Gators Return Home to Host Arkansas on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 | Women's Basketball
After finishing a challenging five-game stretch that featured four road games, the University of Florida women's basketball team returns to the O'Connell Center on Thursday, when the Gators play host to Arkansas beginning at 7 p.m.
The contest is one of only two home games remaining on Florida's regular-season schedule, with Sunday's game against South Carolina the finale.
The two-game home stand couldn't come at a better time for Florida, which has lost its two games. The Razorbacks, meanwhile, are riding a three-game Southeastern Conference win streak thanks to the return of junior guard Charity Ford, who has sparked Arkansas in each of its three victories during the current run. Not including the game against Tennessee when she played less than one minute, Arkansas is 4-4 in SEC games with Ford; 0-3 without her. She is coming off a game-high 17-point performance against Ole Miss.
"We need to have a great crowd on Thursday like we've had in several games this season because our players feed off them and their emotion," UF head coach Amanda Butler said. "If there was ever a time we needed them in the stands, it's right now. We have got to be really ready for a very hot, very well coached Arkansas team. They are young and confident and are riding a three-game win streak."
The Gators are 13-0 this season when playing in the O'Connell Center, while sporting an overall 14-game home winning streak, the fourth-longest win streak in program history. Florida also enters Thursday's contest aiming to win its 300th all-time home game, sporting a 299-132 record in Gainesville.
Thursday will be the second meeting this season between the Gators and Razorbacks. Florida hit a program-record 13 three-pointers in the 94-78 shoot-out in Fayetteville on Feb. 1st. Senior Sha Brooks led the Gators with 25 points in that victory, helping UF hit 13-of-21 from behind the arc. Arkansas, however, did not have the services of the possible-'SEC Sixth Man of the Year' Charity Ford in that game.
Florida's road win against Arkansas 18 days prior to Thursday's game began an amazing three-game run for the Gators, who won three games (at Arkansas, at Alabama, vs. Tennessee) by an average of 15.3 points per game. Florida shot a blistering 53.6 percent from the three-point arc (30-of-56) during that stretch, while forcing 58 turnovers (19.3 pg) and making almost as many free throws (50) and its opponents had attempted (52).
In the two games since that three-game span, the Gators (22-4, 8-3 SEC) have lost both by a margin of 17.5 points, averaged 21.5 turnovers, managed 57.5 points of offense, shot just 24.0 percent from beyond the arc (6-25) and hit only 50 percent of their free throws (21-42).
With just three regular-season games remaining, finding their shot and their swagger against the Razorbacks (15-11, 4-7 SEC) again would be a great way for the Gators to enter the SEC Tournament.
Florida had compiled a program-record seven-game SEC win streak prior to its loss at Vanderbilt (Feb. 12). The Gators fell behind 12-0 against the Commodores and never recovered. Florida's slow start on Sunday at LSU resulted in a 16-2 hole in the first 10:37 of the game en route to the Gators' second straight loss.
While the most recent losses have seemed like a bit of a downer, it's only because of the great success the team has already enjoyed this year. Florida's current 22-4 record is tied for the best 26-game record in program history, also a mark achieved by the 1994 and 2001 clubs, with only the 2001 team winning its 27th game and improving to 23-4.
Florida has just three games remaining in its SEC regular-season schedule and remains in control of earning one of the four SEC Tournament byes. Just one loss will put the Gators' tournament seeding out of their direct control for one of the coveted first-round byes.
Florida leads the all-time series against Arkansas, 17-6, but holds just a 6-4 record in the last 10 meetings. The Razorbacks have won two of the last three games against the Gators played in Gainesville. UF's last home win versus Arkansas was a thrilling 75-73 victory on Feb. 17, 2008, when Sha Brooks made two free throws after an intentional foul to help the Gators overcome a 10-point first-half deficit and an eight-point hole in the second half.
Seniors Sha Brooks and Marshae Dotson continue to be Florida's offensive leaders this season. The pair are the only two Gators averaging a double-figure scoring effort, headlining UF's potent and very balanced attack. Brooks leads the team in scoring (15.9 ppg), assists (4.65), steals (1.85), free throws made (113) and free throws attempted (144). In addition to 12.8 points per game, Dotson leads UF in field goal percentage (60.2%), rebounding (7.2 rpg) and offensive rebounds (85), while logging a team-best three double-doubles.
Junior guard Steffi Sorensen is averaging 9.7 points per SEC game (better than her overall scoring average of 8.9 ppg), shooting 39.7 percent from the three-point arc (27-68), the third-highest percentage among league players, while emerging as UF's second-leading rebounder in SEC games with 5.9 per outing.
Arkansas has been led in scoring by Ceira Ricketts, the leading candidate for SEC Freshman of the Year. The 5-foo-9 guard averages 13.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Six other Razorbacks contribute at least 5.3 points per game, while nine players average 11 minutes of playing time or more.
Game Day Information
What: Florida (22-4, 8-3 SEC) hosts Arkansas (15-11, 4-7 SEC)
When: Thursday, February 19, 2009 * 7 p.m.
Where: Gainesville, Fla. * Stephen C. O'Connell Center (12,000)
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)
Streaming Internet Video: LIVE; using SEC one-game exemption
Television: none
Post-Game Satellite Feed: 10:30-10:45 p.m. ET … KU Band Digital Feed - Galaxy 17, Transponder 24K, Slot F … Downlink Freq.: 12187.5 Vertical ... Symbol Rate: 3.9787 … Data Rate: 5.5 ... FEC: 3/4 ... Sat Truck Trouble #: 352-392-8043
Tickets: Reserved Seating: $5 - All; General Admission: $4 - Adults, $2 - Seniors age 55 and older & Youth age 17 & under; FREE - UF Students with valid ID
Parking: there is no charge or reserved section for parking in the O'Connell Center lot on the weekend or beginning at 4:30 p.m. on weekdays
Parking Shuttle: there is a FREE parking shuttle that fans can take from the large commuter lot on Lemerand Dr., to Gate 2 of the O'Connell Center; shuttle service begins at 5:30 p.m. and runs through the end of the game
-UF-
