GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Taking the floor for the first time in 11 days, the University of Florida women's basketball team returns to game action Thursday, Feb. 11 when it travels to LSU for a matchup with the Tigers at Pete Maravich Arena. Thursday marks the 45
th all-time meeting between the programs and the contest is set to be streamed live on SEC Network+ at 7 p.m. ET.
| Date: |
Thursday, Feb. 11 |
| Time: |
7 p.m. ET |
| Matchup: |
Florida (9-8, 2-7) at LSU (8-8, 6-4) |
| Location: |
Pete Maravich Arena | Baton Rouge, La. |
| TV: |
SEC Network+ |
| Live Stats: |
Here |
| Radio: |
WRUF ESPN 98.1 FM/850 AM with Kyle Crooks and Brittany Davis |
| Game Notes: |
Florida | LSU |
Florida last took the court Jan. 31 at Tennessee. Despite a combined 46 points from standouts Kiki Smith and
Lavender Briggs, Florida dropped a 79-65 decision to the No. 20 Lady Vols on Rocky Top. The Gators came out hot and led 21-19 after the first and then won the third quarter 23-20, but despite their spirited charge they could not take down the No. 20 Lady Vols who improved to 474-50 all-time at home. UF trailed by only one with less than seven minutes remaining, but the Lady Vols pulled away late.
UF's 11 day break in between games is its longest layoff this season. UF had 10 days in between its Dec. 21 non-conference finale vs. UNF and its SEC opener on Dec. 31 at South Carolina. The Gators were originally scheduled to play at Vanderbilt on Feb. 4 but after the Commodores announced their plans to discontinue the 2020-21 season, they were left without an opponent. Florida will be well-rested for what will be an action-packed finish to its campaign. UF is set to play three games next week with a Monday night matchup vs. Kentucky, a Thursday night tilt vs. the Tide and a battle at Mizzou on Sunday. Feb. 28 the Gators will conclude their 2020-21 regular season when they host Georgia for Senior Day at the O'Connell Center.
The senior Smith continues what has been a breakout campaign, averaging 16.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.5 steals. Smith one of the most versatile and impactful players in the entire SEC is the only player among conference teams who is ranked top 10 in scoring, top 10 in assists, top 20 in rebounding, top five in steals, top 10 in minutes played and top 10 in free throw percentage. In two games this season, Smith had led the team points, rebounds, assists and steals, a perfect example of her presence on the court.
Over her last five games, her play has ramped up even more. She has scored 20 or more points four times in the span and is averaging 21 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists. At Tennessee last time out, Smith racked up her fourth double-double of the season and sixth of her career.
Smith and Briggs poured in 23 points apiece in UF's matchup at Tennessee, compiling the highest scoring game by a Gator in Knoxville since 2008.
The sophomore Briggs continues to play and produce at the level of seasoned veteran. At 19.4 points per game, the Utah native ranks top five in the talent-rich SEC and in conference games she has found another gear, averaging 21.9 points per game. The 6-foot-1 guard, who has registered eight games with 20 or more points, is quietly putting together one of the finest seasons in program history. With just five regular season games remaining, Briggs' 19.4 points per game average is the fourth-highest in program history and would be the highest by a Florida player since the 2000-01 season. Just 27 days ago, Briggs poured in a career-high 41 points in the Gators' narrow loss at nationally-ranked Arkansas.
After missing the Gators' last three contests due to health and safety protocols, fourth-year head coach
Cam Newbauer is expected to be back on the sidelines Thursday. Associate head coach
Kelly Rae Finley served as Florida's acting head coach for the last three games during Newbauer's absence.
The Tigers enter Thursday's matchup with an 8-8 overall record which includes a 6-4 mark in conference play. After starting the season 0-3, the Tigers have rounded into form as the season has progressed and are tied for third in the SEC standings entering this week's action. Veterans Khayla Pointer and Faustine Aifuwa lead the way for LSU. Pointer, the senior point guard and Preseason All-SEC selection, paces the squad in scoring (15.8), assists (4.3), steals (2.5) and three-pointers made (21). The Marietta, Ga. native ranks second among active SEC players with 406 career assists and first in steals (176). The 6-foot-5 Aifuwa, also a native of the Peach State, collects a team-best 8.8 rebounds per contest, a top 10 mark among SEC players and for her career she ranks sixth among active league players with 702 boards. The Tigers notched an impressive 65-61 win vs. No. 7 Texas A&M and posted a 60-52 win at No. 22 Georgia. The Tigers rank last in the league in scoring (59.2) but concede just 61.1 points per game, one of the best averages in the SEC. At 10.1 per game, LSU ranks second among conference teams in steals and it has one of the best turnover margins in the SEC at +4.1.
