Meeting for the 76th time, the University of Florida women’s basketball team and the No. 12 Florida State Seminoles square off Tuesday, Nov. 26 in the Sunshine Showdown at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. ET as the Gators play their fifth game of a stretch of six-straight home contests.
Tuesday’s game features several exciting promotions including free “Beat FSU” shirts for the first 100 fans, free slices of apple pie for the first 100 fans and a special Thanksgiving food drive initiative in which fans can receive free admission to a December home game of their choice (Dec. 1 vs. FAMU, Dec. 17 vs. Mercer or Dec. 29 vs. Davidson) by donating two non-perishable food items. In addition, sophomore guard Ariel Johnson will be celebrated as part of her Player Day.
| GAME INFO |
| Date: | Tuesday, Nov. 26 |
| Time: | 6 p.m. ET |
| Matchup: | Florida (4-1) vs. No. 12 Florida St. (5-0) |
| 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 Ryan Urquhart & Bree Maxwell |
| Game Notes: | Florida | FSU |
| Promotions: | Beat FSU shirts | Slice of apple pie giveaway | Non-perishable food item drive | Ari Johnson Player Day |
| Tickets: | Here |
The Gators (4-1) return to the hardwood after hosting another nationally-ranked squad in Indiana this past Friday. UF slowed the high-octane Indiana offense down, limiting it to a season low in points scored but couldn’t get past the veteran-laden Hoosier unit, falling 73-49. Redshirt-junior Kiki Smith, who tied a career high with 18 points, and sophomore Ari Johnson paced UF as it dropped its first matchup of the young season.
Through their first five matchups, UF has five players averaging eight or more points led by Smith (14.4 points per game). Paired with their versatile offense, the Gators’ defense has been stout as they have limited three opponents to less than 30 percent shooting three times already this season. A season ago, UF accomplished this feat just twice.
Redshirt-senior Zada Williams is off to a strong start offensively for Florida, averaging 9.6 points on a team-best .647 shooting percentage to go with a team-best 6.8 rebounds per game.
Continuing its season-long home swing, Florida hosts FSU for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Florida last hosted a ranked Seminole squad on Nov. 16, 2015 when it posted an 82-72 win over No. 6 FSU.
Squaring off with Indiana (No. 18) on Friday and FSU (No. 12) Tuesday, the Gators take on ranked foes in succession for the first time since the 2017-18 season when they battled No. 15 Tennessee and No. 19 Georgia in February.
The Gators hold a 42-33 edge in the all-time series against the Seminoles, which dates back to 1975, but have dropped the last three. Florida has recorded a 20-10 record in games played in Gainesville. When the squads met last season on Nov. 11, UF led at the break 28-27 and by as many as 10 points, but it was the Seminoles who made the plays down the stretch and registered a 63-56 win.
The No. 12 Seminoles have opened their 2019-20 campaign with home wins over Charleston Southern, Jacksonville and Samford and posted road victories at LSU and UIC. FSU features a trio of double-figure scorers with senior guard Nausia Woolfolk leading the way with a 16.0 points per game average. Preseason All-ACC selections Nicki Ekhomu (15.6) and Kiah Gillespie (13.2) also average double figures for the Seminoles. Gillespie paces the unit with 8.2 rebounds per game; Florida State carries a +16.2 rebounding margin, one of the best marks in the nation. The six-foot-two forward, Gillespie, added 19 points and nine rebounds last season when the Gators and Seminoles tangled in Tallahassee. The Seminoles, under the direction of 23rd-year head coach Sue Semrau, return every player from last season’s 24-9 club and were slated to finish third in the ACC Preseason Coaches Poll. Following Tuesday’s matchup, FSU travels to Fort Worth, Texas to take on Texas A&M in the Maggie Dixon Classic on Sunday.
After Tuesday’s matchup with the Seminoles, the Gators next return to the court Sunday, Dec. 1 when they welcome Florida A&M for a 2 p.m. tilt at the O’Connell Center.
NOTABLES
- The 75-game series versus the Seminoles is Florida’s longest against any one opponent.
- Florida is 3-5 all time when facing off against ranked FSU teams.
- UF has opened with four wins in its first five games for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign.
- Florida and FSU share one common opponent so far this season and it’s the Samford Bulldogs. Florida defeated Samford 84-48 on Saturday, Nov. 16. FSU then hosted Samford Sunday, Nov. 17 and claimed an 88-59 win.
- The Gators have outrebounded their opponent in all five games this season. UF ranks nationally in rebounds per game (46.0, No. 31) and rebound margin (+11.2, No. 45) as of Nov. 24.
- Florida holds a 83-67 record all time against the Atlantic Coast Conference. Its 150 games played against the league are its most against any conference outside of the SEC.
- Florida is 227-67 against teams from the state of Florida and has a winning record in all of their series against fellow Sunshine State squads. Following FSU, the Gators will take on Florida A&M on Sunday.
- Seven of UF’s 2019-20 opponents appeared in the AP Top 25 Preseason Poll (No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 8 South Carolina, No. 10 Mississippi State, No. 14 Kentucky, No. 22 Arkansas, No. 24 Indiana and Tuesday’s opponent FSU which was ranked No. 12.
- The Gators are outscoring their opponents 98-67 in the second quarter, their best scoring margin in any quarter so far this season.
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