Florida Gators

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The University of Florida women's basketball team (0-1) travels to Florida State (2-0) Sunday afternoon for the Fresh From Florida Sunshine Showdown. Tip-off from the Donald L. Tucker Center is slated for 3 p.m. ET as the Gators battle FSU for the 75^th time.

The contest will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra with Tom Block and Melissa Bruner on the call and Kyle Crooks and Brittany Davis will handle the radio broadcast on ESPN 98.1FM/850 AM.

UF Game Notes | FSU Game Notes

The Gators tipped off their 2018-19 campaign at home on Tuesday when they hosted the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs. Despite holding a half time advantage and a lead with less than a minute to play, the Gators suffered a 60-58 setback. Upperclassmen Funda Nakkasoglu (22), Delicia Washington (14) and Zada Williams (12) all finished in double figures for the game. Williams, the Miami transfer, turned in an excellent performance in her Gator debut, finishing with her first career double-double. The new-look Gators saw seven new players don the Florida blue and orange for the first time, including three who earned a spot in the starting lineup. Five of the first-time Gators scored a basket led by Williams' 12. Kiara Smith, who has joined the Gators by way of ASA College in New York, played 34 minutes and hauled in six rebounds from the guard position.

Florida State has played two games so far and won both. The Seminoles continue their five-game homestand to open the 2018-19 slate on Sunday. In their most recent action, the Seminoles knocked off North Florida, 74-53 on Friday night. FSU got off to a strong start, leading 24-13 after the first, and never looked back as four finished in double figures. So far it is has been a balanced scoring effort for the Seminoles as all eight players to see the floor average over five points per game. FSU is paced offensively by Nicki Ekhomu and forward Kia Gillespie. Ekhomu erupted for a career-best 30 points in FSU's season-opening win over Troy while Gillespie, who was tabbed to the ACC Blue Ribbon Panel Newcomer Watch List, has added a double-double in both contests. FSU is under the direction of 22nd-year head coach Sue Semrau who has compiled over 400 wins. FSU was slated to finished 7th (Blue Ribbon), 8th (Coaches) in the ACC preseason poll.

Following Sunday's action, UF concludes a stretch of back-to-back road contests when it travels to Macon, Ga. Thursday, Nov. 15 to take on Mercer.

Florida at Florida State Broadcast Info
Time & Date: Sunday, Nov. 11 | 3 p.m. ET
Live Stream: ACC Network Extra
Live Stats: Link
Radio: ESPN 98.1FM/850 AM WRUF

Series History

• Florida holds a 42-32 edge in the all-time series against Florida State.
  • Away: 13-17 |   Neutral: 9-5 |   Home: 20-10
• Since Florida's 16-game win streak in the series, Florida State has won 11 of the last 15 meetings, including five of the last six games.
• Last meeting: Nov. 17, 2017 - Florida State 84, Florida 54.
• Last meeting in Tallahassee: Dec. 8, 2016 - Florida State 83, Florida 58.
• Last win for UF: Nov. 16, 2015 - Gators upset the then-No. 6/7 ranked Seminoles, 82-72 in Gainesville.
• The 74-game series versus the Seminoles is Florida's longest against any one opponent.

 
Notables

• Seven Gators played in their first game with the UF program in the opener (3 freshmen, 4 transfers).
• Funda Nakkasoglu has now made a 3-pointer in 24-straight games which is the second-longest streak in program history as she passed Jordan Jones (23) and sits six games behind the leader Brandi McCain (30).
• FSU is one of the 15 teams Florida is scheduled to face that qualified for the postseason in 2017-18.
• Florida's Zada Williams and FSU's Kiah Gillespie both recorded double-doubles in their respective program debuts after transferring in and sitting out all of 2017-18.
• Funda Nakkasoglu's nine field goals made on Tuesday tied her career high at Florida as she also knocked down nine shots vs. Texas A&M last season. Her career best, including her two seasons at Utah State, occurred in 2016 when she connected on 14 attempts at Air Force as member of the Aggies.

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