Gators Host LSU on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Sunday, January 17

Gainesville, FL

2:00 PM

Florida Gators

LSU

Simone Westbrook is a big reason the Gators lead the SEC in steals.

Gators Host LSU on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Saturday, January 16, 2016 | Women's Basketball

By: UAA Communications

[UPDATE: an earlier version of this story included information about a promotion titled "FAMILY 4PACK SUNDAY" -- which is NOT occuring for this game. We appologize for any inconvenience.]

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators aim to refocus after Thursday's loss and bounce back into the win column on Sunday, when LSU comes to Gainesville.

Sunday's tip-off from Stephen C. O'Connell Center is set for 2 p.m. ET.

While there will not be television coverage of the game, live streaming video will be provided by SEC Network +, with Adam Schick and Brittany Davis calling the action.

Sunday's game is the middle of a three-game SEC home stand for Florida, which enters the game off a disappointing 71-61 setback to Georgia.

Twice the Fun

Sunday's game is the first the two meetings this season between Florida and LSU on the hardwood.
The Gators and Tigers will tumble again in Baton Rouge on February 25.
In this year's 16-game SEC schedule, the Gators also will play Auburn and Georgia twice.

Preseason Picks

Florida was voted by the league's coaches and media to finish 12th in the 14-team league.
LSU was selected 10th by the coaches and tied for ninth by the media.

The Series vs. LSU

38-Series: UF trails 12-26
UF Home: 7-12; Away: 4-13; Neutral: 1-1
Four of the last five games in the series have been decided by single digits
LSU has won the last two meetings against the Gators, including last year's 68-65 SEC opener on Jan. 2, 2015 in the O'Dome.
Seven of UF's 12 wins against the Tigers have come in Gainesville, most recently a 77-72 victory on Jan. 6, 2013

A Gator Win on Sunday would ...

Tie for the third-best 18-game start in program history, trailing only the 16-2 record of the 2008-09 and the 2000-01 clubs.
Be UF's first win playing as a ranked team since March 22, 2009, when the then-No. 22 Gators defeated Temple, 70-57, in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Tournament held in Storrs, Conn.
Be the Gator's first HOME win of the 2016 calendar year, as well as the team's first SEC victory at home this season.
Improve UF's overall home record to 8-2 this season.

Team Ties

UF redshirt-senior Viktorija Dimaite was prep teammates with LSU senior Anne Pedersen at The Rock School located in Gainesville, Fla.
LSU Assistant Coach Charlene Thomas-Swinson was a Gator assistant coach from 2002-05 under then-head coach Carolyn Peck.

Looking Back: Florida lost to Georgia, 71-61 (Thursday, January 14)

Florida's cold shooting was too much for it to overcome in a 71-61 loss to Georgia at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Thursday.
Florida's 61 points were its fewest of the season, while its 33.8 shooting percentage was its second-lowest and its 45.4 free throw percentage (10-22) was its lowest of the year after entering the game converting 70.8 percent from the line.
Redshirt senior guard Cassie Peoples scored a team-high 15 points, while junior forward Ronni Williams finished with a solid all-around game, logging 12 points and team highs in rebounds (nine) and assists (four). Freshman guard Eleanna Christinaki was the only other Gator to reach double figures, as she posted a stat line of 11 points, five rebounds and two assists.
How It Happened:
After the Gators raced out to an early lead, Georgia took over and held a nine-point edge (19-10) by the end of the first quarter. A 7-0 run by UF—which featured a layup from Williams, a three from Christinaki and a layup by Simone Westbrook—cut the deficit to two, but the Bulldogs eventually took a 33-22 lead into the halftime locker room.
Although UF trailed by as many as 21 points late in the third quarter, it staged a furious rally to get back into the game.
Florida pulled within five points inside the final 30 seconds of play before the Bulldogs trumped its comeback efforts, as Georgia converted 11-of-14 free throws in the final minute.

Gator Watch

Ronni Williams, a preseason Second Team All-SEC performer, is UF's leading rebounder (7.6 pg) and is No. 2 for scoring at 10.5 ppg.
In SEC games, Williams is averaging a double-double: 10.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game - tied for the second-most in league games!
She has recorded six double-doubles this season (11 in career), including three straight during early November
She became the first Gator to record three consecutive double-doubles since Jennifer George posted four in a row from Dec. 4-20, 2012.

Threading the Needles

Through four SEC games, senior Carlie Needles is UF's leading scorer in league contests at 11.3 points per game
In SEC games:
- >> 9-of-24 three-pointers (37.5%)
- >> 47.1% FG (16-34)
- >> 4-6 free throws
- >> 7 assists and 7 steals

Rookie Review

Eleanna Christinaki is the only true freshman on the Gator squad and has made quite an impact!
She has been in the starting lineup since the third game of the season.
Has scored in double-figures in 7 of the last 10 games (entering LSU)
Has 9 double-figure scoring games - tied for the second-most on the team
Is UF's assists leader
Has been UF's leading game scorer four times
Has been UF's leading rebounder twice
Has been UF's assists leader in a team-best nine games
TWICE named the SEC Freshman of the Week (Dec. 8-14 and Jan. 5-11)
Just missed a triple-double vs. UCF (Dec. 30) - 14 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists
at Tennessee (in first SEC road game): game-high 18 points, game-high 8 assists with 6 rebounds
Completed a 'career triple-double' with 10 assists at Ole Miss (Jan. 10) ... had 10 rebounds vs. UCF (Dec. 30) and first double-digit scoring game was 13 points vs. Florida State (Nov. 16)

Game Day at a Glance

Who: #20/21 Florida (14-3, 2-2 SEC) hosts LSU (7-10, 1-3 SEC)
When: Sun., January 17, 2016 * 2 p.m. ET
Where: Stephen C. O'Connell Center (11,548) * Gainesville, Florida

Game Notes

Game Coverage & More!

Radio: LIVE on ESPN Gainesville (95.3 FM and 850 AM) with Tom Collett & Jennifer George
Internet Audio: LIVE thru floridagators.com (FREE)
Television: none
Internet Video: SEC Network + with Adam Schick & Brittany Davis
Internet Scoring: (FREE) thru floridagators.com
Ticket Prices:
- $5 – Reserved General Admission (Sections I1, J1)
- $4– General Admission
- FREE – UF and SFC Students with valid ID
- FREE – Children 17 and Under (in General Admission areas)

We Back Pat

The annual week-long celebration of legendary Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt - named "We Back Pat" spans from Sun., January 17 through Mon., January 25.
Players from both teams in today's game will be wearing special "We Back Pat" shooting shirts and the coaching staffs will wear similar shirts and purple Alzheimer awareness pins.
The conference initiative is helping promote awareness of The Pat Summitt Foundation which is partnering with the UT Medical Center to create the Pat Summitt Alzheimer's Clinic
#WeBackPat

Additional Hoopla for Sunday's Game
Presenting Sponsor: Cox

Gators Athletic Socks: The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a free pair of Gators athletic socks!
Koozies: The first 400 fans in attendance will receive free koozies courtesy of Cox!
Campus Challenge – Game 1: Students – here's your first chance to win awesome prizes in our 2015-16 Campus Challenge! Make sure to check-in for your residence hall and enjoy the action with your peers!
Sunday Kids Korner & Layup Line: Kids, it's a Sunday afternoon game, so enjoy kids korner with games and poster making, followed by a layup line on the court postgame!