Gators Open Three-Game Home Stand Thursday Against No. 22 Vanderbilt
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 | Women's Basketball
After playing three of their last four games on the road, the Gators return to the friendly confines of the O'Connell Center and begin a three-game home stand on Thursday, playing host to Vanderbilt with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.
Vanderbilt is the sixth of Florida's last seven opponents that is at least receiving votes at game-time in the national polls, earning the No. 22 spot in this week's ESPN-USA Today Coaches poll.
The Southeastern Conference standings are so close, Florida jumped from sixth to tied-for-third place in the league race after Sunday's win at Ole Miss that improved the Gators' conference record to 5-3. Vanderbilt (5-4) is just a half-game behind Florida and Ole Miss, joining Mississippi State and Georgia in a three-way tie for fifth place entering Thursday's game.
Florida begins the second half of its 16-game SEC regular season schedule on Thursday, playing host to Vanderbilt in the first of two meetings this year against the Commodores, who already are one game into the second-half of their league campaign.
Both teams ride a two-game winning streak into Thursday's contest, with the Gators coming off a pair of thrilling three-point victories, defeating South Carolina, 59-56, on Jan. 24 and Ole Miss, 67-64, on Jan. 31. Vanderbilt earned wins over Alabama, 70-61, on Jan. 28 and at Arkansas, 67-61, on Jan. 31. Florida has won three of its last four games, as has Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt has traditionally been one of the most accurate shooting teams in the country and the 2009-10 Commodores are no exception. Vanderbilt is hitting 46.2 percent overall from the floor, the 13th-best shooting in the country (thru games Jan. 31). The squad also hits a steady 37.3 percent mark from the three-point arc, averaging 6.1 treys per game, however the long range shooting has improving against SEC foes, nailing 40.1 percent (57-142).
“This is going to be one of our most physical ballgames of the season, if not the most physical game,” UF head coach Amanda Butler said. “Vanderbilt is very, very smart and they are very, very well coached. They play very confidently. They are very hard to scout because they don't run a lot of sets and that's a reflection of how smart of a team they are. We know that they'll battle. They've had some big wins and we feel like we'll get their best on Thursday and hopefully, they'll get ours.”
When looking at Vanderbilt's squad, senior Merideth Marsh is the first player to watch. In last year's game against the Gators, she put on a three-point shooting clinic, hitting 8-for-13 en route to 26 points. The sharp-shooting guard again leads the Commodores again this year, contributing 14.9 points per game and hits 40 percent (58-145) from beyond the arc. Those numbers, however, are even more impressive against SEC teams, as she tallies 15.9 points while sinking 42.4 percent of her three-pointers (25-59). Marsh also is converting 94.7 percent of her free throws.
“(Merideth Marsh) is a much more complete player than she was last year,” Butler said. “Last year she was mostly a shooter and scorer. That was her primary focus. Not only is she a very good scorer again this year, but she can run the point for them. She's one of the reasons why they are playing so physically. She's the one who sets the tone for them and I admire that.”
Tiffany Clarke is a two-time SEC Freshman of the Week honoree this year, compiling 9.3 points and a team-leading 6.0 rebounds per game.
Junior Jence Rhodes is averaging 13 points and 5.6 assists, while senior Lauren Lueders tallies 8.2 points and hits 38.6 percent (39-101) of her three-point attempts.
Senior Steffi Sorensen (Jacksonville, Fla.) had one of her best all-around games as a Gator in the team's last outing, leading UF with 18 points, six rebounds and tied for top honors with five assists. She nailed 6-of-7 three-pointers, tying her career-high for made treys, while the 85.7 percent efficiency mark is the highest by an SEC athlete this year. Her final three-pointer of the night moved Sorensen into sole possession of fifth place all-time in UF's record book in spite of playing just her second year wearing the Orange & Blue.
Over the last five games, Sorensen and fellow senior Sharielle Smith (Bradenton, Fla.) both are averaging a team-leading 9.8 points per game, with Sorensen collecting a Gator-best 6.6 rebounds and Smith next with 6.0 boards during that span. The pair also is heating up from beyond the arc during the last five outings, with Smith canning 43.8 percent (7-16) and Sorensen just behind at 42.9 percent (15-35).
Sophomore center Azania Stewart (Wood Green, England) is UF's leading scorer in SEC play, netting 9.9 points, hitting 50.9 percent from the floor and 86.2 percent from the free throw line (25-29). She also has swatted a team-best 19 shots in league action.
Sorensen and Smith both average 8.9 points in league games, with Sorensen collecting a team-high 6.1 rebounds and hitting 36.8 percent (21-57) of her three-pointers. Smith grabs 6.0 rebounds, while hitting 39.1 percent (9-23) from long range.
Vanderbilt holds a 27-18 lead against Florida, which holds a slim 10-9 record against the Commodores in Gainesville. Vanderbilt has won four straight against the Gators, as well as six of the last seven meetings. Florida's four-game losing streak to Vanderbilt is its longest active slide against any SEC team. Florida's last win in the series was back on Jan. 22, 2006, when the Gators topped the Commodores, 73-59, in the O'Connell Center.
Florida's 67-64 win at Ole Miss on Jan. 31 was the team's 10th game this season decided by 10 or fewer points. The Gators are 5-5 in those contests.
Seven of UF's eight SEC games have been decided by single digits, with only the 24-point blowout against Alabama the exception. The Gators are 5-2 in those tight league games.
Entering the games of Feb. 4, there have a total of 51 SEC games played and 27 of them have been decided by 10 points or less! That's more than half (52.9 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 four overtime games, with one needing double-overtime to determine the winner.
Game Day Information
What: Florida (12-9, 5-3 SEC) hosts No. 22 Vanderbilt (16-6, 5-4 SEC)
When: Thursday, Feb. 4, 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)
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 15, Slot C ... Downlink Freq.: 12004.5 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; National Girls & Women in Sports Day – Women of all ages can purchase 2-for-1 admission coupons.
Additional Hoopla for Thursday's Game
• National Girls & Women in Sports Day – Women of all ages can purchase 2-for-1 admission coupons.
• Gator FunZone – Children can enjoy the poster-making station, games and face-painters!
• IRHA Walk-Over – On-campus housing officials will encourage a walk-over of students from the dorms to the game.
• Big Brother/Big Sister Mentor Night – Mentors and members of the Gainesville Big Brother/Big Sister program have been invited to game. Anyone that RSVPs by Wed, Feb. 3 to Lauren Perkins (laurenp@gators.uaa.ufl.edu or 800-34-GATOR ext. 6600) will receive a free hot dog and soda.
• Chamber of Commerce Night – All Gainesville Chamber of Commerce members have received a letter offering them free admission to the game. Coupons are available at the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce office.
• Gators Go Green Day – Publix and the UF's Office of Sustainability will be on site to provide “green” tips.
• Sante Fe Student Night – Santa Fe College faculty, staff and students will be admitted free with valid ID. The first 200 that enter will receive a free hot dog and soda coupon.
• UF Sport Management Club Challenge – Members have been invited to the game and can win prizes!
• The All-American Twirling Academy All-Stars will perform at halftime.
-UF-
