NEXT Game: Gators at Alabama, Feb. 6 at 3 pm ET on COX Sports
Friday, February 4, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Florida (12-9, 3-5 SEC) at Alabama (12-8, 3-4 SEC)
Game Day Information
When: Sunday, February 6, 2005 * 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT)
Where: Tuscaloosa, Ala. * Coleman Coliseum (15,341)
Radio: LIVE on the GATOR RADIO NETWORK in Gainesville on WRUF-AM850 and ROCK 103.7 FM ...Brooksville - WWJB-AM 1450 ... Daytona Beach - WELE-AM 1380 ... Jacksonville - WNZS-AM 930 ... Key West - WKWF-AM 1600 ... Melbourne - WMEL-AM 920 ... Ocala - WMOP-AM 900 ... Okeechobee – WOKC –AM 1570 ... Palatka – WIYD-AM 1260 ... Panama City – WDIZ-AM 590 with Steve Babik & Steve Russell
Internet: audio LIVE thru GatorZone.com
GatorVision Online: none
Television: LIVE on Cox Sports (in Gainesville on channel 67) with Mick Hubert & Mark Wise
Post-Game Satellite Feed: none
Today's Story Line
It's Separation Sunday in the SEC and the Gators are looking to make a move upward in the standings. UF's next three opponents - Alabama (3-4), Kentucky (3-4) and Mississippi State (3-5) - all sit even or just in front of Florida in the league standings. So each of the Gator's next three games take on significant importance... beginning today in Tuscaloosa!
Today's Game at a Glance
The Gators aim to regroup after losing Thursday's thrilling 91-82 overtime game to fifth-ranked Tennessee. UF has lost four consecutive games entering today's outing.
Alabama has won all three of its SEC games at home, with the lone loss coming last Thursday against Georgia, 72-63.
Six and Counting
UF plays only six more regular season games (including today's game) before the SEC Tournament and three of those are against teams currently ranked in the top-25.
Are You Ready for Some ... Basketball!
Today's game marks the seventh consecutive year Florida has played on Super Bowl Sunday. The Gators sport a 5-6 all-time record when playing on Super Bowl Sunday, including an 1-5 mark on the road.
The Gators are 3-1 when the team representing the AFC wins the title but 2-5 when the NFC team wins.
Former Gator Guss Scott, is a defensive back for New England Patriots, while Jevon Kearse (DE), Lito Sheppard (CB) and Carlos Perez (WR) suit up for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Victory = 500th Program Win
The Gators enter today's contest having compiled a 499-378 record in their 31st year of varsity competition.
Welcome Back Danielle!
Junior Danielle Santos played 12 minutes in the Jan. 30 game at Vanderbilt, marking her first action since suffering a stress fracture in her right foot during the Dec. 19 game at Baylor. Santos, who is regarded as UF's top defender and missed 10 games with the injury, had been UF's second-leading scorer with 9.9 points per game when she left the lineup, as well as ranked second for assists (2.8 pg) and steals (1.8 pg) and being the team's top three-point threat (40.0 percent, 16-40)
The Series vs. Alabama
Alabama leads the all-time series against UF 24-16, including a 9-4 record in Tuscaloosa. The Gators won last year's meeting in Gainesville 76-69 and have captured four of the last five decisions against the Crimson Tide.
Scouting Alabama
Sophomore Marverly Nettles is in her first year at Alabama and leading the Crimson Tide with 13.7 points per game. She hits a team-high 45.5 percent (15-33) from the three-point arc, while collecting 5.4 rebounds, the second best mark on the team. Senior Natasha Gamble is the only other Tide scoring in double-figures, netting 10.1 per outing.
Gators at a Glance
Bernice Mosby has been UF's leading scorer and rebounder since the first game of the season. She is averaging 15.4 points with 8.4 rebounds while shooting a much-improved 73.3 percent from the free throw line. Mosby has been UF's leading scoring in each of the last three games, including the season-high 28-point performance against Tennessee on Feb. 3.
Tamia Williams has emerged as UF's second-leading scorer, contributing 12.6 points per game while shooting 36.6 percent (48-131) from the three-point line. Williams has been UF's leading scorer in six of the last 10 games, tallying 16.4 per game and shooting 42.3 percent (33-78) from beyond the arc during those contests.
Bumps & Bruises
Danielle Santos has played in each of the last two games, returning to the court after a 10-game absence due to a stress fracture in her right foot that she suffered on Dec. 19 during the game at Baylor.
Tashia Morehead continues to nurse a pair of injuries, but is expected to play in today's game. She sprained her left ankle with 12:12 remaining in the Dec. 8 game against Stetson. Morehead already was rehabbing a strained right quad she injured during practice on Nov. 17 and missed three straight practices as a result.
Kim Dye suffered a season-ending injury to her left knee during the team's shoot-around prior to the Jan. 9 game against Auburn. An MRI revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and a partially torn medial collateral ligament.
Good Losses...?
All nine of UF's losses this season have come against teams ranked (LSU, Baylor, Georgia, Florida State, Vanderbilt, Tennessee) or receiving votes (Iowa, Richmond, Ole Miss) in the Feb. 1 Associated Press poll.
