The University of Florida women’s basketball team (4-2) wraps up its season-long six-game homestand Sunday, Dec. 1 when it hosts Florida A&M for a 2 p.m. ET tilt at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Following an opening month in which they posted four wins and two losses (both to AP Top 25 opponents), the Gators return to the court for their first competition of the month of December.
Sunday’s matchup features a slew of exciting promotions including Sunday Sundaes, post-game autographs, an opportunity to donate to Toys for Tots and it’s also Brylee Bartram’s Player Day. In addition, all fans with a valid ticket from Saturday’s football game vs. FSU will receive free admission into the game.
| GAME INFO |
| Date: | Sunday. Dec. 2 |
| Time: | 2 p.m. ET |
| Matchup: | Florida (4-2) vs. Florida A&M (2-3) |
| Location: | Gainesville, Fla. | Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell |
| TV: | SEC Network+ with Kyle Crooks & Brittany Davis |
| Live Stats: | Here |
| Radio: | WRUF ESPN 98.1 FM/850 AM with Tom Collett and Kelly Davis |
| Game Notes: | Florida | FAMU |
| Promotions: | Fans get in free with ticket from football game vs. FSU Pre-game: Toys for Tots donation, Kids Korner In-game: Brylee Bartram Player Day Post-game: Sunday Sundaes and Autographs |
| Tickets: | Here |
In its most recent action, Florida went toe-to-toe with No. 12 FSU. Florida fought back from a 13-point first half deficit and trailed just 46-44 heading into the fourth quarter, but saw the Seminoles pull away late in the 76th all-time meeting between the in-state foes.
Through six games, Florida has shown versatility on offense and toughness on defense. Three times already this season, the Gators have had four players finish with 10 or more points in a game and on the other side of the ball, they have held their last four opponents to below their season average in points.
A trio of Gators, Kiki Smith (14.3), Lavender Briggs (12.4) and Zada Williams (10.0) are averaging double figures on the young season. Sophomore guard Ariel Johnson has finished with 10 or more in four-straight games for UF, the longest such streak of her career.
Florida is conceding just 57.1 points per game and has outrebounded its opponent in five of the six contests.
In a series that dates back to 1980, Florida owns a 9-5 edge all time vs. FAMU. The Gators have claimed six of the last seven meetings and are 26-8 all time against the MEAC.
Playing four of its first five games of the season away from home, FAMU has opened with a 2-3 mark. The Rattlers have won two of their last three games, scoring over 100 points in matchups against National Christian College Athletic Association squads, Trinity Baptist and Johnson University. Six-foot-four center Shalunda Burney-Robinson leads the way, averaging nearly a double-double at 12.0 points and 9.2 rebounds. The Rattlers are under the direction of first-year head coach Kevin Lynum. FAMU will go up against a pair of SEC foes this season as it also has a trip to Baton Rouge on the docket at the end of the month.
After a lengthy stay at the O’Connell Center, following Sunday’s tilt Florida hits the road for a stretch of four of five games away from Gainesville. UF begins the trip with true road games at Prairie View A&M and Kansas and plays two neutral site contests in West Palm Beach against Xavier and Wake Forest. Sandwiched in between is a matchup at home vs. Mercer on Dec. 17.
NOTABLES
- Sunday marks the final game of UF’s season-long six-game homestand, its longest since the 2005-06 season. That season Florida hosted eight straight.
- At 4-2, Florida is off to its best start since the 2016-17 campaign.
- Against FSU, the Gators’ starting five (Smith, Johnson, Briggs, Moore and Williams) accounted for all 55 points. The last time UF’s starting five was responsible for every point in a game was Feb. 11, 2018 when the Gators dropped a 64-57 decision at then No. 7 South Carolina.
- UF’s eight turnovers vs. FSU were its fewest since it recorded only seven miscues in a narrow loss at No. 15 Missouri on Feb. 5, 2018.
- Sunday’s game features seven players who hail from Florida including Gainesville native, Kailya Jackson of FAMU.
- The Gators are outscoring their opponents 113-78 in the second quarter, their best scoring margin in any quarter so far this season.
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