The Gators are in need of a win and return to the friendly confines of the O'Connell Center in search of ending their three-game losing streak. This is the longest skid of the season for Florida, which entertains SEC rival and 20th-ranked Georgia on Sunday, when ESPN2 televises the game.
The first 500 kids, 12 and under, will receive replica jerseys courtesy of Gustafson Farms and the first 200 UF students will receive a free sub at halftime.
Fans can purchase 4 general admission tickets, 4 hot dogs, and 4 sodas for only $20! Additionally, fans that bring their ticket stub from the baseball game earlier in the day will receive free admission. Free admission coupons also are available at all participating SunTrust locations.
The Lady Bulldogs are fresh, having enjoyed a midweek bye following last Sunday's 76-47 win against Alabama, that snapped a two-game slide.
Both teams are in the midst of tough stretches.
Florida has lost three straight and four of their last five games, with all the setbacks coming against nationally-ranked opponents. The win during the tough run was a thrilling 80-78 double-overtime decision against Mississippi State. Georgia's win over Alabama on Feb. 14, ended a two-game skid, as the Lady Bulldogs have lost five of their last seven games entering Sunday's affair.
Georgia is the 11th of Florida's last 12 opponents that is at least receiving votes at game-time in the national polls. The Lady Bulldogs are No. 20 in this week's Associated Press and tied for No. 20 ESPN-USA Today Coaches polls.
The Gators have just three regular-season games remaining - including Sunday's against Georgia - prior to the SEC Tournament.
Five of Florida's final six regular-season games are against teams ranked in the top-25 of the national polls. The daunting task began Feb. 11, in Gainesville, where the Gators were topped by LSU, 70-30, before Florida fell at No. 5 Tennessee, 83-44, on Feb. 14. The team followed that with a tough 77-51 loss at No. 16 Kentucky.
After Sunday's home game against No. 20 Georgia, Florida travels to No. 22 Vanderbilt on Feb. 24. The Gators end the regular season on Feb. 28, hosting Alabama, a team that handed them an 82-58 loss on Jan. 21 in Tuscaloosa.
Georgia holds a commanding 44-11 lead in the 55-game series against Florida, including a 19-7 record in games played in Athens. Sunday is the second of two meetings this season between the teams, with the Lady Bulldogs winning the 61-52 decision in Athens on Jan. 10. The 55-game series against Georgia is the second-longest for Florida, trailing only the 66 match-ups versus instate rival Florida State.
Florida's 80-78 overtime win against Mississippi State was the team's 12th game this season decided by fewer than 10 points. The Gators are 6-6 in those contests. Nine of UF's 13 SEC games have been decided by single digits and the Gators are 6-3 in those tight league games.
The SEC standings are so close that just two games separate third-place Mississippi State (8-5) from a trio of teams tied for seventh place, including Florida, South Carolina & Ole Miss (6-7). Entering the games of Feb. 21, those three teams are one game behind Georgia, Vanderbilt & LSU (7-6), all of which are tied for fourth.
In the last five games, Steffi Sorensen is averaging team-bests of 10.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and seven steals, while hitting 35.1 percent (13-37) from the three-point arc. Sorensen leads Florida in SEC games for scoring (9.3 ppg), rebounding (6.5 rpg), steals (19), three pointers (34) and three-point percentage (36.2%), while ranking second with 24 assists.
Sophomore center Azania Stewart has a stress fracture in her left foot and was unable to play in the last two games (at Kentucky and at Tennessee). The time table for her return to the court has not been determined. Stewart, the Gators' tallest player at 6-foot-4, was UF's leading scorer in SEC games, while she ranked second in the conference in field with a 60.2 field goal percentage.
With the absence of Stewart, freshman Jennifer George has stepped up her game even more than already impressive rookie season has been. Stewart played just seven minutes against LSU and not at all at Tennessee or Kentucky. During those three games, George has been UF's leading rebounder (6.3 per game) and fourth-leading scorer while tied for the lead with 28.3 minutes played. She logged a career-long 32 minutes of action at Tennessee, collecting nine rebounds with four points against a much taller Lady Vol frontcourt. George is the SEC's top freshman shot blocker in conference games (15 total), ranks No. 2 among SEC freshmen rebounders in conference games (5.7 rpg) and has a 50% field goal percentage mark
UF Head Coach Amanda Butler has drawn up a different lineup in each of the last five games, with a total of nine different starting lineups this season.
Game Day Information
What: Florida (13-13, 6-7 SEC) vs No. 20 Georgia (20-6, 7-6 SEC)
When: Sunday, February 21 * 5 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 Steve Russell & Brittany Davis
Internet Audio: LIVE thru GatorZone.com (FREE of charge)
GatorVision Online: LIVE thru GatorZone.com (fee-based, streaming video)
Television: LIVE on ESPN2 with Pam Ward & Carolyn Peck (in Gainesville on COX Cable channel 27)
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 Feb. 21 Game vs. Georgia
• Gator FunZone – Children can enjoy the poster-making station, games and face-painters!
• NCAA Pack the House Promotion – Help the Gators break the attendance record in the O'Connell Center!
• Gustafson Farms Youth Jersey Giveaway – The first 500 kids, 12 and under, will receive replica jerseys courtesy of Gustafson Farms!
• Champions of Character III – 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 12 outstanding students to be recognized at halftime.
• The Junior Dazzlers will perform at halftime!
• Family 4 Pack Sunday – Fans can purchase 4 general admission tickets, 4 hot dogs, and 4 sodas for only $20!
• Baseball Bonus Day – Fans that bring their ticket stub from the baseball game earlier in the day will receive free admission.
• Student Sub Sundays – The first 200 UF students will receive a free sub at halftime.
• SunTrust Admission Coupons – Free admission coupons are available at all participating SunTrust locations.
• Bookmark Game – Calendars and free admission coupons have been sent to all Alachua and Marion County Schools and libraries. Kids who bring in their calendars with the books they've read in month of February will receive a coupon for a free Chick-fil-A kid's meal.
• Book Donation – Fans that bring in 2 or more good-conditioned books to donate to the Alachua County libraries will receive free general admission.
• UF Alumni Association Day IV - All UFAA members invited to attend for free admission.
• Season Ticket/Gold Card Holder Appreciation Day – There will be a pre-game social in the Gate 3 lobby with light snacks and drinks. There will be a pep talk from an assistant coach and coupons will be available for season ticket holders to bring a friend.
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