Gators host Vanderbilt on $1 Thursday Night, Play4Kay
Wednesday, February 18, 2015 | Women's Basketball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida plays host to Vanderbilt on Thursday, when tipoff from the Stephen C. O'Connell Center is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
This is the second-to-last home game of the year for the Gators, who play host to Georgia on March 1 in the regular-season finale for both teams.
This is the second meeting this season between the Commodores and Gators, who won the February 1 matchup, 67-58, in Nashville.
Thursday's game is the part of a five-game stretch where four of Florida's opponents are nationally ranked. Vanderbilt, however, is the only team not ranked during the span.
SEC Cluster - Every Game Counts!
· Entering Thursday's action, Florida (4-8) is in a three-team tie for eighth place in the 14-team standings!
· FIVE teams within a game of Florida:
o Georgia & Arkansas (5-7) - 1 game lead
o Ole Miss (4-8) - tied (def. UF; lost VU)
o Vanderbilt (4-8) - tied (lost to UF; d. UM)
o Missouri (4-9) - half-game back
See Us While You Can!
Florida was assigned with just three home games during the second half of its 16-game SEC schedule.
· The Gators have just TWO home games remaining (including Thursday):
o Thur., February 19 vs. Vanderbilt
o Sun., March 1 vs. Georgia
Florida vs. Vanderbilt: The Series at a Glance
· 53-Game Series: UF trails 21-32
· UF Home: 10-12; Away: 8-16; Neutral: 3-4
· Four of the last six games in the series have been decided by six points or fewer; as well as each of the last eight games have been decided by 11 points or less (Vandy 5-3)
· Florida has won the last two games against Vandy, which has won 9 of last 12 games against the Gators.
· The February 1 victory was the first time the Gators have won consecutive games against Vanderbilt since Jan. 11, 2004 (home) and February 1, 2004 (away).
· The last time the Gators won three consecutive games against the Commodores? It was part of a six-game win streak for the Gators that began on March 2, 1996 and ran until the team's February 25, 1999 victory. Three of those games were played in the SEC Tournament, two were home games and only one was in Nashville.
Local Flavor
· UF Head Coach Amanda Butler and freshman Brooke Copeland are natives of the Volunteer State.
· Butler hails from Mt. Juliet, located just 15 miles from Nashville. Her parents, Steve and Barbara Butler, still reside in Mt. Juliet.
· Copeland is from Cleveland, Tenn., located 163 miles from Nashville (about a 2:30 drive).
· Copeland, who graduated from Bradley Central High School in May 2014.
Gripping Gators
· 11 of UF's 25 games this year have been decided by 10 points or less.
· The Gators are 4-7 in those games this year.
· Last year, 10 of the Gators' 16 SEC games were decided by eight points or less (1-4 this year)
You Say Daunting, We Say Challenging and Exciting!
· Including Thursday's contest, only FOUR games remain in Florida's regular season.
· Five of the Gator's final seven games are against teams that have been recently ranked:
o No. 6 Tennessee (Feb. 8)
o No. 24 Georgia (Feb. 12)
o No. 13/15 Mississippi State (Feb. 15)
o No. 15 Texas A&M (Feb. 22)
· The only games against non-ranked teams:
o host Vanderbilt (Feb. 19)
o at Alabama (Feb. 26)
o host Georgia - receiving votes (Mar. 1)
Twice as Nice?
· In 2014-15, Florida will play Missouri, Georgia and Vanderbilt in a home-and-home series that comprise the Gator's 16-game SEC schedule.
· This year: UF defeated Georgia & Vanderbilt in the first meeting and was swept by Missouri.
Gator Watch
· POINTS: Sophomore Ronni Williams narrowly sits atop UF's scoring chart at 9.8 points per game. She's closely followed by senior Kayla Lewis and junior Cassie Peoples with 9.4 points each.
· REBOUNDS: Lone senior Kayla Lewis patrols the paint for UF, collecting 7.0 rebounds per game and hitting what would be an SEC-leading 56.3 percent from the floor - IF she had enough attempts.
· UTILITY - 1: Cassie Peoples leads the Gators in assists (102), steals (49) and trips to the free throw line (77), where she leads the SEC with an 87.0 percent clip.
