Gators Host Ole Miss on FAMILY 4 PACK SUNDAY, Breast Cancer Awareness Day
Friday, February 3, 2012 | Women's Basketball
Florida returns to the friendly confines of the O'Connell Center on Sunday and plays host to Ole Miss beginning at 2 p.m. ET.
The Gators (14-8, 4-5 SEC) are aiming to build on the momentum of their big road win at LSU, where Florida defeated the Lady Tigers, 73-64, and earned its first win since January of 1996.
It will be Breast Cancer Awareness Day at the O'Connell Center and all fans who wear pink receive $1 general admission. In addition the first 500 fans will receive a FREE We Play 4 Kay pink t-shirt to show their support of breast cancer awareness and survivors.
The game, which is Florida's first home appearance since its January 19 win against Alabama 17 days ago, also will be another popular FAMILY 4 PACK SUNDAY, where fans can purchase 4 general admission tickets, 4 hot dogs and 4 sodas for $20.
Alligator Alley also will be open prior to the game from 12:30-1:45 p.m., when fans can swing by the O'Connell Center's Dance Studio and make signs, play interactive games and more!
Sunday's game against Ole Miss marks the 14th consecutive year Florida has played on Super Bowl Sunday. The Gators sport an 8-10 all-time record when playing on Super Bowl Sunday, including a 5-3 mark at home. UF is 5-3 when the team representing the AFC wins the title and 3-7 when the NFC team wins.
This season marks the 30th time - and 10th consecutive year - that at least one former Gator player will be in the championship game. Five former Florida players involved. Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Spikes, Gerard Warren and Jermaine Cunningham (Cunningham is on injured reserve) look to give the Patriots their fourth Super Bowl while Justin Trattou looks to gain a ring and add to the Giants total of four Super Bowl titles. Thirteen Gators have walked away as a Super Bowl Champions, winning a combined 19 rings.
Two of the SEC's top three rebounders collide on the hardwood Sunday when UM's Nikki Byrd and UF's Jennifer George take the court. Byrd leads the SEC with 9.5 rebounds per game, with George tied for second with Tennessee's Glory Johnson at 9.4 rpg. George leads the SEC (all games) with 4.2 offensive rebounds per game, while Byrd ranks second with 3.8 per game.
The Gators hold a 17-13 edge in the 29-game series against the Rebels, including the January 5th meeting that Florida won 59-55. The Gators have won four of the last five against the Rebels. Eleven of the last 14 games in the series have been decided by single digits, including six of the last seven meetings.
UF's Amanda Butler and UM's Renee Ladner are two of the three SEC head coaches who have returned to their alma mater where they also played collegiate basketball - and the only two who actually suited up for the current team (Alabama's Wendell Hudson graduated in 1973 and starred for the Crimson Tide's men's basketball team).
Butler and Ladner both were hired by Carol Ross (a former UF and UM head coach) for their first collegiate coaching positions ... with both wearing the Orange & Blue in their inaugural assistant coaching jobs. Butler was an assistant coach at UF from 1995-97, while Ladner worked with the Gators from 2000-02.
Ole Miss sophomore Valencia McFarland contributes a team-leading 13.2 points and 5.1 assists per game, the third-best mark in the SEC. Senior forward Nikki Byrd, who missed Ole Miss' most recent game because of an injury, averages 13.1 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
Florida has played 49 games over the last two-plus seasons with outcomes decided by 10 points or less, posting a 26-23 record in those tight ballgames. Eleven games fit into that category this year, when UF has posted a 4-7 record. Seven of UF's nine SEC games this season have been decided by six points or less, with 8 of 9 by decided by single digits.
Junior forward Jennifer George continues to lead UF in scoring (13.1 ppg) and rebounding (9.4 rpg), an effort that also is tied for second in the SEC (all games and No. 2 for SEC games). She has posted 12 double-doubles this year - and 16 in her career.
Senior Jordan Jones, who missed Thursday's game at LSU due to a concussion, has been doing a bit of everything for the Gators this year, contributing 12.4 points, in addition to 3.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.05 steals, while hitting 47-of-135 treys (34.8%). Jones had started 43 consecutive games prior to missing the Feb. 2 game at LSU because of a concussion she sustained during the Jan. 29 game at Arkansas.
Senior Lanita Bartley is averaging a team-best 13.3 points over the last three games, converting 4-of-6 three-pointers and 59.1 percent (13-22) overall from the floor. She has totaled eight steals and six assists during that span, while playing 31.7 minutes.
Game Day Information
Florida Gators (14-8, 4-5 SEC) host the Ole Miss Rebels (12-11, 2-8 SEC)
Sunday, February 5, 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” and 104.9-FM in Gainesville and aM930 WFXJ in Jacksonville called by Adam Schick and Brittany Davis
Internet Audio: LIVE thru www.GatorZone.com (FREE)
Internet Video: LIVE thru www.GatorVision.tv (paid)
Internet Scoring: LIVE thru www.GatorZone.com (FREE)
Television: none
Tickets: fans who wear PINK receive $1 general admission tickets! $5 for reserved seats; $4 adult general admission; $2 for youth age 17 and under; FREE for UF and Santa Fe students
Family 4 Pack Sunday: 4 general admission tickets, 4 hot dogs, and 4 sodas for only $20!
Parking: FREE in the O'Connell Center parking lot
Opening Tip
*Florida is playing its first home game in 17 days
*The Gators are 8-10 all-time when playing on Super Bowl Sunday
*UF has played 49 games over the last two-plus seasons decided by 10 points or less; 11 this year
*7 of UF's 9 SEC games have been decided by 6 points or fewer, with 8 of 9 being decided by single digits
*Florida is ranked No. 40 in NCAA's RPI Rankings and has a strength of schedule ranking of No. 11 (last updated Jan. 29, released every Monday)
*Azania Stewart has blocked a shot in 21 consecutive games
Additional Hoopla For Sunday's Game
Presenting sponsor: Cox, Shands
*Breast Cancer Awareness Day
*Wear pink and receive $1 general admission!
*We Play 4 Kay T-Shirt Giveaway: The first 500 fans will receive a free We Play 4 Kay pink t-shirt to show their support of Breast Cancer awareness and survivors!
*Family 4 Pack Sunday: 4 general admission tickets, 4 hot dogs, and 4 sodas for only $20!
*Halftime: Special performance by Alexandria Aces!
*Alligator Alley: Prior to the game (12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.) fans can swing by the O'Connell Center's Dance Studio to make signs, play interactive games and more!
