Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 2 Florida is back in pink Friday as they compete in No. 9 Alabama's 15^th Annual Power of Pink meet. Meet time is set for 8:30 p.m. ET in the University of Alabama's Coleman Coliseum.
 
This meet is the originator of the Southeastern Conference breast cancer awareness meets. Then Alabama Head Coach Sarah Patterson started the initiative in 2005 to raise breast cancer awareness and funds.
 
How to Follow the Gators:
The Florida at Alabama dual airs live on SEC Network. Courtney Lyle and Olympic medalist Kathy Johnson-Clarke call the action.
 
On the go Friday? Follow the action on WatchESPN.
 
In the Gator Link to Pink Meet:
A big crowd for a special initiative came out Feb. 8 for the 13^th Annual Gators Link to Pink presented by UF Health. Two season-best event scores – vault (49.35) and floor exercise (49.65) – helped the Gators to the nation's top team score of the weekend. Florida took a 197.85 – 196.70 win over No. 12 Auburn in the meeting of the remaining SEC unbeaten teams. Friday's crowd of 9,055 is UF's sixth largest as four of the top-10 crowds in Florida history were Link to Pink meets.
 
A Gator won every event title Friday, including Trinity Thomas adding two event wins to her all-around title. Thomas' 39.70 all-around equals her collegiate-high and is the nation's No. 4 total of 2019. She also claimed the floor win with a collegiate-best 9.975 and used a 9.95 for her third uneven bars win. Alicia Boren won vault with Florida's season-best mark (9.925) and shared the balance beam win at 9.90 with Rachel Gowey and Alyssa Baumann.
 
SEC Awards for the Gators:
After their performances Friday, Thomas and Baumann claimed SEC Weekly honors.
 
Thomas claims her second SEC Gymnast of the Week after leading the league's competitors with her winning all-around total of 39.70. That total equals her collegiate best and stands No. 4 nationally for 2019. She also took event titles for bars and floor. After sharing her second consecutive beam win and taking third in floor, Baumann picked up her second consecutive SEC Specialist Gymnast of the Week award.
 
About the Alabama Crimson Tide:
When these two teams meet, it is an anticipated match-up. Friday is the 56th time (dating back to 2002 NCAA Championships) both teams bring top-10 rankings into a meet.
 
Alabama leads Florida 29-24-2 in that span, but since 2011, Florida owns a slight 13-12-1 edge. Since 2003, it is the home team taking the win when these two programs meet in dual meet action.
 
Alabama is 8-2 this season, which includes top-10 wins versus then No. 6 Michigan (196.175-196.025) and at then No. 10 Georgia (196.90-196.875).
 
Lexi Graber owns the Tide's top all-around of 39.40, set at Georgia. Ariana Guerra shared the SEC Specialist Gymnast of the Week with Florida's Gowey on Jan. 22 after she equaled her collegiate floor best (9.925) and posted a then season-best 9.85 on vault in Alabama's win at Georgia.
 
Alabama' 2018 attendance average of 11,013 stood fourth among all 2017-2018 NCAA women's sports.
 
National Rank:
Florida – Florida is No. 2 in the sixth Road to Nationals standings.
UA – The Tide is No. 9 in the Road to Nationals standings.