It’s the women’s basketball edition of the Florida vs. Florida State Sunshine Showdown presented by Fresh From Florida. Tip-off from Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The game caps Florida’s three-game season-opening home stand.
The Seminoles are ranked No. 17 in the current Associated Press poll and No. 14 in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll.
Eight Gator opponents are currently ranked among the nation’s top 25 teams.
How to Follow the Action
- The game will be streamed live online through SEC Network +, which is only available through WatchESPN (accessible thru the WatchESPN app and on SECNetwork.com). To access SEC Network + on WatchESPN, fans must sign in with their credentials from a participating TV provider.
- Tom Collet and Brittany Davis call the game online, while Kyle Crooks and Kelly Davis handle the radio duties with the live broadcast on ESPN Gainesville 98.1FM & 850AM WRUF that can be heard online free of charge.
Gator Watch
- Through two games, five Gators are averaging a double-figure scoring effort, paced by Paulina Hersler and Haley Lorenzen’s 13.5 points per game, respectively. The two are also the team’s top two rebounds, with Lorenzen pulling down 9.0 per game and Hersler 8.0.
- Hersler is the only Gator to score in double figures in both games.
- Hersler and Lorenzen both have netted a double-double, with Lorenzen’s an 18-point, 12 rebound performance against Georgia State and Hersler’s a 12-point, 11-rebound push versus Arkansas State.
- Dyandria Anderson has dished 14 rebounds through two games, with just five turnovers, to go along with 12.0 points per outing.
- Funda Nakkasoglu is leading UF’s outside charge with five three-pointers, connecting on 41.7 percent from beyond the arc, as she tallies 12.5 points per game.
What Just Happened
- Florida shot 51 percent from the floor but committed 23 turnovers in a 70-69 loss to Arkansas State on Tuesday that snapped the Gator’s 10-game home non-conference win streak.
- The Gators held a one-point halftime lead despite leading for just over three minutes in the first half and even had the final possession with 5.6 seconds remaining in the game.
- Florida took a quick 3-point attempt that didn’t fall and the Red Wolves collected the miss and the win.
- There were four lead changes and three tied scores in the fourth quarter, with Florida’s final advantage coming after Haley Lorenzen’s jumper gave the Gators a 63-61 spot with 5:30 remaining.
- A-State answered with a 7-0 run thanks to five points from Jada Ford, who finished with a game-high 17 points, and the visitors led 68-63 with 3:08 on the clock and never trailed again.
A Glance at Florida State
- The Seminoles are off to a torrid pace, averaging 92 points through their first two games while outscoring North Florida and Jacksonville State by 41 points per game.
- Senior Shakayla Thomas is living up to all preseason national honors, averaging 19.5 points, while graduate transfer AJ Alix (TCU) is torching the nets from outside, connecting on 7-of-13 (53.8%) from beyond the arc.
Team Ties
- FSU assistant coach Danielle (Santos) Atkinson was a four-year letterwinner for the Gators, wearing the Orange & Blue from 2002-06.
- One of her Gator classmates was Brittany Davis, who is serving as the color analyst for tonight’s SEC Network +’s game.
- (Santos) Atkinson earned her degree in Sports Management
- Upon graduation, her 80 three-pointers ranked No. 7 in a CAREER by a Gator
- 162 steals ranked No. 11 in a CAREER by a Gator
- 265 assists ranked No. 11 in a CAREER by a Gator
- 78.2% free throw percentage (129-165) ranked No. 5 in a CAREER by a Gator
- Dbl Fig Scoring Games – 37 in UF Career
The 73-Game Series
- Florida holds a 42-31 edge in the all-time series against Florida State.
- UF Home: 20-9; Away: 13-17; Neutral: 9-5
- Since Florida’s 16-game win streak in the series, Florida State has won 10 of the last 14 meetings, including four of the last five games.
- Last year’s meeting in Tallahassee was a dominating 83-58 Noles win.
- The last time the team’s played in Gainesville, the Gators upset the then-No. 6/7 ranked Seminoles, 82-72.
- The 73-game series versus the Seminoles is Florida’s longest against any one opponent. The next closest is the 70-game series against Georgia, a team Florida will play twice this year during the regular season.
Game Day at a Glance
- Who: Florida (1-1) hosts #17/14 Florida State (2-0)
- Where: Exactech Arena (10,151) * Gainesville, Florida
- When: Fri., November 17 * 7 pm ET
Game Notes (PDF):
- Florida – http://bit.ly/2z9M4xL
- Florida State – http://bit.ly/2zNTlR4
Game Coverage & More!
- Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1FM & 850AM WRUF with Kyle Crooks & Kelly Davis
- Internet Audio: http://bit.ly/2imHMcb (link also thru FloridaGators.com (FREE))
- Television: none
- Streaming Video: http://es.pn/2AM6sBu (SEC Network + with Tom Collett & Brittany Davis)
- Internet Scoring: http://bit.ly/1YdNeuV (also LIVE through FloridaGators.com)
Additional Hoopla for Friday’s Game – Sunshine Showdown presented by Fresh From Florida
- Football vs. UAB Ticket Promotion – Any fan with a Football vs. UAB ticket will receive free admission to the game
- Ticket Promotion – “First One on Us†– Throughout the pre-season, fans receive FREE ticket vouchers to the home opener on Nov. 11 vs. Georgia State, Nov. 14 vs. Arkansas State or Nov. 17 vs. Florida State. Reedem at Gate 1
- Pocket T Shirt Giveaway – The first 500 fans receive an Albert and Alberta pocket T shirt!
- Student Tailgate – Students will occupy Gate 3 and take over with a tailgate prior to in the O’Connell Center Practice Court. Highlights include FREE Pizza to first 250 students, games like Football Toss, Pop A Shot, Cornhole, video games and much more!
- Gators Student Rewards Check In – This game has been designated a Gators Student Rewards check-in event. Students with a valid Gator 1 I.D. should check in via the app to earn 3 points!
- Post-Game Layups – Kids 12 and under can shoot post-game layups on the court for 15 minutes
Gator Pronunciations for this Release:
- DYANDRIA Anderson: dee-ANN-dree-uh
- FUNDA NAKKASOGLU: FOON-da knock-a-SO-glue
FOLLOW THE GATORS
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #WeChomp