Florida Gators

[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

• Florida (PDF)
• LSU (PDF)

 
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!

 
 
 
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