Gators Begin Two-Game Road Swing Sunday

Thursday, February 8

Gainesville, FL

7 PM

Florida Gators

Mississippi State

Tickets

Funda Nakkasoglu continues to lead the Gators offensively with 14.4 points per game.

Gators Begin Two-Game Road Swing Sunday

Saturday, February 10, 2018 | Women's Basketball

Florida is in the midst of playing six consecutive nationally-ranked teams.

By: Kathy Cafazzo

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Florida begins a two-game road swing against nationally-ranked opponents. The Gators first play at No. 7 and reigning NCAA champion South Carolina at Colonial Life Arena on Sunday at 1 p.m., before playing at No. 14 Texas A&M on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.

Hi Mom!

Florida has at least 12 games set to be televised this season and Sunday's game is one of those.
Courtney Lyle and Andraya Carter are set to call the action for SEC Network.
SEC Network + will provide live streaming video thru the WatchESPN app.

The Home Stretch

Including Sunday's game, only FIVE games remain on Florida's regular-season schedule, including two at home, before traveling to Nashville for the SEC Tournament, Feb. 28-March 4.

Check this Regular-Season-Ending Stretch!

The Gators are in the midst of a nine-game stretch against eight teams currently ranked in the top-25.
The run takes Florida through the end of the regular season:

Date / Opp / RPI thru games Feb. 8
Jan. 25   at #2 Mississippi St. - RPI 3
Jan. 28   #18 Georgia - RPI 23
Feb. 5    at #15 Missouri - RPI 19
Feb. 8    #2 Mississippi State RPI 3
Feb. 11 at #7 South Carolina -     RPI 17
Feb. 15 at #14 Texas A&M - RPI 15
Feb. 18 Vanderbilt - RPI 123
Feb. 22 #11 Tennessee - RPI 10
Feb. 25 #18 Georgia - RPI 23

Gators vs. Gamecocks: The Series

25-Game Series: UF leads 20-15 (UF Home: 8-8; Away: 10-7; Neutral: 2-0)
Streak: South Carolina has won the last seven games in the series since Florida rattled off a nine-game streak.

Twice the SEC Fun

During the 2017-18 season's 16-game SEC schedule, the Gators will play Georgia (their 'permanent' rival), Ole Miss and 2017 NCAA national-runner-up Mississippi State twice.

Florida vs. Ranked Teams

Florida has lost its last 12 games against nationally ranked teams, including SIX this season: Florida State (Nov. 17), Ohio State (Dec. 6), Mississippi State (Jan. 25), Georgia (Jan. 28), at Missouri (Feb. 5) and vs. Mississippi State (Feb. 8)

Close Ones

Overall this season, the Gators have played 12 games decided by 10 points or less (4-8 record overall, 1-6 SEC).

Gators for THREEEEEE!

Entering Sunday's game, the Gators are averaging 8.5 three-pointers per game and converting at a 31.3 percent clip.
Thru games played Feb 8, UF ranks tied-No. 31 in the country in threes per game; and No. 26 in total three-pointers made (125).
Florida has converted double-digit threes in NINE games this year, most recently 10 vs. Kentucky (Jan. 11).

If the season ended today after playing just 24 games ...

The Gators' 203 three-pointers would be the third-most in a season in program history.
UF is 17 shy of No. 2 (220 in 32 games in 2010) and 25 threes from tying the most in program history (221 in 32 games in 2009).
Florida's 31.1 percent 3-point shooting effort would rank as the NINTH best in a season in program history.

What Else do the Gators do well?

Aside from hitting the three at an SEC-leading rate:
Florida DOES NOT FOUL: The Gators rank No. 3 in the country in staying out of foul trouble, being whistled for just 12.6 fouls per game. It wasn't until Florida's 16th game of the season that a Gator (Delicia Washington) fouled out - and that didn't happen until there was 2:45 remaining in the second-overtime period at Ole Miss!
REBOUND: Florida ranks No. 26 in the country for rebounds per game and No. 2 in SEC Games for rebounding offense.
Individually, Haley Lorenzen (No. 5), Delicia Washington (No. 9) and Paulina Hersler (T-No. 14) each rank among the SEC's top-15 for rebounds per game.

Gator Watch

Through 24 games, Florida is averaging 68.0 points per game, with all five starters averaging double-figure scoring.
Top two Gator scorers: Funda Nakkasoglu (14.4 ppg) and Haley Lorenzen (12.3 ppg)
Top two rebounders: Haley Lorenzen (9.3 pg) and Delicia Washington (8.8 pg)
Assists leaders: Delicia Washington (78 total, 3.4 pg) and Dyandria Anderson (67 total, 2.9 pg)

Who's Hot!

During the last FOUR games, Funda Nakkasolgu has totaled 61 points (15.3 pg) over the last four games, connecting on seven three-pointers and hitting 14-of-24 from the line.

Game Day at a Glance

Who: Florida (10-14, 2-9 SEC) at No. 7/8 South Carolina (19-5, 8-30 SEC)
Where: Colonial Life Arena (18,000) * Columbia, S.C.
When: Sun., February 11 * 1 pm ET

Game Notes (PDF):

Florida – http://floridagators.com/documents/2018/2/9/25_UF_SouthCarolina.pdf
South Carolina – http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/w-baskbl/scar-w-baskbl-body.html

Gator Game Coverage & More!

Television: SEC Network with Courtney Lyle & Andraya Carter
Streaming Video: SEC Network + (WatchESPN app)
- http://es.pn/2FxSiWX
Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1FM / 850AM WRUF and WFXJ-AM930 (Jacksonville) with Kyle Crooks & Brittany Davis
Internet Audio: link thru FloridaGators.com (FREE)
- http://bit.ly/2DDkYRb
Internet Scoring: LIVE thru FloridaGators.com
- http://bit.ly/2F6WsFa

Opening Tip

Sunday's game between No. 7 South Carolina and Florida will be televised live by SEC Network.
The Gators are playing both of last year's national finalists in back-to-back games.
Florida is in game five of a six-game stretch against nationally-ranked opponents. The Gators next play at No. 14 Texas A&M.
Including Sunday's game, only FIVE games remain on Florida's regular-season schedule before traveling to Nashville for the SEC Tournament.

Gator Pronunciations for this Release: