Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida plays its lone home game during a five-game stretch, when the Gators welcome Vanderbilt to the O'Connell Center on Thur., February 18 at 7 p.m.
 
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.
 
The 4-1-1- on the week ahead

• The Gators have just four regular-season games remaining, with two at home and two on the road.
• This week, Florida plays host to Vanderbilt on Thursday before facing Georgia in Athens on Sunday. The Lady Bulldogs won the earlier matchup this season in Gainesville.
• The Gator's last home victory versus the Commodores was back on January 22, 2006 (73-59).
• Florida is just 5-27 all-time playing Georgia in Athens.
• 13 of UF's games have been decided by 10 points or less (10-3), including eight SEC games (6-2).
• So far this season, 9 different Gators have been UF's leading scorer in a game this season, 7 different Gators have been UF's leading rebounder in a game this season and 6 different Gators have scored 20 or more points in a game this season.
• Newcomer Eleanna Christinaki continues to lead all SEC freshmen in league games in scoring, assists and assists/turnover ratio.

 
Where we Stand

• The Gators enter Thursday's set of league games with a 7-5 SEC record.
• In the SEC standings, Florida is ...
• Tied for fifth with Georgia (7-5).
• a half-game behind Auburn (8-5) for fourth place
• One game back of Mississippi State (8-4) and Texas A&M (8-4) for second place...
• Just a half-game ahead of Missouri (7-6) for seventh
• One game ahead of Kentucky and Tennessee (6-6) for eighth place!
• while Vanderbilt (4-8) is 11th.
• SEC women's basketball does NOT divide teams into East-West like other league sports - just Nos. 1-14.

 
12 Down, 4 to Go!

• Florida has just FOUR regular-season games remaining, including Thursday's outing vs. Vanderbilt.
• Two of the four games are on the road.
• A look at Florida's closing stretch:
• Feb. 18 host Vandy (4-8 - No. 11 in SEC)
• Feb. 21 at Georgia (7-5 - T-No. 5 in SEC)
• Feb. 25 at LSU (2-10 - T-No. 13 in SEC)
• Feb. 28 host Auburn (8-5 - No. 5 in SEC)

 
The Series vs. Vanderbilt

• 54-Game Series: Vanderbilt leads 33-21
• UF Home: 10-13; Away: 8-16; Neutral: 3-4
• Sunday marks the 55th meeting between Florida and Vanderbilt. It is the fourth most games played against one opponent by the Gators.
• Each of the last three games, as well as six of the last seven games in the series have been decided by single digits.
• Florida and Vandy played twice last season, with each winning on the other's home court.
• Vanderbilt won the most recent game played in the series, a 76-75 overtime decision in Gainesville, while the Gators claimed 67-58 win in Nashville.
• Florida has lost five straight home games to Vanderbilt.
• The Gator's last home victory versus the Commodores was back on January 22, 2006 (73-59).

 
Gripping Gators

• Florida is 10-3 this year in games decided by 10 points or less, including 6-2 in SEC games
• 2015-16 games: Temple, Florida State, Ball State, Arkansas State, NC State, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Georgia, LSU, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky and Texas A&M.
• 14 of UF's 30 games last year were decided by 10 points or less. The Gators were 5-9 in those games.
• 17 of Florida's games in 2013-14 were decided by 10 points or less (10-7 record).
• Last year, 10 of the Gators' 16 SEC games were decided by eight points or less

 
A Gator Win on Thursday would ...

• Halt UF's two-game losing streak.
• Improve UF's overall record to 20-6 and be the third-best 26-game record in program history, trailing only the 22-4 records of the 2008-09 team and 2000-01 club.
• Give the Gators their 20th win of the season.

 
Florida's DEPTH at a Glance!

• On the 13-player roster...
• 10 Gators average at least 12.7 minutes of playing time per game
• 9 Gators average at least 5.3 points per game
• 11 Gators have made at least one three-pointer (Fleming and Lorenzen have never attempted a three-pointer).
• 11 have started at least one game during their respective Gator careers (Dimaite and Young have not), while 10 of the 13 have started at least once this season.
• 9 DIFFERENT Gators have been UF's leading scorer in a game this year
• 7 DIFFERENT Gators have been UF's leading rebounder in a game this season
• 6 DIFFERENT Gators have scored 20 or more points in a game this season

 
Balance, too!

