Women's Hoops Hosts No. 23 LSU Thursday in Pivotal SEC Game
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 | Women's Basketball
Florida wraps up its three-game SEC homestand on Thursday, playing host to LSU in the O'Connell Center beginning at 7 p.m. ET. The Gators have just six regular-season games remaining prior to the Southeastern Conference Tournament, and Thursday's game is one of three home outings during the final run.
After Thursday's game against No. 23 LSU, the Gators embark on a two-game road swing, traveling to play at No. 5 Tennessee on Sunday and at No. 17 Kentucky, before hosting No. 19 Georgia on Sun., Feb. 21.
LSU is the eighth of Florida's last nine opponents that is at least receiving votes at game-time in the national polls. The Lady Tigers are No. 23 in this week's Associated Press national poll and are receiving votes in the ESPN-USA Today Coaches poll.
Florida is coming off a thrilling 80-78 double-overtime victory against Mississippi State, while LSU enters Thursday's game fresh off a 102-101 TRIPLE-overtime loss to Ole Miss. The extended period was the Gators' second double-OT game during SEC action this season. For the Lady Tigers, it was their second overtime action in as many games, also having dropped a 49-46 decision at Georgia. LSU also lost to Auburn in OT this season, as one of the Tigers' four overtime games this year!
Nine of UF's 10 SEC games have been decided by single digits, with only the 24-point blowout against Alabama the exception. The Gators are 6-3 in those tight league games.
Entering the games of Feb. 11, there have a total of 63 SEC games played and 31 of them have been decided by single digits! That's nearly half (49.2 percent) of all SEC games played this season. Each of the 12 league teams has been involved in at least three of those thrillers. There have been SEVEN overtime games, with TWO needing double-overtime and one TRIPLE-overtime to determine the winner.
LSU holds a commanding 22-9 all-time lead in the 31-game series versus Florida, including an 11-3 record in Gainesville. The Lady Tigers have won the last three meetings and nine of the last 10 against the Gators, as well as 12 of the previous 14 outings. Over the last 10 games, LSU has won those nine games by an average of 20.7 points.
Florida's most recent win in the series was the 79-78 stunner on Feb. 16, 2006, when the unranked Gators shocked the No. 2/3-ranked Lady Tigers, marking the highest-ranked opponent Florida has ever defeated.
LSU was picked to win the SEC during a preseason vote of the league's media and voted to finish second by the conference coaches. Both groups agreed, however, that Lady Tiger senior Allison Hightower was the preseason SEC Player of the Year. The media even cast a vote for Tiger sophomore LaSondra Barrett in the preseason voting for top player.
LSU traditionally features one of the nation's stingiest defenses and the 2009-10 edition is no different. The squad ranks seventh in the country for scoring defense, limiting foes to just 52.7 points per game. LSU also ranks No. 2 in the nation for turnover margin (8.0) and third for turnovers per game (13.0 pg).
Preseason SEC Player of the Year Allison Hightower is the league's second-leading scorer in conference action, contributing 19.6 points per game. Sophomore center LaSondra Barrett is close behind with 17.0 points per league outing, ranking fourth among all SEC players. Barrett also ranks No. 6 in the league with 8.1 rebounds per game.
“Every team in our league is so good and so talented. You look at LSU's conference record and people might ask, 'are they not that good?'. No, that's definitely not the case. They just happen to be playing in the best league in country,” UF head coach Amanda Butler said. “LSU is so talented. They are very well coached. They have Allison Hightower, who is the SEC preseason Player of the Year, and she's be phenomenal. They are again one of the best defensive teams in the country. Their record just shows that we play in a very, very tough league.”
Sophomore center Azania Stewart (Wood Green, England) is UF's leading scorer in SEC play, netting 9.9 points, while hitting 53.8 percent from the floor and 80.6 percent from the free throw line (29-36). She also has swatted a team-best 24 shots in league action.
Sharielle Smith (Bradenton, Fla.) is UF's rebounding leader, with 6.9 per league outing, with Steffi Sorensen (Jacksonville, Fla.) right behind with 6.6. The two also contribute 9.4 and 9.2 points per game, respectively, with Sorensen connecting on 28-of-71 three-pointers (39.4%) and Smith hitting 10-of-29 (34.5%).
Jordan Jones (Suwanee, Ga.), UF's leading scorer with 10.0 points per game, had six straight single-digit point performances before exploding for 21 points in the 80-78 double-overtime win against Mississippi State (Feb. 7) - scoring the Gators' final seven points. She tied a program record by hitting 11-of-11 from the free throw line during the victory, hitting the final two of those with 2.7 seconds remaining in the second-overtime period to seal the victory.
Game Day Information
What: Florida (13-10, 6-4 SEC) hosts LSU (15-7, 4-6 SEC)
When: Thursday, February 11 * 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)
GatorVision Online: LIVE thru GatorZone.com (fee-based, streaming video)
Television: none
Post-Game Satellite Feed: 11-11:15 p.m. ET ... KU Band Digital Feed - Galaxy 17, Transponder 20, Slot A ... Downlink Freq.: 12186.5 Horizontal ... Symbol Rate: 3.9787 ... Data Rate: 5.5 ... FEC: 3/4 ...Trouble#: 352-392-8043
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
• Gator FunZone – Children can enjoy the poster-making station, games and face-painters!
• Pepsi Visor Giveaway – The first 1,000 fans receive visors courtesy of Pepsi!
• Champions of Character II – Elementary & middle schools in Alachua & Marion counties invited to one of a few select games. Students and faculty/staff receive free admission. Each school is permitted to select up to 10 outstanding students to be recognized at halftime.
• Intramurals Appreciation Night – Intramural basketball teams participating in the SW Rec program have been invited to the game.
• Gator Booster Day IV – Al Gator Boosters with valid ID are invited to attend the game and will receive free admission. The first 200 Gator Boosters will receive a Florida Women's Basketball gift.
-UF-
