Women's Basketball Hosts Hampton on Tuesday at 7 pm
Monday, November 21, 2011 | Women's Basketball
The University of Florida women's basketball team plays host to Hampton on Tuesday in the Gator's final game of a four-game season-opening home stretch at the O'Connell Center, where tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
On the flip side, Tuesday's game will be the third consecutive season-opening road game for the Lady Pirates (2-0), who actually have two more contests on the road before playing their home-opener on Dec. 3 against South Carolina State.
Dating back to last year, Hampton has won 16 of its last 17 games, with the lone loss a 66-62 overtime decision to Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Pirates have opened 2011-12 with impressive road victories, beginning with a 60-37 road shellacking of Pittsburgh followed by a 68-55 thumping of Jacksonville on Saturday.
“Hampton is a very, very good team. They won their conference last year. They beat us last year. They went to the NCAA Tournament and took Kentucky to overtime in the first round,” UF head coach Amanda Butler said. “They return a lot of those players from last year. They are senior and junior-heavy. I have a lot of respect for their coach David Six. They are tenacious rebounders and we've got to come ready to play on Tuesday, there's no doubt about it.”
Senior guard Jericka Jenkins, who was an honorable mention All-American last year by the Associated Press, is 20 points shy of the 1,000th of her career. Jenkins is averaging 12.0 points and 4.0 assists thru the team's two games this year, with a team-best 17 coming at Jacksonville (Nov. 19). Her backcourt mate is fellow senior Choicetta McMillian, who is contributing a team-leading 15.5 points and tallied 22 points in the win at Pittsburgh (Nov. 12).
In last year's meeting between the two teams, Hampton dominated the second half and defeated Florida 69-54 at the HU Convocation Center. Hampton scored the last six points of the first half and carried that momentum into the second, when the Pirates outscored the Gators, 42-22. Florida, which held a 32-27 halftime lead, was out-rebounded for the first time this season, as Hampton fought for the 38-30 advantage inside, also out-scoring the Gators 28-16 in the paint.
“Hampton is a team that will just absolutely punish you if you don't box them out,” Butler said. “I think rebounding is something they take great pride in and we have to have a clear understanding of how important that piece of the puzzle is going to be to our success on Tuesday. I would like to see us value boxing out and controlling possession more.”
Junior forward Jennifer George (Orlando, Fla.) was UF's leading scorer in both of its wins last week, including her 18-point performance on 9-of-11 shooting in the upset victory against nationally-ranked Florida State. George helped the Gators (2-1) snap a two-game skid against the Seminoles and post their greatest margin of victory versus their instate rivals since a 15-point win in Nov. of 2008.
After shooting just 0-1 and being held scoreless in the team's season-opener, George has responded scoring back-to-back double-digit games for the fifth time in career – she has never had never had three in a row. George totaled 39 points in UF's two games last week, more than any other back-to-back games in her career.
Senior Jordan Jones (Suwanee, Ga.) leads UF's offensive attack, averaging 14.7 points and 2.0 assists while connecting on 7-of-20 three-pointers.
Game Day Information
Florida Gators (2-1) host the Hampton Lady Pirates (2-0)
Tuesday, November 22, 2011 - 7 pm ET
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (11,373) - Gainesville, Fla.
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: www.GatorVision.tv (subscription required)
Television: none
Internet Scoring: Live via GameTracker (FREE)
Tickets: $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 lot
Opening Tip
*Tuesday is UF's third of three straight games vs. 2011 NCAA teams
*the head coaches in tonight's game are leading their respective alma maters
*Tuesday's game is the first of three UF is playing in a five-day span
*Hampton won last year's meeting, 69-54
*Jennifer George averaged 19.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in UF's last two games
*UF has played 39 games over the last two-plus seasons decided by 10 points or less
Additional Hoopla For Thursday's Game
Tuesday, November 22 vs. Hampton * 7 p.m.
Presenting sponsor: KTK/SKY
*Toys for Tots: Toy collection drive partnered with KTK/SKY. Truck will be parked outside Gate 1 to collect items and will give a halftime update. Fans who donate a toy will receive free admission. Barcode will be created and scanned at gates!
*Backcourt Club/Gold Card/Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Night - All Back Court Club members, Gold Card, and Season Ticket holders receive 4 complimentary vouchers with a free admission barcode to promote Florida Women's Basketball to family and friends!
*Backcourt Club/Gold Card/Season Ticket Holder Dri-Fit Pick-Up - All Back Court Club members, Gold Card, and Season Ticket holders will be able to pick up their “season ticket holder” gift. This year's gift will be a Florida Women's Basketball Dri-Fit shirt!
*Ticket Giveaway: Members of the Women's Basketball team will be on-hand at the volleyball match on November 20th to distribute free admission vouchers with barcodes to their game on Tuesday, November 22nd!