• UF ranks No. 12 in the nation in scoring offense (79.6 ppg), however, the team's leading scorers - Ronni Williams and Eleanna Christinaki- average just 11.0 and 10.2 points per game, respectively.
• Sophomore Haley Lorenzen averages 9.6 points, while senior Cassie Peoples and junior Simone Westbrook are close behind at 8.6 and 8.4 per game, respectively.

 
Looking Back: Auburn def. Florida, 80-58 (Sunday, February 14)

• Carlie Needles and Ronni Williams each scored in double-figures but it wasn't enough for No. 16/19 Florida to halt a red-hot Auburn squad playing at home, as the Tigers earned an 80-58 victory on Sunday at Auburn Arena and won their fifth consecutive game.
• With the team's trading points during a fiercely tight second quarter that featured 16 lead changes and three tied scores, Auburn scored on consecutive possessions off a Florida turnover to ignite a 17-3 run that extended into the third quarter that flipped a one point Gator lead into a 57-44 Tiger advantage.

 
Gator Watch

• Ronni Williams, a preseason Second Team All-SEC performer, is UF's leading scorer (11.0 ppg) and rebounder (7.6 ppg).
• In SEC games, Williams is averaging team-bests of 11.3 points 8.6 rebounds per game.
• Williams ranks No. 5 in the SEC for rebounding in league games
• She has recorded seven double-doubles this season (12 in career)
• Has 14 double-figure scoring games this year (most on team)
• SEC Player of Week (honored Feb. 9) for 20-point, 15-rebound game vs. No. 12 Texas A&M - first such honor of career

 
Rookie Review

• Eleanna Christinaki is the only true freshman on the Gator squad and has made quite an impact!
• Has 13 double-figure scoring games - second-most on the team
• Is UF's assists leader
• Has been UF's leading game scorer seven times
• Has been UF's leading rebounder twice
• Has been UF's assists leader in a team-best 14 games
• THREE TIMES named the SEC Freshman of the Week (Dec. 8-14, Jan. 5-11 and Jan. 25-Feb. 1)
• 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: #22/25 Florida (19-6, 7-5 SEC) hosts Vanderbilt (15-10, 4-8 SEC)
• Where: Stephen C. O'Connell Center (11,548) * Gainesville, Florida
• When: Thurs., February 18, 2016 * 7 pm ET

 
Game Notes:

• Florida
• Vanderbilt

 
Game Coverage & More!

• Radio: LIVE on ESPN Gainesville (WRUF-AM850/FM95.3) and Jacksonville (WFXJ-AM930) with Tom Collett & Jennifer George
• Internet Audio: LIVE thru FloridaGators.com (FREE)
• Television: none
• Internet Video: SECNetwork + with Adam Schick & Brittany Davis
• Internet Scoring: (FREE) thru FloridaGators.com
• Ticket Prices:     
  • $5 – Reserved General Admission (Sections I1, J1)
  • $1– General Admission (SPECIAL Thursday GAME price!)
  • FREE – UF and SFC Students with valid ID
  • FREE – Children 17 and Under (in General Admission areas)

 
Opening Tip

• Florida (7-5) enters Thursday's game tied for fifth in the SEC standings with Georgia (7-5), while just a half-game back of fourth place and Auburn (8-5).
• The Gator's last home victory versus the Commodores was back on January 22, 2006 (73-59).
• The Gators have just FOUR regular-season games remaining, with two of those on the road.
• UF ranks second in the SEC (league games only) for scoring offense and steals.
• 13 of UF's games have been decided by 10 points or less (10-3), including eight SEC games (6-2).

 
Additional Hoopla for Thursday's Game:
Presenting Sponsor: 100.5 BUZZ FM

• Pink Game: First 500 fans receive Gators WBK Pink T-shirts!
• Play 4Kay: Fans are encouraged to wear pink gear and support the battle against women's cancer.
• $1 Thursdays: All general admission tickets are $1.

 
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