Junior Kristina Moore notched a career-best six steals against Cincinnati Saturday.
Gators Close Out Homestand with FAU Monday
Sunday, December 6, 2020 | Women's Basketball
Women’s basketball hosts Florida Atlantic for nationally-televised contest at 8 p.m. Monday night.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Playing for the fourth time in a week span, the University of Florida women's basketball team (3-1) closes out its three-game homestand with a matchup with Florida Atlantic Monday, Dec. 7 at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. and the game will be broadcast nationally on the SEC Network with Paul Sunderland and Andraya Carter on the call.
The Gators have opened the season 3-1 with wins at home over Grambling State, Charleston Southern, and Cincinnati and a setback at in-state foe FSU.
In its most recent action against Cincinnati on Saturday, Florida posted an 81-58 victory thanks to a dominant 26-5 run to close the game. Lavender Briggs, Kiki Smith, Nina Rickards and Danielle Rainey, all guards, combined to score 69 of UF's 81 points in what ended up being a lopsided tally despite it being a close game throughout the majority of the contest. Briggs, Smith, Rickards and Rainey all finished the game in double figures, paced by Briggs' 22. In what was a pivotal fourth quarter, Briggs (12) and Rainey (10) combined to score 22 of UF's 26 points in the frame.
Each member of the aforementioned quartet carries a double-figure scoring average into the contest, paced by Smith's 17.0 points per game. Smith also leads the team in assists, steals and rebounds on the young season.
The Owls have played two games this season both against in-state foes. FAU fought off North Florida 93-81 in its opener but fell at Miami this past Thursday, 73-61. The Owls return 13 players from last season's club including four starters. Iggy Allen, a graduate transfer from Miami, leads the team with a 20.5 points per game average in the early going while teammates Alexa Zapth and Allie Tylka also carry a double-figure scoring average into the game. The Owls were slated to finish to finish 10th in the Conference USA this season and finished tied for 8th in the league last season after recording a 13-17 (7-11) record. Jim Jabir is in his fourth season as head coach of the Owls. Jabir has over 500 wins in his long and storied coaching career. He was the head coach at Buffalo State, Sienna, Marquette, Providence and Dayton before taking the FAU position in advance of the 2017-18 campaign. FAU is in search of its first win over a Power 5 foe since 1997 when the Owls beat Ole Miss, 71-62.
Sophomore guard Lavender Briggs enters Monday's contest with 499 career points in just 33 games played. With one point Briggs will become the fastest UF player to 500 career points since Sha Brooks eclipsed the 500-point mark in 34 games in the 2006-07 campaign. Brooks finished her Gator career with 1,820 points, the fifth-most all time.
FASTEST FLORIDA PLAYERS TO 500 CAREER POINTS SINCE 1998-99 SEASON
The Gators and Owls meet for the eighth time but for the first time since 1999. Florida has claimed the last three meetings in the series and holds a 4-0 mark at home. The Gators have won by an average of 24 points in the meetings.
Monday night marks UF's national television debut and its first of nine nationally televised contests.
After Monday's clash with the Owls, Florida resumes game action Wednesday, Dec. 9 when it travels to UNC Asheville for a 4 p.m. tilt.
Tipoff Tip Ins
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #GoGators
The Gators have opened the season 3-1 with wins at home over Grambling State, Charleston Southern, and Cincinnati and a setback at in-state foe FSU.
| GAME INFO |
|---|
| Date: | Monday, Dec. 7 |
| Time: | 8 p.m. ET |
| Matchup: | Florida (3-1) vs. Florida Atlantic (1-1) |
| Location: | Gainesville, Fla. | Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center |
| TV: | SEC Network with Paul Sunderland and Andraya Carter |
| Live Stats: | Here |
| Radio: | WRUF ESPN 98.1 FM/850 AM with Kyle Crooks and Brittany Davis |
| Notes: | Florida | FAU |
| Tickets: | Here |
In its most recent action against Cincinnati on Saturday, Florida posted an 81-58 victory thanks to a dominant 26-5 run to close the game. Lavender Briggs, Kiki Smith, Nina Rickards and Danielle Rainey, all guards, combined to score 69 of UF's 81 points in what ended up being a lopsided tally despite it being a close game throughout the majority of the contest. Briggs, Smith, Rickards and Rainey all finished the game in double figures, paced by Briggs' 22. In what was a pivotal fourth quarter, Briggs (12) and Rainey (10) combined to score 22 of UF's 26 points in the frame.
