Women's Hoops Travels to South Carolina for Sunday Game with Gamecocks
Saturday, January 26, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Florida is aiming to win its second consecutive road game, while preventing a second straight overall loss, heading to Columbia, S.C., to play the Gamecocks on Sunday afternoon, with tip-off scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
The Gators enter Sunday's game coming off an 82-55 loss to No. 17/14 Georgia, which abruptly halted Florida's modest two-game overall win streak and its eight-game home winning streak. That loss to the Lady Bulldogs was perhaps the Gator's worst performance of the season on both ends of the floor.
See you Later...
Sunday's game is the first of two meetings this season against South Carolina, with the second game scheduled for February 24th in Gainesville.
The Florida-South Carolina Series
Since winning 12 consecutive games against the Gamecocks, the Gators have lost four of the last six meetings, including the most recent two.
Florida does hold a 14-8 lead in the series, with a 7-4 mark in games played in Columbia. The Gator's last road win against South Carolina was the 67-57 victory on January 16, 2005.
Pre-Season Picks
The SEC coaches selected Florida to finish 11th in the 12-team league standings during the preseason vote, while South Carolina was picked to place 10th.
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
Marshae Dotson leads the SEC in league games for rebounding, collecting 9.8 per conference game.
Sha Brooks' next 3-pointer will be the 143rd of her career and move her into sole possession of No. 3 on UF's all-time chart. She currently is tied with Dana Smith (1994-98). Brandi McCain sits No. 2 on the chart with 230 three-pointers during her career (1998-02)
Who's Hot?
The Gators never found their offensive groove against Georgia, but in spite of that game when only Brittaney Thomas tallied a double-figure scoring effort with a career-high 18 points...
In the last FOUR GAMES:
*Marshae Dotson is averaging 16.3 points and 9.8 rebounds while shooting 59.1 percent (26-44) from the floor. She has two double-doubles in SEC games, including her 26-point, 12-rebound effort on the road against Kentucky on January 10.
*Sha Brooks is shooting 52.9 percent (9-17) from the three-point arc
*Jennifer Mossor is contributing 7.8 points and 2.5 assists while hitting 44.4 percent (4-9) of her three-point shots. The sophomore guard tallied a career-high 19 points in the January 20th win at Arkansas.
Scouting South Carolina
The Gamecocks have lost their last four games, all in SEC play, including Thursday's tough 66-62 loss to Kentucky at home, where the team has recorded nine of its 11 wins this season.
Twelve of the 13 players who have seen action this season are averaging double-figure minutes, but that includes three Gamecocks who could be out for the rest of the season for different circumstances. The two more significant absences have been senior Lakesha Tolliver, who has missed the last four games due to 'exertional headaches' and freshman Courtney Newton, who had knee surgery on January 11. Tolliver is the SEC's leading shot blocker, ranking 18th in the country with 2.5 per game.
Of those who are certain to play on Sunday, freshman guard Jordan Jones leads a quartet of Gamecocks in double-figure scoring, contributing 13.1 per game, hitting 41.0 percent (55-134) from the three-point arc.
In the paint, 6-foot-4 Demetress Adams and 6-foot-6 Ilona Burgrova combined for 21.7 points and 15.5 rebounds per game, while hitting over 55 percent from the floor. The pair also helps USC rank No. 8 nationally for blocked shots, swatting 5.8 per contest.
Directing the Gamecock offense is 5-foot-4 guard Samone Kennedy, who has dished an impressive 75 assists with just 53 turnovers to go along with a pesky 31 steals.
Gator Watch
During the preseason, Florida's 'Big 3' were expected to produce big things ... and they have not disappointed. The trio of Depree Bowden, Marshae Dotson and Sha Brooks combined for 756 of UF's 1340 points (56.4%), 308 of 785 rebounds (38.0%), 132 of 265 assists 49.8%) and 109 of 191 steals (57.0%) this season.
Game Day Information
What: Game 20: Florida (13-6, 2-2 SEC) at South Carolina (11-8, 0-4 SEC)
When: Sunday, January 27, 2008 * 3 p.m., ET
Where: Columbia, S.C. * Colonial Center (18,000)
Radio: LIVE on WRUF AM850 in Gainesville - audio simulcast on Cox Channel 96 with Steve Babik & Steve Russell
Internet Audio: LIVE thru GatorZone.com (FREE of charge)
GatorVision Online: none
Television: none
Post-Game Satellite Feed: TBD
END OF REPORT
