Florida Plays No. 11/12 Rutgers in Daytona Beach on Friday
Thursday, December 1, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Florida and nationally-ranked Rutgers put streaks on the line when the teams square off at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Friday at 8 p.m.
After dropping their first game of the season, the Gators (6-1) have won six consecutive, while the Scarlet Knights (7-0) are one of 26 undefeated teams remaining in NCAA Division I women's basketball.
In addition to attending the game, there are several ways to tune into Friday's contest, as FOX Sports Florida will television the game statewide with Larry Vettel and Steffi Sorensen providing the call. Live streaming video will be provided through www.ESPN3.com, with a blackout in SEC territory. The radio broadcast can be heard live in Gainesville on WBXY-FM 99.5 “The Star” and through the internet for free at www.Gatorzone.com.
Rutgers is the second ranked opponent Florida is playing this season, as the Scarlet Knights check in at the No. 11 spot in this week's Associated Press Poll and No. 12 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
The game will be the fifth all-time meeting between the two programs, with the series even at 2-all. It will be the second time the clubs face each other on a neutral court. It is the third neutral site game for both the Gators and the Scarlet Knights this season.
The Ocean Center is located in Daytona Beach, Fla., 84 miles from Gainesville and 866 miles from Piscataway, N.J.
Florida is 1-0 this year against nationally-ranked opponents, posting a 72-58 victory on Nov. 17 against Florida State, which checked in at No. 21 in the AP and No. 19 in the ESPN-Coaches poll.
· WATCH Thursday's media session with Jordan Jones, Deana Allen and Azania Stewart – FREE courtesy of GatorVision Online
Florida used a balanced offensive attack, which saw nine different players score, and a lockdown defensive performance to cruise to a 72-45 victory against Belmont Tuesday evening at the O'Connell Center. Florida took advantage of 29 Belmont turnovers by turning them into 44 points. The Gators also used their size to their advantage as they outscored the Bruins 34-16 in the paint to help them to the 27 point victory.
Rutgers is coming off a commanding 71-50 home victory against Temple, led offensively by April Sykes (19 pts), Khadijah Rushdan (16 pts, 7 assists) and Monique Oliver (15 pts, 5 blocks).
Defense has been synonymous with the Scarlet Knights under the direction of Hall of Fame Coach C. Vivian Stringer and the 2011-12 edition is no exception. Rutgers is holding opponents to a mere 51.1 points per game and limiting foes to a 31.1 field goal percentage mark. Aside from the 70 points California scored against the Knights in their season-opener (Nov. 13), the most RU has allowed was the 58 scored by Boston College (Nov. 16).
“Rutgers is a really good, super talented and veteran team,” UF coach Amanda Butler said. “They are really, really explosive and dynamic in transition. They do a good job in the full court defense. In the half-court, they have a lot of sets and there a lot of things to try and digest. You have to rely on your system and the way you play and hope that takes care of the many different looks they are trying to achieve.”
Senior guards Khadijah Rushdan and April Sykes lead Rutgers on the perimeter, while 6-foot-2 junior Monique Oliver controls the paint. The trio averages a double-figure scoring effort, with Rushdan averaging 3.0 assists, Sykes hitting 36 percent of her three-pointers and Oliver collecting 8.4 rebounds and blocking 2.5 shots per outing.
“Oliver is listed at 6-foot-2, but when you watch film on her she has a presence of a player who is 6-foot-4,” Butler said. “She's so solid and seemingly a bigger presence on the floor by the way she plays and how aggressive she is. She dominates the paint. Our post players are going to have their hands full with her. We've got to play early defense.”
Gator senior Lanita Bartley (Jacksonville, Fla.) is averaging 18.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists during the last three games. The point guard is shooting 51.4 percent (18-35) from the floor and 76.2 percent (16-21) from the free throw line during that span. Overall, Bartley is contributing 12.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals.
Junior forward Jennifer George (Orlando, Fla.) leads the way overall with 13.4 points and 8.6 rebounds, while shooting a SEC-leading 63.5 percent from the floor. Entering the week, George ranked No. 6 nationally in field goal percentage. Since being held scoreless on 0-for-1 shooting in the season opener, George is averaging 15.7 points and 9.5 rebounds. George also has a team-high five double-figure scoring games and a pair of double-doubles this year.
“I think Jennifer and Azania have great chemistry,” Butler said of Gator post players George and Azania Stewart (Wood Green, England). “They play really well together, offensively and defensively. With the style we play, our 'four' players have to play with our 'five' players because they pass a lot. Defensively, they've done a great job of dominating the paint and sharing that responsibility.”
Senior Jordan Jones (Suwanee, Ga.) is quietly averaging 12.6 points per game, while dishing 11 assists and collecting nine steals. She fired a Gator-career-high 28 points in the win against La Salle (Nov. 25), sinking six treys and has a team-leading 15 through seven games this year.
Gameday Information
Florida Gators (6-1) vs. #11/12 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-0)
Friday, December 2, 2011 - 8 pm ET
Ocean Center (7,010) - Daytona Beach, Fla.
Opening Tip
*UF has won six straight for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign - also the last year it lost its season-opener
*Friday is the fifth meeting between Florida and Rutgers, with the series tied at 2
*PG Lanita Bartley is averaging 18.7 pts and 7.0 rebounds in UF's last 3 games
*Azania Stewart has 149 career blocked shots
*Rutgers' Coach C. Vivian Stringer is the third all-time winningest coach (second active coach) in NCAA Women's Basketball history (Pat Summitt is first)
*UF has played 40 games over the last 2-plus seasons decided by 10 pts or less
*UF is scheduled to play 18 games vs. 2011 postseason teams - including RU
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.ESPN3.com
Television: FOX Sports Florida (statewide) with Larry Vettel & Steffi Sorensen
Internet Scoring: LIVE thru www.GatorZone.com (FREE)
Ocean Center Press Row: 386-323-5616
Tickets: Ocean Center Ticket Window: $8 (all tickets are general admission)
Parking: $5 in the Ocean Center parking lot
