Gator Backcourt Club

The Official Booster Club of the University of Florida Women's Basketball Team

Gators Host Alabama Thursday, 7 pm

Florida plays host to Alabama in its SEC home opener on Thursday at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, where tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

The Gators and Crimson Tide both are coming off losses in their respective league openers played Sunday.

While Alabama holds the 29-28 edge in the all-time series, Florida has won the last seven meetings and is aiming to tie the series for the first time since the second game in the 57-game series played on Jan. 5, 1977.

Florida actually won the first-ever meeting against Alabama, which then won four straight against the Gators, who have been playing catch-up ever since.

Gators vs. Crimson Tide: The Series

  • 57-Game Series: UF trails 28-29 (UF Home: 15-7; Away: 10-12; Neutral: 3-10)
  • Thursday’s game will mark the 58th game in the all-time series, which is the third-longest in UF history
  • Streak: Florida has won the last 7 games
  • Florida’s last loss vs. Alabama: Feb. 13, 2011 (59-64, in Tuscaloosa)          
  • Alabama’s last win in Gainesville: Feb. 28, 2010 (61-66)

Common Opponents

  • The only common non-conference opponent Florida and Alabama shared is Jacksonville and both SEC schools netted victories, with the Gators posting a 69-59 win in Gainesville on Nov. 28 and the Tide a 75-60 win in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 16.

“Chuck it from the Cheap Seats!”

  • The Gators are listening to Coach Cam Newbauer’s approach to shooting and has told every member of the team to “chuck it from the cheap seats!” (Coach is a HUGE movie guy and the quote is from “Hoosiers”)
  • The Gators reset the program record for threes in a game twice already. The new standard stands at 17 after the Nov. 23 performance against Savannah State.
  • The team canned 15 three-pointers vs. Richmond (11/21/17) to first break the program record for threes in a game, which was 13 at Arkansas, Feb. 1, 2009.
  • Four of the top five single-game records for threes have come under Cam.

Gators for THREEEEEE!

  • Entering Thursday’s game, the Gators are averaging 9.5 three-pointers per game and converting at a 34.6 percent clip.
  • Thru games played Jan. 1, UF ranks tied-No. 16 in the country in threes per game; and No. 11 in total three-pointers made (127).
  • Florida has converted double-digit threes in SIX games this year, most recently 10 vs. Delaware State (Dec. 27).
  • It took just six games for TEN of the 11 players on the scholarship roster to hit at least one trey this season.

What Else do the Gators do well?

  • Aside from hitting the three at an SEC-leading rate (all games), Florida does not get fouled. The Gators rank No. 2 in the country in staying out of foul trouble, being whistled for just 12.4 fouls per game.
  • Through the first 14 games, not one Gator has fouled out this season.

What Just Happened

  • Florida could not have started its SEC opener against Auburn any better and it could not have finished it any worse, as the Gators dropped an 84-55 decision at Auburn Arena on Sunday.
  • The Gators jumped out to an 18-2 lead to start the game and the Tigers outscored Florida, 30-4, in the fourth quarter.
  • Florida committed a season-high 28 turnovers that resulted in 33 Auburn points.
  • Auburn collected 24 offensive rebounds, the most by a Gator opponent this season.
  • The Tigers committed just five turnovers in the game.
  • This was UF’s second true road game of the season.
  • Florida led by as many as 16 points during the first quarter. This was the most the Gators have led in a loss since holding a 17-point, second-half lead against Charlotte on March 24, 2011.

Gator Watch

  • Through 14 games, Florida is averaging a respectable 73.1 points per game, with all five starters averaging double-figure scoring.
  • Top two Gator scorers: Funda Nakkasoglu (15.9 ppg) and Paulina Hersler (12.2 ppg)
  • Top two rebounders: Haley Lorenzen (9.4 pg) and Delicia Washington (8.7 pg)
  • Assists leaders Delicia Washington (46 total, 3.3 pg) and Dyandria Anderson 46 total, 3.3 pg)

Who’s Hot!

  • During the last two games, three Gators are each averaging a double-figure scoring effort, with Funda Nakkasoglu atop the chart with 14.6 points per game.
  • Sydney Searcy is averaging 9.5 points, connecting on 4-of-7 (57.1%) of her three-pointers.

Game Day at a Glance

  • Who: Florida (8-6, 0-1 SEC) hosts Alabama (10-4, 0-1 SEC)
  • Where: Exactech Arena (10,151) * Gainesville, Florida
  • When: Thu., January 4 * 7 pm ET

Game Notes (PDF):

 Gator Game Coverage & More!

  • Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1FM & 850AM WRUF with Tom Collett & Kelly Davis
  • Internet Audio: link thru FloridaGators.com (FREE)

o   http://bit.ly/2Cv8Uli

  • Television: none
  • Streaming Video: SEC Network + with Kyle Crooks & Brittany Davis (WatchESPN app)

o   http://es.pn/2Ct0oD7

  • Internet Scoring: LIVE thru FloridaGators.com

o   http://bit.ly/1YdNeuV

  • Single Game Tickets: Adult, General Admission – $5; Children 12 & Under and UF Students – FREE

Opening Tip

  • Thursday’s game is the SEC home opener for the Gators.
  • Florida and Alabama both dropped their respective SEC openers on Sunday, with the Gators falling at Auburn and the Tide to No. 16 Missouri in Tuscaloosa.
  • While Alabama leads the all-time series, 29-28, UF has won the last seven meetings and is aiming to tie the series (or not trail) for the first time since the second game in the 57-game series played in 1977.
  • The Gators lead the SEC (all games) in 3-pointers made per game (9.5) and threes made (133), while the Tide rank No. 2 in the league for 3-point field goal defense (26.2 percent), as well as No. 3 for steals and blocked shots.

Additional Hoopla for Thursday

  • Headband Giveaway – The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a Gators athletic headband
  • $1 Day – All general admission tickets are $1 and select concessions items are available for $1

Gator Pronunciations for this Release:

  • DYANDRIA Anderson: dee-ANN-dree-uh
  • FUNDA NAKKASOGLU: FOON-da knock-a-SO-glue
  • Sydney SEARCY: SIR-see
  • DELICIA Washington: duh-LEE-shuh

VIDEO PREVIEW:

 

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