Women's Basketball Hosts South Carolina on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Saturday, January 7, 2012 | Women's Basketball
Florida plays host to South Carolina and its daunting defense on Sunday in the O'Connell Center beginning at 2 p.m.
The Gamecocks boast the nation's second-ranked scoring defense, allowing opponents just 45.3 points per game, with only second-ranked UConn holding foes to fewer points at 42.8 per game. USC also features the nation's third-ranked three-point field goal defense, as opponents manage to hit a mere 21.6 percent per game.
The Gamecocks average only 13.7 turnovers per game, the 11th fewest in the nation and sport a 7.2 turnover margin, a mark that ranks 10th in the country.
Florida holds a 20-8 record in the all-time series against South Carolina, including an 8-5 record in Gainesville and oddly a better 10-3 mark in Columbia. The Gators have won the last five meetings, including last year's last-second 65-63 win in Columbia and the 59-56 thriller in Gainesville on Jan. 24, 2010.
“South Carolina is really good and a great rebounding team,” UF coach Amanda Butler said. “They are playing with a tremendous amount of confidence right now. They are very, very physical and are very aggressive. They are playing the best basketball I've seen South Carolina play since I've been at Florida.”
UF redshirt-senior Jordan Jones suited up for South Carolina during the 2007-08 season, transferring following her freshman year and enrolling at UF. During her lone season as a Gamecock, Jones led the team in scoring with 13.1 per game, hitting 39.9 percent of her three-point tries (97-243). She even squared off three times against Florida, which won two of the three. In the Gator's loss, Jones scored a team-high 16 points, hitting 5-of-9 three-pointers for the 69-65 outcome that spoiled Senior Day for Depree Bowden. She totaled 36 points during the three games against her future team, connecting on 11-of-25 from long range (44.4%).
UF sophomore Kayla Lewis (who is out for Sunday's game) and SC senior Charenee Stephens were teammates at Southwest DeKalb (Ga.) High School, helping the Panthers win the 2008 Georgia 4-AAAA state championship together. Lewis also guided SWD to the 2009 and 2010 state titles.
Senior guard Markeshia Grant leads a very balanced offensive attack with 10.6 points per game. While she's the only Gamecock who averages a double-figure scoring effort that produces 63.6 points per game, a total of seven players contribute at least 5.1 points per outing. Freshman Aleighsa Welch is as automatic as it gets in the SEC, converting a league-best 67.6 percent from the floor, as she averages 8.9 points and a team-leading 6.3 rebounds for the Gamecocks.
“Their rebounding is quite overwhelming,” Butler said. “They also can bring quite a challenge to your composure in the full court and with their defensive pressure. The have great players in the open court.”
Junior forward Jennifer George - named SEC Player of the Week on Dec. 26 - leads UF in scoring (13.9 ppg) and rebounding (10.1 rpg), an effort that ranks second in the SEC. She has posted seven consecutive double-doubles (nine total this year) entering Sunday's game against South Carolina, most recently posting an 18-point, 11-rebound effort at Ole Miss on Jan. 5. Since being held scoreless on 0-for-1 shooting with three rebounds in the season opener, George is averaging 14.9 points and 10.6 rebounds. George also has a team-high 11 double-figure scoring games and eight of double-doubles this year.
Senior Jordan Jones has been doing a bit of everything for the Gators this year, contributing 13.1 points, in addition to 3.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals, while hitting 36-of-99 treys (36.4%). Jones has converted at least one three-point attempt in 11 consecutive games entering Sunday's game against South Carolina. This is the third double-digit streak of converting three-pointers in a game, having already notched runs of 23 and 16. In Florida's last FIVE games, Jones has converted 15-of-34 from long range (44.1%).
Senior Deana Allen has provided Florida with a definite spark off the bench in every game she's played this year, averaging 8.1 points (fifth on team) and 5.8 rebounds (tied for second on team), with a team-leading 1.9 steals. She hits 40.0 percent from the three-point arc (the highest on the team) and 72.2 percent from the free throw line (second-highest percentage). The only game Allen has missed this year was the season-opener against Michigan when she sat out to recover from a concussion.
“We have no chance to win unless we show an enormous amount of toughness, mentally and physically,” Butler said. “We did that for the most part in our game against Kentucky (Jan. 1). We weren't always mentally tough in that game, but always physically tough. Against Ole Miss (Jan. 5), I thought we were mentally and physically tough. We didn't play our best basketball, but we didn't give up the lead. We weren't shooting like we had hoped to, but it didn't deter us on the defensive end so I think that shows great mental toughness. In these physical SEC games, you just have to make sure you're the one who's throwing the first punch.”
Florida has played 43 games over the last two-plus seasons with outcomes decided by 10 points or less, posting a 24-19 record in those tight ballgames. FIVE games fit into that category this year: the 82-73 win against Charlotte (Nov. 26); the 68-66 loss to Michigan (Nov. 14); the 78-73 loss at Pacific (Dec. 9); the 59-56 setback to Kentucky (Jan. 1) and the 59-55 win at Ole Miss (Jan. 5).
Game Day Information
Florida Gators (11-4, 1-1 SEC) host the South Carolina Gamecocks (13-2, 2-0 SEC)
Sun., January 8, 2012 - 2 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, link thru www.GatorZone.com (FREE)
Internet Video: www.GatorVision.tv (subscription required)
Internet Scoring: LIVE, link thru www.GatorZone.com (FREE)
Television: none
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
*the last 2 meetings between UF and SC have been decided in the last 18 seconds and by a combined total of 5 points
*the Gators have won the rebounding battle in 12 of 15 games this year
*Azania Stewart's next block will be the 172nd of her career and tie her with DeLisha Milton for third all-time at UF
*Jennifer George has recorded seven consecutive double-doubles, tied for the sixth longest streak in UF history and the longest of its kind since Murriel Page's 13-game record run during the 1997-98 season
*Jordan Jones has a 3-pointer in 11 consecutive games, as well as in 14 of 15
*UF has played 42 games over the last two-plus seasons decided by 10 pts or less; five this year, including both SEC games
Additional Hoopla For Today's Game
Sunday, January 8, 2:00 PM - South Carolina
*Presenting sponsor: Nationwide
*Family 4 Pack Sunday: 4 general admission tickets, 4 hot dogs, and 4 sodas for only $20!
*The Villages Day: Ten buses will pick up residents from The Villages Ocala and bring them to the game. The first 500 residents to purchase season tickets will receive a guaranteed spot on the bus, free soda and hot dog and reserved seating!
*Gymnastics Meet the Team: The 2012 gymnastics squad will host their annual 'Meet the Team' from 1-3 PM. Doors will open at 12:30 PM. Fans attending the 'Meet the Team' will receive free admission to the women's basketball game!
