Florida Takes Five-Game Win Streak on the Road Thursday at Alabama
Thursday, February 5, 2009 | Women's Basketball
The No. 11/13 University of Florida women's basketball team continues its challenging road trip on Thursday, when the Gators put their five-game win streak on the line against Alabama in Coleman Coliseum, where the Crimson Tide have won nine of their 12 total games this season under first-year head coach Wendell Hudson.
Thursday's game is the second contest in a five-game stretch where the Florida is playing four of five on the road. The travel adventure began Sunday, when Florida hit a program-record 13 three-point field goals to knock-off Arkansas, 94-78.
Sophomore Varisia Raffington scored a career-high 27 points in Alabama's last game, an 88-64 loss at Vanderbilt on Sunday. The 5-11 guard hit 7-of-8 three-pointers in the game, while continuing to lead the Tide (12-10, 0-7 SEC) in scoring against SEC foes, netting 15.0 per game, connecting on 50 percent (14-28) from behind the arc. Tierney Jenkins anchors the paint, collecting 8.1 rebounds in league outings, in addition to 11.3 points. Ten different players average double-figure minutes, helping the Tide bench contribute an average of 29.7 points per game.
“They had some players who are coming off outstanding individual performances in the Vanderbilt loss,” UF head coach Amanda Butler said. “When you're playing a young team like Alabama is, it's dangerous because you don't know which player might step up or where their energy is going to come from on a given night.
“Rebounding is something that always jumps off the stat page for me and Alabama is a very tough rebounding team,” Butler continued. “They are a very interesting team and the fact that they haven't won an SEC ballgame means nothing. What we've seen is that the Alabama team that plays on its home court is capable of beating anyone.”
Florida's 45-game series against Alabama is the third-longest in program history, with only more meetings coming against Florida State (65) and Georgia (53). The Crimson Tide hold a 26-19 lead overall, but the Gators have won the last three games, including the 80-65 decision in Gainesville last year. Florida is 1-2 in its last three visits to Tuscaloosa, including 66-64 thriller during the 2006-07 season, the team's last trip to Coleman Coliseum.
“What you do know is that when you go to someone else's home floor, you better hope you hit your open shots, you better hope that you don't give up open shots and you better rebound the basketball or you're going to be in for a long night,” Butler said.
Florida's 20-2 record is tied for the best 22-game record in program history. The 2000-01 Gator squad also compiled a similar record, winning the 20th game as the seventh victory in a seven-game winning streak that took them to 20-2 before losing again.
UF is 6-1 in the SEC for the first time since the 2000-01 season, tying for the best seven-game league start in program history with the 2000-01 team, which compiled an 8-1 mark and eventually an 11-3 conference record, the best in program history to finish in a tie for second in the league standings, also its best showing in program history.
At first glance, Florida's five-game SEC win streak might not seem like much, but it's actually tied for the second-longest SEC win streak in program history. Four other Gator teams won five consecutive games, while the 2000-01 squad strung together a program-record six-game SEC win streak.
All-America candidate Sha Brooks (Jackson, Tenn.) has scored in double-figures in 12 consecutive games, leading UF's scoring brigade overall and in SEC games. The senior averages 15.3 points overall and 19.3 in league outings. Brooks is coming off a tremendous outing against Arkansas, scoring 25 points and dishing a career-high 10 assists for her first double-double as a Gator. Brooks ranks among the SEC leaders in conference games for scoring (No. 2), steals (T-No. 1), assists (No. 2), assist/turnover ratio (No. 3), free throw percentage (No. 5) and field goal percentage (No. 10).
It would be tough to find another post player under 6-foot that has been as consistent and as valuable as senior Marshae Dotson (Columbus, Ohio). The 5-foot-11 forward is UF's second-leading scorer overall and in league games, averaging 13.0 and 15.6 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. 5), field goal percentage (No. 1), rebounding (T-No. 10) and steals (t-No. 15).
Aside from what's come to be expected of Brooks and Dotson, Florida has been so much more than a two-person squad this year. Over the last three games, freshman Trumae Lucas (Greensboro, N.C) is averaging 11.0 points in 22.7 minutes of action. The rookie scored a then-career-high 13 points against Ole Miss (Jan. 25) and topped it the next game with 14 points in the victory over Kentucky (Jan. 29). Lucas scored six points in 14 minutes at Arkansas (Feb. 1).
Junior guard Steffi Sorensen (Jacksonville, Fla.) is averaging 9.6 points per SEC game, shooting 41.3 percent from the three-point arc (19-46), the third-highest percentage among league players, while emerging as UF's second-leading rebounder in SEC games with 5.7 per outing. Entering Thursday's game at Alabama, Sorensen has hit at least one three-pointer in 17 consecutive games, the fifth longest streak in program history.
Game Day Information
What: Florida (20-2, 6-1 SEC) at Alabama (12-10, 0-7 SEC)
When: Thursday, February 5, 2009 * 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT)
Where: Tuscaloosa, Ala. * Coleman Coliseum (19,500)
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: none
Television: LIVE on CSS (Comcast Sports South)
Post-Game Satellite Feed: none
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