Florida Plays South Alabama Friday in Maine at 4 pm
Thursday, November 25, 2010 | Women's Basketball
The Gators travel 1,287 miles North for Thanksgiving to compete in the Dead River Company Classic, hosted by the University of Maine at the Alfond Sports Arena.
Florida (3-1) plays South Alabama (2-2) in initial game on Fri., Nov. 26 at 4 p.m., while Navy (3-1) meets the hosting Black Bears (1-2) in the first round nightcap at 6 p.m. The consolation and championship games are scheduled for Sat., Nov. 27 at noon and 2 p.m., respectively.
Gator sophomore Jennifer George (Orlando, Fla.) earned her first starting assignment of the year and didn't disappoint in Tuesday's tight 54-51 win against North Florida. George had her best game of the young season, recording her second career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, to go along with a career-high four assists, four blocks and two steals. Junior Azania Stewart (Wood Green, England) was equally as tough inside, helping the Gators against North Florida with 12 points and 13 rebounds, as she hit 6-of-9 shot from the floor.
The Jaguars are coming off a hard-fought 56-43 loss to Mississippi State, which was able to pound the ball inside and score 28 of its points and held a 42-29 rebounding advantage. USA struggled with its shot during the contest, hitting just 29.1 percent during the contest against its first of four regular-season games against Southeastern Conference foes.
Christian Shelter and Sarda Peterson average a double-figure scoring effort for the Jaguars with 13.8 and 11.8 points, respectively. Taylor Ammons has come off the bench in all four games and leads the club with an 8.3 rebounding mark to accompany 8.5 points per game.
The Gators and Jaguars have split the six meetings against each other, with Florida winning the last three in the series. The last meeting was a 62-50 victory in Mobile on Dec. 1, 2006, when then-sophomore Sha Brooks scored a game-high 17 points leading UF to the win.
“We're playing against a very athletic and well-coached South Alabama team,” UF head coach Amanda Butler said. “They are used to SEC-level competition, having just played Mississippi State in what was a very hard-fought ball game. We had a very challenging effort against North Florida so our biggest emphasis in our early preparation is how we can improve.
“Playing in this tournament is another opportunity to play a couple games and see how much we've improved from last week and hopefully compete for a championship,” Butler continued.
Florida is making its second appearance at the Dead River Company Classic, winning the 2000 tournament title, after posting victories against Harvard (78-56) and Maine (87-41). Those are the only two games Florida has played in the state of Maine in program history.
This weekend marks the second of four regular-season tournaments that Florida is scheduled to participate. Florida advanced the semifinals of the Preseason WNIT, before dropping a tough 74-73 decision at DePaul. The Gators next compete in the Brown BEAR Basketball Classic, Dec. 4-5, hosted by Providence College. Florida then caps the run of multi-game events Dec. 20-21, when it plays host to the Gator Holiday Classic, featuring Alabama State, Robert Morris and Texas A&M-CC.
All four of Florida's games this season have been decided by 10 points or fewer, with the last three being six-points or less.
Dead River Company Classic Information
Florida (3-1) vs. South Alabama (2-2): First Round
Fri., November 26, 2010 - 4 pm ET
Alfond Sports Arena (5,712) * Orono, Maine
· South Alabama Game Notes (PDF)
Dead River Company Classic Championship Game: Nov. 27 at 2 p.m.
Dead River Company Classic Consolation Game: Nov. 27 at Noon
Game Coverage
Radio: all UF games LIVE on WBXY-FM 99.5 “The Star” in Gainesville called by Adam Schick and Brittany Davis
Internet Audio: LIVE thru www.GatorZone.com (FREE)
Internet Video: LIVE thru www.GoBlackBears.com ($7.95)
Live Stats: thru www.GoBlackBears.com (FREE)
Television: None
TV Satellite Feed: none
Head Coaches
Florida (3-1): Amanda Butler (Florida, BS '95, MS '97)
Records (overall / at UF): 101-62 (sixth year) / 61-40 (fourth year)
South Alabama (2-2): Rick Pierti (South Alabama, '88)
Records (overall / at USA): 171-131 (11th yr) / same
Maine (1-2): Cindy Blodgett (Maine, '98)
Records (overall / at UM): 21-71 (fourth yr) / same
Navy (3-1): Stefanie Pemper (Idaho State, '92)
Records (overall / at USNA): 36-30 (third year Division I) / same
Last TimeOut... Next TimeOut
Florida - Last Game: Tue., Nov. 23 hosted North Florida: W, 54-51
Florida - Next Game: Tue, Nov. 30 host Old Dominion: 7 p.m.
South Alabama - Last Game: Tue., Nov. 23 hosted Mississippi St.: L, 56-43
South Alabama - Next Game: Thu., Dec. 2 at Auburn: 6 pm CT
Maine - Last Game: Tue., Nov. 23 hosted Central Conn. State: L, 62-57
Maine - Next Game: Wed., Dec. 1 at Kansas: 7 pm
Navy - Last Game: Sat., Nov. 20 hosted Harvard: W, 65-60
Navy - Next Game: Fri., Dec. 3, host Loyola: 7 pm ET
