Florida Hosts Nationally-Ranked Seminoles Thursday at 5:30 pm
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 | Women's Basketball
The Gators and Seminoles will be battling on the hardwood Thursday evening, when the Florida women's basketball team plays host to Florida State in the O'Connell Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. The game is the team's second and final doubleheader of the year, as the UF men entertain North Florida at 8 p.m. on Thursday.
The Gators hold a 40-27 all-time lead in the series, including an 18-8 edge in games played in Gainesville, The Seminoles, however, have won the last two meetings, as well as six of the last eight. This current run has come on the heels of UF winning 16 consecutive in the series that began with a three-point win on Feb. 3, 1993 and was halted on Nov. 22, 2004, when FSU topped the Gators, 72-62, in Gainesville.
The last two games have been decided by a combined six points, including last year's 74-72 outcome in Tallahassee.
Thursday's game will be Florida's first this year against a nationally-ranked opponent, as the Seminoles check in at No. 21 in the AP and No. 19 in the ESPN-Coaches poll. The Gators earned two wins last year against ranked foes, with the last coming on Feb. 27, 2011 when unranked UF knocked off then-No. 22-ranked Georgia, 74-71, in the O'Connell Center.
Florida (1-1) rallied from a 30-29 halftime deficit and pulled away from Stetson on Monday for the 71-57 win in the O'Connell Center. Junior Jennifer George regrouped from a 0-1 field goal performance in the season-opener and posted a career-high-tying 21 points, hitting 9-of-16 from the field with nine rebounds. Senior Deana Allen chipped in 11 points in her first action of the year, also collecting eight rebounds in 19 minutes of work. The Gators opened the year with a 69-66 loss to Michigan.
Florida State (2-1) fell to Arkansas 55-52 in a tight match-up played at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach. The game was both team's third in as many days, as Razorback junior Sarah Watkins converted a game-winning three-pointer with 16 seconds remaining. FSU's Preseason First Team All-ACC center Cierra Bravard, who stands 6-foot-4, scored 12 points, hitting 6-of-7 shots, while junior forward Chasity Clayton led the 'Noles with 15 points and kept the game tight in spite of being outrebounded 44-26. The difference came at the free throw line, where Arkansas converted 17-of-27, while FSU hit 9-of-15. The Seminoles opened their year with a 62-49 against USF and a 68-56 victory over Minnesota.
“Thursday's game will be a giant challenge for us,” UF head coach Amanda Butler said. “It's one of those games that year-to-year it doesn't really matter who's favored, who's more experienced. None of those things seem to come into play. It's one of the greatest rivalry and we're proud to represent Gator Nation. We have a ton of respect for their program. (Coach) Sue (Semrau) does a great job. They are a top-25 program and certainly a postseason team. We know that it's going to be a great challenge. They have tremendous size. There are a lot of things to try to do when facing a player like Cierra Bravard, who is a preseason All-American. She's bigger than anyone we have. At the end of the day, though, it's the Gators versus the 'Noles so we're excited to play.”
Florida has had two players net a double-figure scoring effort in both of its two games this year, with four different players accounting for those honors.
Senior Jordan Jones (Suwanee, Ga.) leads the Gators through two games, averaging 15.0 points, as she has connected on 6-of-17 three-pointers to lead the team's outside shooting brigade. She tallied a team-best 21 points against Michigan, while senior guard Lanita Bartley (Jacksonville, Fla.) chipped in 11.
On Monday against Stetson, the Gators got 21 points from junior forward Jennifer George (Orlando, Fla.) and 11 from senior guard Deana Allen (Houma, La.), who saw her first action of the year after missing the opener with an injury.
Game Day Information - DOUBLEHEADER
Florida Gators (1-1, 0-0 SEC) host the #21/19 Florida State Seminoles (2-1)
Thursday, November 17, 2011 - 5:30 pm ET
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (11,373) - Gainesville, Fla.
· FLORIDA GAME NOTES (PDF)
· FLORIDA STATE GAME NOTES (PDF)
· (VIDEO) Practice Update & Game Preview – Coach Butler
· (VIDEO) Practice Update & Game Preview – Jordan Jones, Azania Stewart & Jaterra Bonds
Game Coverage & More!
Radio: 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! www.GatorVision.tv (subscription required)
Television: none
Tickets: Women's Tickets available until halftime of the game: $5 for reserved seats; $4 adult general admission; $2 for youth age 17 and under; FREE for UF and Santa Fe students
Parking: FREE in the O'Connell Center parking garage until the conclusion of the game, with entrance to the garage off of SW 2nd Ave.
Opening Tip
· the 67-game series vs. FSU is the longest UF has with any opponent in history
· FSU has won two straight in the series and 6 of last 8
· this is UF's second of three straight games vs. 2011 NCAA teams
· UF is scheduled to play 18 games vs. 2011 postseason teams
· each of UF's first four games is vs. 2011 postseason teams - and 6 of first 8
Additional Hoopla For Thursday's Game
Thursday, November 17 vs. Florida State * 5:30 p.m.
Presenting sponsor: Florida Department of Agriculture
*BEAT FSU Frat Tank Giveaway: The first 1,000 students will receive a voucher for a BEAT FSU frat tank. Tanks will be distributed at halftime!
