Gators Host South Carolina on Sunday in Home Finale at 1 p.m.
Saturday, February 21, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Florida aims to halt its three-game losing streak and present its four seniors a victory in the final regular-season home game of their careers. Sha Brooks, Kim Critton, Marshae Dotson and Aneika Henry will run the O'Connell Center floor for the final time on Sunday, when the Gators play host to South Carolina, with tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m. (NOT the usual 2 p.m. Sunday start).
The quartet will be honored in a ceremony immediately AFTER the game.
"Overcoming adversity of a phrase that is tossed around a lot, but that really applies to our senior class," UF head coach Amanda Butler said. "The different circumstances they have faced during their tenure here in Gainesville and for their senior season to culminate in a year like we're having, speaks a lot about their toughness, their resiliency and their pride in being a Gator. They've turned positives out of situations that maybe a softer player would use as an excuse as to why things haven't gone their way. These last games are going to be really big for our seniors and it's going to be just as big for the other players because it is so important to their seniors. We need our seniors to step up and lead."
Sunday will be the second meeting this season between the Gators and Gamecocks. Florida hit a steady 19-of-26 from the free throw line in that game and forced 24 turnovers en route to the 77-63 victory. Sha Brooks led the Gators with 25 points in that victory, while Marshae Dotson added 19 on 8-of-8 shooting from the floor and Florida earned the 77-63 decision in Columbia. A pair of seniors also tallied double-figure scoring efforts for the Gamecocks, with Brionna Dickerson hitting 20 points and Demetress Adams contributing 10 with nine rebounds. Since that contest on Jan. 15, however, both Adams and Dickerson have had season-ending injuries and are unable to suit-up on Sunday.
South Carolina (10-14, 2-9 SEC) is coming off a bye week and has not played since its 68-57 victory over Alabama on Feb. 15.
The Gators hold a 17-8 lead in the all-time series, but just a 6-5 record in games played in Gainesville, where they have lost the last two meetings held in the O'Connell Center. UF's last win in Gainesville was on Jan. 22, 2004, when the Gators claimed the 61-56 victory.
The clubs met three times last season, when each won on the other's home court, before Florida took the season-series with a dominating 71-57 victory in the first round of the SEC Tournament. The two regular-season match-ups, however, were battles until the end, with the Gators taking the 60-57 thriller in Columbia, before the Gamecocks spoiled Depree Bowden's senior day by taking the 69-65 decision in Gainesville.
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 22-5 record is TIED for the BEST 27-game record in program history, also a mark achieved by the 1994 and 2001 clubs, with only the 2001 team winning its 28th game and improving to 24-4.
Florida (22-5, 8-4 SEC) has just two games remaining in its SEC regular-season schedule and remains in control of earning one of the four SEC Tournament byes. Mathematically, the Gators are still alive to win a share of the SEC regular-season title, but out of the mix for the No. 1 seed using different tiebreak procedures. In a worst-case scenario, Florida can drop as low as the No. 7 seed in the 12-team SEC Tournament seedings.
Florida has 299 all-time home wins entering Sunday's game. The Gators took their first crack at winning No. 300 on Thursday, but lost to Arkansas, 83-74.
The women's basketball team played its first-ever game in the O'Connell Center on Jan. 3, 1981, and has played every home game there since, compiling a 267-112 record in the building, 13-1 this season. The Gators are 299-133 all-time at home, with a 32-21 record coming at the Florida Gym (nicknamed “Alligator Alley”) prior to the opening of the O'Connell Center.
All-America candidate Sha Brooks leads UF's scoring brigade overall and in SEC games. The senior averages 16.3 points overall and 19.9 in league outings. Brooks has scored at least 20 points in six SEC games this season, including a run of three straight games where she went for 25 (at Arkansas), 29 (at Alabama) and 29 (vs. Tennessee). Brooks ranks among the SEC leaders in conference games for scoring (No. 2), steals (t-No. 3), assists (No. 3), assist/turnover ratio (No. 8), free throw percentage (No. 7) and field goal percentage (No. 9).
It would be tough to find another post player under 6-foot that has been as consistent and as valuable as senior Marshae Dotson. The 5-foot-11 forward is UF's second-leading scorer overall and in league games, averaging 13.0 and 14.7 points, respectively. Even more impressive is her accuracy and tenacity in the paint, leading UF in rebounding and field goal percentage. Dotson ranks among the SEC leaders in conference play for scoring (No. 6), field goal percentage (No. 1) and rebounding (No. 10).
Unfortunately for the Gators, everyone has struggled during their current three-game losing streak, with scoring and shooting percentages from all over the court falling (63.0 ppg, 42.2% FG, 26.0% 3FG, 56.1% FT), while their opponents' numbers are on the upswing (77.7 ppg, 48.8% FG, 47.7% 3FG).
Game Day Information
What: Florida (22-5, 8-4 SEC) hosts South Carolina (10-14, 2-9 SEC)
When: Sunday, February 22, 2009 * 1 p.m.
Where: Gainesville, Fla. * Stephen C. O'Connell Center (12,000)
Radio: LIVE on WRUF-FM 103.7 in Gainesville; with Steve Babik & Steve Russell
Internet Audio: LIVE thru GatorZone.com (FREE of charge)
Streaming Internet Video: none
Television: LIVE on Sun Sports statewide (channel 48 in Gainesville on COX Cable) with Mick Hubert & Mark Wise
Post-Game Satellite Feed: none
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 running from the large commuter lot on Lemerand Dr., to Gate 2 of the O'Connell Center; begins at 11:30 a.m. and runs 30 minutes following the end of the Senior Day ceremony
-UF-
