh, he died.”

The guest was in such shock that he dropped his fork. “Really? But what of his business partner?”

Hershele chomped away on his fish. At last he replied, “He died too.”

The man turned ashen. “He too! Why, he owed me money! What of his son?”

Hershele spooned some potatoes onto this plate. He took a big swallow and replied, “He died too.”

How host could barely contain himself. “His son, too! But what of his brother, who lived in the big house at the edge of town?”

Hershele reached for the challah. “Oh, he’s dead.”

The man was nearly apoplectic. “Uncle,” he said. “Are you telling me that everyone in your hometown is dead?”

Hershele finished the bread. “Sir,” he said at last, “when I am eating, the rest of the world is as good as dead. By the way, you haven’t touched your fish. Eat up, it’s really good!”

Caren Schnur Neile, Ph.D., appears weekly on public radio WLRN. She teaches at Florida
Atlantic University. Her latest book, with Sam Ron, is A Jewish Journey. Visit her at
carenneile.com

Shechter is the first Holocaust survivor, and first member of the public, to ever enter this space. It was in Block 8 that Shechter was imprisoned for three years as a child – starved, tortured, and witness to thousands of senseless and brutal murders including those of his own family members.

Shechter’s emotional experience was part of an exclusive “Holocaust to Independence” mission, hosted by Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF), from April 19-27, on the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel.

“Having to walk through Cell 8 was choking. While I was prepared for the trauma, I almost fainted. I don’t know how in G-d’s name I came out of the Holocaust alive,” he said of the excruciating visit, one that he claims was necessary. “What gave me strength was having IDF commanders by my side, as well as FIDF supporters who saw first-hand some of the horrors of what we experienced during the most horrendous time in history.”

One of the founders of the Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach and The March of the Living, Shechter has made it his life’s mission to keep the memories of the six million Jews murdered alive. As the number of survivors continues to dwindle, Shechter says, he considers his extraordinary vigor a gift that allows him to continue telling his story to a new generation of young people. “I look in their eyes and tell them three things: No. 1, they need to hear me; No. 2, they need to understand; and No. 3, the most important, I need them to be my mouthpiece when I am no longer here.”

A film was produced in 2018 about his life, “A Call to Remember: The David Shechter Story,” and recently, hours of his story were recorded for an interactive exhibit slated to open in a museum in Boston in 2025.

Alongside a delegation of IDF soldiers, Shechter, with fellow Holocaust survivor, Ben Midler, joined a delegation of 120 – including Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officers, and FIDF supporters from across the country – on an incredible nine-day journey of remembrance and renewal in Poland and Israel. “From Holocaust to Independence” brings Jewish history to life, from its darkest moments to the most triumphant. The mission is part of FIDF’s Witnesses in Uniform Program, which offers IDF soldiers a first-hand look at the unfathomable horrors of the Holocaust, leading to a new, profound understanding of their Jewish identity and heritage.

Mission participants learned about 1,100 years of Jewish history, 700 years of Jewry and six years of the darkest time of human history. The culmination of the experience in Israel gave participants an even greater appreciation of what Israel is and what it means to every Jew on earth. It underscored the enormous responsibility of the young men and women who serve to protect it, and participants walked away with an even greater sense of appreciation for the Jewish Homeland.

“This historic mission on Israel’s 75th anniversary was a meaningful and cathartic experience. We celebrated the story of Jewish courage – from near annihilation to the triumph of establishing the State of Israel,” said Steve Weil, CEO of FIDF. “Today we have the soldiers of the IDF to protect the Jewish people. We will never forget our past and will do everything we can to keep the memories of those who perished alive to honor them, and to share with future generations the importance of Israel and her protectors.”

The event began with remarks by Anshei Emuna Rabbi Jack Engel and Director of the FIDF South
Palm Beach and Broward, Miriam Engel. Becky Saka, a local, former lone soldier, spoke to the crowd
about her decision to move to Israel and experience in the Israeli Army. There was an audio/video
presentation on the past, present and future of Israel which detailed agricultural, medical and
technological advances the country is responsible for. Then, Rabbi Avi Billet of Anshei Chesed
Congregation in Boynton Beach spoke regarding the significance of the event.

This was a special event for Anshei Emuna and Anshei Chesed as it marked the first time the two
congregations have partnered, celebrating Israel and solidarity. With antisemitism on the rise and
anti-Israel rhetoric spreading, the evening was a refreshing reminder of our shared values and
interests.

“Religious Zionism isn’t the dream, it’s at the core of our faith”, remarked Rabbi Engel who was
impressed with the turnout of his passionate congregants. Rabbi Billet echoed his sentiment, “Israel’s
Memorial Day and Independence Day are both a testament to the sacredness of our People’s eternal
connection to the land of Israel. Our communal observance and celebration demonstrate our
appreciation to those who have made every sacrifice to help make the return to Zion into a blessing
for humanity.”

Miriam Engel, who coordinated with the lone soldier and was there to represent the IDF said, “On
Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut we show our solidarity with Israel. A strong IDF is contingent on
our soldiers, and without our soldiers there would be no Israel. After all their jobs are to look after
Israel, our jobs are to look after them.”

World renowned vocalist Noam Agami, performed both classic and modern Israeli music while the
crowd danced and sang along.

The Gators (19-14) connected on 13 of 30 from 3 (43.3%), which ties for the third-best performance by a Florida team in program history.

Deans accounted for a team-high 4 made 3s.

“We’ve been working really hard on sharing the ball,” coach Kelly Rae Finley said. “One of our goals was to really improve on both ends of the floor with the rebounds. I thought we did that. To the three-point shooting, we’ve been working hard on hitting the open player on time, every time by making the extra pass, and then moving to that extra pass to get the uncontested shot. That really paid off for us tonight.”

Leilani Correa (11 points), Alberte Rimdal (11), Faith Dut (10) and Nina Rickards (10) also scored in double figures for Florida.

Next, the Gators play Monday at Bowling Green at 6 p.m. in a regional final matchup.

Clemson (19-16) was held to 21-for-59 shooting (35.6%) and just 3-for-16 from deep (18.8%).

Florida broke open a closely contested game in the first half, opening the third quarter with a 7-2 run for a 43-37 lead.

It was a 22-10 edge in the third that set the tone for the rest of the game. The Gators led by as many as 18, and the Tigers weren’t able to get any closer than 9 at Littlejohn Coliseum.