In her 10th season at LSU, head coach Nikki Fargas leads the Tigers. The Tennessee graduate has qualified for six NCAA Tournaments and posted a 72-36 record at UCLA before taking the post at LSU in 2011.
Thursday's matchup features two of the top floor generals in the league with Smith and LSU's Pointer. Among SEC players both senior point guards rank top 15 in scoring, top 10 in assists, top 10 in minutes and top 5 in steals.
|
PPG |
APG |
RPG |
SPG |
MPG |
| K. Smith |
16.8 |
3.8 |
6.4 |
2.5 |
33.3 |
| K. Pointer |
15.8 |
4.3 |
3.9 |
2.5 |
36.3 |
Florida and LSU met twice last season with the Tigers claiming both matchups. The latter meeting occurred in the second round of the SEC Tournament in Greenville. Meeting for just the second time ever in conference tournament play, the Gators mounted a late comeback after trailing by as many as 24, outscoring LSU 20-12 in the final stanza but couldn't overcome LSU's impressive shooting display. Briggs, notching a double-figure point total for her team-best 26th time, led all scorers with 22 points. The contest would be Florida's final game of the 2019-20 season after all postseason events were canceled due to the impact of COVID-19.
In the first rendition, Florida shot 51 percent and featured four double-figure scorers but the Tigers caught fire from distance with 8 three-pointers and knocked off the Gators in Gainesville on Jan. 30.
With a win Thursday, UF would have its first win in Baton Rouge since 2016 and it would snap a five-game skid against the Bayou Bengals. LSU holds a 31-14 edge in the series and is 15-5 in home matchups.
Following Thursday's tilt, Florida's next scheduled game is Monday, Feb. 15 at home vs. No. 20 Kentucky.
NOTABLES
- The Gators begin the stretch run of their conference season with just five games remaining (3 at home, 2 on the road).
- Freshman Floor Toonders earned her first career start Jan. 31 at Tennessee. Toonders, who is averaging 5.0 boards per game over last five games, collected a career-best 13 rebounds against Missouri, including six on the offensive end.
- Rookie Brynn Farrell picked a great time to score her first career points when she nailed a three-pointer to bring the Gators back to within single digits with 3:33 remaining in the fourth quarter at Tennessee. She hit another three just over a minute later, giving her six fourth quarter points. It was her best game as a Gator and she has appeared in six of the last seven games after missing the first 10 of the season due to injury.
- From the jump, Smith played with aggression and fight at Tennessee. Smith attempted a career-high 24 field goals, surpassing her previous career best (17) which she had set the game prior vs. Missouri.
- In seven of their first nine SEC games, the Gators have held their opponent below their scoring average. UF limited Missouri, which entered the game shooting 55 percent from the field on the season, to just 33.3 percent shooting. Florida held nationally-ranked Mississippi State to 15 points fewer than its scoring average coming in (83 to 68) and against Georgia it held the Lady Bulldogs to 10 points fewer (78 to 68). Against Auburn, it limited the Tigers to just 54 points and held them to just 27.9 percent shooting from the floor, the lowest field goal percentage it has allowed to an opponent all season.
- UF's offense can ignite fast as it has scored 25 or more points in 10 quarters this season. Last season it only did this six times. UF scored 31 in the first quarter vs. UNF, the most it has scored in since 2018. In their SEC opener at No. 5 South Carolina, UF exploded for 29 points in the third quarter.
- Danielle Rainey has scored five or more points in four-straight games after being held scoreless in the two prior contests.
- Nina Rickards leads the team in rebounding (6.8) and three-point percentage (.396). Rickards ranks top 20 in the SEC in rebounding.
- Allowing just 24.4 percent on the season, the Gators' lead the SEC in three-point percentage defense.
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