(WBK) Gators Set to Compete at Preseason WNIT this Weekend

Gators Set to Compete at Preseason WNIT this Weekend
Andrew Hile UAA
Florida will open the tournament with Towson on Friday afternoon.
Florida vs. Towson | @ #5/#4 North Carolina State | vs. Wofford
Game Information: Nov. 12 | 4:30 p.m. ET // Nov. 14 | 2 p.m. ET // Nov. 15 | 2 p.m. ET
Live Stream: Youtube (Fri) | ACCN+ (Sun) | Youtube (Mon)
Live Stats: SIDEARM
Game Notes: Florida | Towson

RALEIGH, N.C. – Florida women's basketball will face their first road tests of the season over the weekend when they head to Raleigh, N.C., for the Preseason WNIT.
The Gators will open the weekend with a matchup against Towson at 4:30 p.m. ET in the first ever meeting between the opponents. Towson opened the regular season with a 113-59 victory over Frostburg State on Tuesday. After a break in the action on Saturday, Florida will face-off with nationally-ranked #5/#4 North Carolina State before concluding the tournament on Monday against Wofford. The Gators lead the all-time series with North Carolina State, 4-2, last winning 79-72 during the on Dec. 21, 2015. UF is 1-0 against Wofford, claiming victory in 2016, 74-51.

On Tuesday, the Gators opened the 2021-22 season with a victory over Georgia State in Exactech Arena. After falling behind early, the Gators would fight back to lead by as many as 20 late in the fourth, eventually claiming an 84-70 win. Veteran Kiara Smith led Florida with 23 points, six rebounds and four assists. It marked the second-consecutive season-opener with at least 20 points for Smith.
Smith's 23 points has her inching up the list in Florida's 1,000-point club, as she now boasts 1,092 points. She currently sits in 24th, just seven points away from passing Janna Bragg (1984-88) for 23rd on the list.
Joining Smith with an impressive opener was junior standout, Lavender Briggs. Briggs added 16 points of her own to give the duo 39 total points for the night. It was the most points by a Florida duo
in a season-opener since the 2009 season when Jennifer George and Jordan Jones combined for 38 in an
85-63 victory over Stetson.

With her 16 points, Briggs now owns 802 career points at Florida, just 198 away from becoming the 27th member of the 1,000 point club at Florida.
Jordyn Merritt and Nina Rickards also opened with strong performances against Georgia State, as Merritt contributed 15 points and six rebounds and Rickards adding 11 points. As a team, Florida was dominant on the glass once again with a 44-29 advantage.

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Towson Women's Basketball 11.11.2021 Erin Neri
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TO FACE FLORIDA, WOFFORD AND NO. 5 NC STATE IN WNIT PRESEASON CLASSIC
TOWSON, Md. — After a dominant win in its season opener, the Towson women's basketball team is set to compete in the WNIT Preseason Classic from Nov. 12-15. The Tigers will play three games over the span of four days, facing Florida on Nov. 12 (4:30 p.m.), Wofford on Nov. 14 (4:30) and NC State on Nov. 15 (7 p.m.).

BIG Season Opening Win
Towson defeated Frostburg State, 113-59, on Tuesday night for its first win of the 2021-22 season. The team's 113 points tied a program-high set last season against Salem (12/18/21). The score marks the third time the black & gold have reached triple digits under head coach Diane Richardson.
Anissa Rivera (21p, 14r) and Allie Kubek (17p, 10r) each secured double-doubles in the win. Four other Tigers also reached double figures in in Aleah Nelson (19), Ryann Evans (12), Tarriyonna Gary (10) and Skye Williams (12).
The reigning fastest team in the country stayed true to form, scoring 36 points on fast breaks against the Bobcats. They also forced an impressive 23 turnovers, converting into 30 points off 12 steals. Freshman Mariah Wilson and junior transfer Ryann Evans led the team with three takeaways apiece.

Nelson also earned nine of the team's 15 total assists. After just one game, she currently ranks ninth in the country and first in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) win the stat.

The Returners
Towson's lineup will feature six returners in addition to nine new faces. Starters Kubek and Nelson lead the way in addition to veterans Skye Williams, Narrie Dodson, Kiara Johnson and Tarriyonna Gary.

Transferring In
In the offseason, the Tigers welcomed five transfers for the start of the 2021-22 season in Ryann Evans (East Carolina), Kylie Kornegay-Lucas (Virginia), Jamey Napoleon (Central Connecticut State), Anissa Rivera (North Carolina Central) and Rayne Tucker (James Madison).
With the exception of Kornegay-Lucas who is a redshirt sophomore, all of the incoming transfers are juniors.

Fresh Faces

Towson also brought three rookies in to join the team with Ciara Bailey, Mariah Wilson and Quinzia Fulmore.

All-CAA Preseason Praise

Nelson, Tucker and Rivera all picked up Preseason CAA accolades late in the month of October. Nelson earned an All-CAA second-team selection as Tucker and Rivera were both named honorable mentions.


more at Women's Basketball to Face Florida, Wofford and No. 5 NC State in WNIT Preseason Classic - Towson University Athletics