· UTILITY - 2: Carlie Needles has emerged as UF's Ms. A-Little-Bit-of-Everything this season! Standing 5-foot-6, she ranks No. 3 for rebounds, while ranking No. 1 for three-pointers, No. 1 minutes played, No. 2 assists, No. 2 free throw percentage, No. 2 steals and No. 4 for scoring!
Who's on top?
· For the fifth consecutive game, not one Gator is averaging a double-figure scoring effort - and that's because there's balance!
· Seven Gators average at last 5 points per game.
· Eight Gators average at least 12.8 minutes on the court.
Who's Hot:
· January Miller is averaging a team-best 13.0 points of the last two games.
· Miller has converted 71.4 percent (10-14) of her shots, including her only three-point attempt, while hitting all five free throw attempts.
· tied season-high 16 points at Mississippi State (Feb. 15) ... 2 points, 2 assists in final 3:53 at Georgia in comeback win
· at Vandy (Feb. 1) converted 6-of-6 from the free throw line that included four in the final three minutes (three-games ago)
Quotes from the Court:
· “Vanderbilt is real effective at running – they do a great job of getting back in transition and it's very difficult to generate offense against them. We're a lot more concerned about our transition defense because they do a great job of getting out and running.” – UF Head Coach Amanda Butler on Vanderbilt
· “We did play them earlier this season so we have some idea of what to expect. Vanderbilt is smart in transition. They are a very good, smart, heady team and we have to be ready for them.” – UF junior guard January Miller on what she remembers from the February 1 meeting against Vanderbilt
· “I remember us doing a really good job of rebounding and we had a lot of transition points. January got out, Ronni and I got out a couple times so scoring in the open court was good for us. Also, they switch a lot so we need to take advantage of the switches.” – UF redshirt-senior guard Kayla Lewis
GAME DAY DATA:
Florida (12-13, 4-8 SEC) hosts Vanderbilt (13-12, 4-8 SEC)
Stephen C. O'Connell Center (11,373) * Gainesville, Fla.
Thurs., February 19, 2015 * 7 p.m. ET
Game Notes (PDF):
· Florida –
o http://www.gatorzone.com/basketball/women/stats/notes/pre/20150219190000.pdf
· Vanderbilt – http://www.vucommodores.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/021715aad.html
Game Coverage & More!
· Radio: LIVE on WRUF-AM (850) in Gainesville and WFXJ-AM (930) in Jacksonville with Adam Schick & Brittany Davis
· Internet Audio: LIVE thru www.GatorZone.com (FREE)
o http://www.gatorvision.tv/mediaPortal/player.dbml?&catid=0&DB_OEM_ID=6500
· Television: SEC Network with Sam Gore & Carolyn Peck
· Internet Video: WatchESPN
· Internet Scoring: Stat Broadcast (FREE) via Gatorzone.com
· Tickets: FREE for fans wearing PINK …
o $5 for reserved seats & FREE for UF students;
o $1 THURSDAY SPECIAL = $1 adult general admission;
o $1 for youth age 17 and under
· Parking: FREE in the O'Connell Center Lot Garage
Opening Tip
· EACH of the last eight meetings between the Gators and Commodores has been decided by 11 points or fewer ... with six of those decided by single digits
· Thursday is the second of two regular-season match-ups between Florida and Vanderbilt ... the Gators won the Feb. 1 matchup 67-58
· Five of UF's seven games in the month of February are on the road - 2 home games: Feb. 8 vs Tennessee & Feb. 19 vs. Vanderbilt
· Cassie Peoples leads the SEC in free throw percentage (87.0%)
· Carlie Needles ranks No. 3 in SEC games for 3-Pt FG pct. (33.9%)
Additional Hoopla for Thursday's Game
· $1 Thursdays - All general admission tickets are $1 and select concessions items are available for $1!
· Campus Challenge: Semifinal #2 - Lakeside + Springs VS. Jennings! Residence hall communities on campus will compete against each other in a March Madness style attendance competition for a chance to win prizes and unique opportunities with UF Women's Basketball!
· Pink Day - The Florida Women's Basketball team supports breast cancer awareness. Wear pink to the game and receive FREE admission!
· Pink Giveaway - The first 500 fans receive a free Pink Florida Women's Basketball tote bag and a pink shaker!
For all of the latest information on Florida women's basketball:
Official Website: www.gatorzone.com/basketball/women
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FloridaWomensBasketball
Twitter: @GatorZoneWBK and @CoachButlerUF
Instagram: GatorzoneWBK
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