Women's Hoops Set for Thursday Battle Against No. 4 Tennessee
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 | Women's Basketball
The University of Florida women's basketball team plays its second consecutive game against a top-10-ranked team, as the Gators entertain No. 4 Tennessee in the O'Connell Center on Thursday, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
The Gators (9-7, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) had their four-game winning streak snapped on Sunday, when No. 8 Georgia took advantage of 21 Florida turnovers en route to a 61-52 decision. Florida has won four of its last five games and six of its last eight, with the most recent setback coming in the Gators' most recent game played.
The Lady Vols (14-1, 2-0 SEC) have won five straight following their 67-52 loss at No. 2 Stanford on Dec. 19. UT is coming off an impressive 75-48 victory at Mississippi State on Sunday.
“For as much success and attention that Pat Summitt has brought to women's basketball, it should be a big game,” UF head coach Amanda Butler said. “The reality is that we are just trying to get our third win in the SEC and it just so happens that we're playing Tennessee. We expect to have a great home crowd and that's going to be important. They are super talented and are playing very, very well. We watched the film of them demolish a good, solid Mississippi State team. We know we have to play a very, very good basketball game to compete with them.
“Will we be ready? Absolutely,” Butler continued. “You really have to address all of the fireworks and excitement that generally surrounds that game and know that the result counts the same as the Auburn game did, or as the Georgia game did. You can't play intimidated or scared or let things get out of whack. We have to get our third win in the SEC and that's all that matters.”
The first 1,000 Gator fans receive t-shirts courtesy of Gatorade and the first 250 UF students with valid ID card receive free pizza and drinks at halftime.
The SEC regular season is only three games into the 16-game league schedule and only two teams remain undefeated in conference play. Tennessee, which had a bye on the opening weekend, is 2-0, while Georgia is 3-0 in the SEC, as well as 15-0 overall - one of four undefeated teams remaining in NCAA Division I entering the week's action.
Tennessee holds a commanding 38-3 all-time lead in the 41-game series against Florida, which snapped a three-game slide to the Lady Vols last season with a 66-57 victory on Feb. 8 in Gainesville. The Lady Vols got their revenge in the next meeting, when UT took the 71-67 victory in the quarterfinal round of the SEC Tournament. The Gators have earned two wins at home (Feb. 8, 2009 and Jan. 21, 1997) and one in Knoxville (Feb. 26, 2006), where they became just the second unranked team ever to defeat the Lady Vols at home.
Thursday's game is the first of two regular season meetings between Florida and Tennessee. The second contest will be on Feb. 14 in Knoxville.
Over the last five games, it has been the Gator post players who have stepped up their respective games. Sophomore Azania Stewart is averaging 13.2 points on 22-of-35 shooting for a 62.9 percent clip. Included in that average is her career-game against Auburn (Jan. 7), when she tallied her first career double-double with career-highs of 21 points and 11 rebounds. Stewart also contributed career-highs of five blocks, four assists, nine made and attempted free throws, while playing a career-long 40 minutes.
Senior forward Sharielle Smith is UF's second-leading scorer and top rebounder during the last five games, with 9.2 points and 8.0 rebounds, while freshman Jennifer George is adding 9.2 points and 5.6 rebounds, while hitting 76.0 percent from the floor during that span.
Also during UF's last five games, 5-foot-4 senior guard Lonnika Thompson is sinking 43.8 percent (7-16) from beyond the three-point arc, to accompany her 8.0 points, 3.8 assists and 3.2 steals per game.
Jordan Jones leads UF's overall scoring attack and is the only Gator averaging a double-figures with 11.0 points per game. Jones also leads the team with 3.3 assists and 1.9 steals. Smith collects a team-best 7.3 rebounds per game, along with 9.0 points, while Stewart is contributing 8.4 points and shooting an SEC-leading 62.2 percent from the floor.
Game Day Information
What: Florida (9-7, 2-1 SEC) hosts #4 Tennessee (14-1, 2-0 SEC)
When: Thursday, January 14, 2010 * 7 p.m. ET
Where: Gainesville, Fla. * Stephen C. O'Connell Center (12,000)
Radio: LIVE on WBXY-FM (The Star 99.5) in Gainesville with Adam Schick & Steve Russell
Internet Audio: LIVE thru GatorZone.com (FREE of charge)
Internet Video: none
Television: LIVE on CSS (airing on Comcast Sports South, channel 259 in Gainesville) with Matt Stewart and Joe Ciampi
Post-Game Satellite Feed: none
Tickets: $5 for Reserved Seats ... $4 for Adult General Admission ... $2 for Youth age 17 & under ... FREE for UF students
Additional Hoopla for Thursday's Game
• Gatorade T-Shirt Giveaway – The first 1,000 Gator fans receive t-shirts courtesy of Gatorade.
• Gator FunZone – Children can enjoy the poster-making station, games and face-painters!
• UF Student Night – The first 250 UF Students receive free pizza and drinks at halftime.
• UF Dean's Challenge – All Dean's from the UF Colleges have been challenged to have their instructors encourage their students to attend the game. The college with the highest % of students will win a prize.
• UMMP/FOS Night – Members of the University Minority Mentor Program (UMMP) and Florida Opportunity Scholars have been invited to game and have dinner.
• UF Alumni Association Day III – All UFAA members with valid ID have been invited to attend the game free of charge. The first 500 members will receive a free hot dog.
• Fraternity/Sorority Spirit Challenge – All UF fraternities and sororities have been challenged to bring the highest % of their members to the game. The UAA will make a donation to the charity of choice (UAA approved list of charities) to the group with the highest percentage.
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