Each member of the aforementioned quartet carries a double-figure scoring average into the contest, paced by Smith's 17.0 points per game. Smith also leads the team in assists, steals and rebounds on the young season.
The Owls have played two games this season both against in-state foes. FAU fought off North Florida 93-81 in its opener but fell at Miami this past Thursday, 73-61. The Owls return 13 players from last season's club including four starters. Iggy Allen, a graduate transfer from Miami, leads the team with a 20.5 points per game average in the early going while teammates Alexa Zapth and Allie Tylka also carry a double-figure scoring average into the game. The Owls were slated to finish to finish 10th in the Conference USA this season and finished tied for 8th in the league last season after recording a 13-17 (7-11) record. Jim Jabir is in his fourth season as head coach of the Owls. Jabir has over 500 wins in his long and storied coaching career. He was the head coach at Buffalo State, Sienna, Marquette, Providence and Dayton before taking the FAU position in advance of the 2017-18 campaign. FAU is in search of its first win over a Power 5 foe since 1997 when the Owls beat Ole Miss, 71-62.
Sophomore guard Lavender Briggs enters Monday's contest with 499 career points in just 33 games played. With one point Briggs will become the fastest UF player to 500 career points since Sha Brooks eclipsed the 500-point mark in 34 games in the 2006-07 campaign. Brooks finished her Gator career with 1,820 points, the fifth-most all time.
FASTEST FLORIDA PLAYERS TO 500 CAREER POINTS SINCE 1998-99 SEASON
| PLAYER | GAMES TO 500 | TOTAL POINTS SCORED IN CAREER |
| Sha Brooks | 34 | 1,820 |
| Jaterra Bonds | 52 | 1,602 |
| Vanessa Hayden | 40 | 1,576 |
| Marshae Dotson | 53 | 1,529 |
| Ronni Williams | 57 | 1,492 |
The Gators and Owls meet for the eighth time but for the first time since 1999. Florida has claimed the last three meetings in the series and holds a 4-0 mark at home. The Gators have won by an average of 24 points in the meetings.
Monday night marks UF's national television debut and its first of nine nationally televised contests.
After Monday's clash with the Owls, Florida resumes game action Wednesday, Dec. 9 when it travels to UNC Asheville for a 4 p.m. tilt.
Tipoff Tip Ins
- Against Cincinnati, Florida ended the game with a 26-5 run. The game before UF ended the first half with a dominant 23-4 scoring surge against Charleston Southern.
- Florida notched 15 steals against Cincinnati, the most it has registered in a single game since the 2016-17 season. In consecutive games, Florida guards have notched a career-high six steals, beginning with Kiki Smith's six thefts vs. Charleston Southern and last game with Kristina Moore's six pocket picks.
- Florida's 28 second quarter points against Charleston Southern were its most in a period since scoring 28 in the first quarter against Samford on Nov. 16 of last season. UF scored 27 in the fourth quarter versus Grambling State and 26 in the final period against Cincinnati.
- The Gators have shot above 70 percent from the line in three games already this season. A year ago, Florida struggled to shoot it from the free throw line, converting at just a 59 percent clip. The Gators shot 16-of-21 from the line vs. Cincinnati.
- The Gators have scored 20 or more fast break points in two of their first four games. A season ago, Florida's season high in fast break points was 16.
- Redshirt-sophomore Yasmeen Chang made her UF debut Saturday vs. Cincinnati after she was granted a waiver by the NCAA earlier in the week. Chang, who scored two points in eight minutes, has great speed and athleticism and will provide depth in the Gator backcourt.
- Lavender Briggs has established herself as one of the best scorers in the SEC, but she can facilitate as well. The sophomore has recorded five or more assists in two of UF's first four games and led the team in assists three times.
- At 6-foot-1, Florida's roster possesses its tallest average height since Coach Newbauer took over the program in 2017-18.
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #GoGators
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballTammi Reiss Introductory Press Conference | 3-24-26
Wednesday, March 25
SEC Tournament: Liv McGill and Coach Finley Postgame Press Conference 3-5-26
Thursday, March 05
SEC Tournament Postgame Press Conference 3-4-26
Wednesday, March 04
SEC Tournament: Liv McGill, Me'Arah O'Neal and Coach Finley Postgame Press Conference 3-4-26
Wednesday, March 04
