Gators Host Nationally-Ranked Georgia on Thursday at 7 pm
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Florida welcomes No. 17 Georgia to the O'Connell Center for a Thursday evening battle between the two SEC rivals. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
This will be the second time the Gators have faced a top-25 team this season. UF dropped an 81-78 decision to then-No. 20/21 Florida State on November 23rd.
Florida (13-5, 2-1 SEC) has won its last two games and enters Thursday's affair seeking to extend its eight-game home winning streak. The Gators are coming off a convincing 92-74 victory over Arkansas in Fayetteville, when Jennifer Mossor led Florida with a career-high 19 points.
Georgia (15-3, 2-2 SEC) downed Alabama, 71-53, in its most recent game, halting a two-game slide that included road losses to Auburn (82-52) and Vanderbilt (67-59).
Home Sweet Home
Eleven of Florida's 13 wins this season have come within the friendly confines of the O'Connell Center. The Gators sport an 11-1 record this year in Gainesville, where they have won eight consecutive games since the 81-78 setback to then-No. 20 Florida State on November 23rd.
The eight-game home win streak is tied for the fifth-longest in program history.
The last time Florida won eight consecutive home games, Georgia abruptly halted the streak with a 105-62 decision on January 12, 2003.
Now Wearing Orange & Blue...
Florida assistant coach Susie Gardner is a graduate of Georgia, earning her bachelor's degree in 1986 and her master's in 1988. As a four-year letterwinner (1982-86) under Andy Landers, Gardner was a member of the 1983 and 1985 Final Four teams that also won three SEC championships (1983, 1984 & 1986). She followed her playing career as a graduate assistant coach in Athens for two seasons, helping the Dawgs reach the NCAA Tournament both seasons.
During her tenure as a head coach at Austin Peay State University, Gardner coached the Lady Govs to the largest victory in program history - a 71-66 victory over then-No. 9 Georgia on Dec. 16, 1997 in Athens. Current head coach Amanda Butler was an assistant coach on Gardner's staff during that monumental upset.
The Florida-Georgia Series
Georgia holds a commanding 40-10 lead in the 50-game series against Florida and carries a seven-game win streak versus the Gators into Thursday's contest.
The last six games, however, have been even more lopsided in favor of the Lady Dawgs, who have won those outings by an average of 26 points per game.
Florida has not defeated Georgia since sweeping the two-game regular-season series during the 2003-04 season.
Florida's seven-game slide against Georgia is its longest active streak against SEC teams, with the three-game losing streak to Auburn the next longest.
Pre-Season Picks
The SEC coaches selected Florida to finish 11th in the 12-team league standings during the preseason vote, while Georgia was picked to place third.
The media poll was identical to the coaches' poll, with one change: picking the Gators to finish 10th and South Carolina to place 11th.
Numbers to Note
*Sha Brooks' next 3-pointer will be the 142nd of her career and move her into a tie for No. 3 with Dana Smith (1994-98) on UF's all-time chart.
*Should Marshae Dotson start Thursday's game, it will be her 50th consecutive start.
Another Notable Number
Georgia's Andy Landers is aiming for his 700th victory as the Lady Bulldog's head coach, entering Thursday's contest sporting an impressive 699-218 record in his 29th season in Athens. Overall, the veteran coach has compiled a 781-239 record in 33 years on the sidelines.
Who's Hot?
In Florida's THREE SEC games:
*Marshae Dotson is averaging 19.3 points and 10.3 rebounds while shooting 63.2 percent (24-38) from the floor. She tied her career-high of 26 points in last Thursday's loss at Kentucky, when she also collected 12 rebounds to net her sixth double-double of the year. Against Arkansas, Dotson contributed 15 points and 13 boards in her seventh double-double of 2008.
*Sha Brooks is shooting 53.3 percent (8-15) from the three-point arc
*Jennifer Mossor is contributing 9.7 points and 3.0 assists while hitting 57.1 percent (4-7) of her three-point shots. The sophomore guard tallied a career-high 19 points in the January 20th win at Arkansas.
Scouting Georgia
Georgia is led by All-American forward Tasha Humphrey, who contributes 16.7 points with 8.6 rebounds this season and can shoot from anywhere on the floor, hitting 47.2 percent from the field, 37 percent (20-54) from behind the three-point arc and 78.4 percent (76-97) from the free throw line.
Humphrey is joined in the paint by 6-foot-5 redshirt-sophomore Angel Robinson, who added 10.5 points and a team-high 8.8 rebounds and 31 blocks per game.
Sophomore Ashley Houts has proven to be one of the SEC's top point guards and directs the Dawgs with 12.6 points and 4.6 assists per game, while hitting 33.9 percent (19-56) of her three-point shots.
Stop That Streak!
The Gators have lost 11 consecutive games to ranked teams (including one in 2007-08), posting an 0-9 record during the 2006-07 season and dropping the last game they played versus a ranked foe in 2005-06. Florida's last win over a ranked team was the 95-93 overtime thriller in Knoxville against No. 5 Tennessee on Feb. 26, 2006.
Game Day Information
What: Game 19: Florida hosts Georgia
When: Thursday, January 24, 2008 * 7 p.m., ET
Where: Gainesville, Fla. * Stephen C. O'Connell Center (12,000)
Radio: LIVE on WRUF AM850 in Gainesville - audio simulcast on Cox Channel 96 with Babik & Steve Russell
Internet Audio: LIVE thru GatorZone.com (FREE of charge)
GatorVision Online: delayed next day per SEC television contractual agreements
Television: none
Post-Game Satellite Feed: Jan. 24: Time: 22:15-22:30 ET
Satellite: KU Band Digital Feed - Galaxy 11, Transponder 19K, Slot A
Downlink Freq.: 12066.5 Horizontal Symbol Rate: 3.9787
Data Rate: 5.5 FEC: 3/4 Truck Trouble #: 352- 392- 8043
Tickets: Reserved Seating - $5.00; General Admission - $4 Adults & $2 youth age 17 & under; UF Students are FREE
Additional Hoopla for Thursday's Game:
Gatorade T-Shirt Giveaway – The first 1,000 fans will receive t-shirts courtesy of Gatorade.
Gator FunZone – Kids 12 and under can play in the Gator bounce house and can participate in interactive games!
Teach for America Night – All members will receive free general admission coupons and reserved seating. Select members will be recognized at halftime.
UF Student Night – All UF students in attendance will receive free pizza at halftime and can register for a drawing with great prizes such as a flat screen TV, I-Tunes gift cards, Gator gear, cash, and more!
UMMP Night – Mentor program invited to game. Free admission. There will be a pre-game dinner provided on practice court.
High School Night I – All of the high schools in the state of Florida have been invited to the game. Teams must RSVP for free general admission, for more information call 800-34-GATOR, ext. 6600.
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