(WBK) Gators Host #1 Gamecocks Sunday

Showdown with No. 1 South Carolina on Deck for Gators
Andrew Hile UAA
Sunday will mark the first matchup with a No. 1 team since Feb. 27, 2020, also against South Carolina
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida women's basketball is set to take on the No. 1 team in the nation on Sunday when South Carolina visits Exactech Arena in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center for a noon ET tip.
The game will be streamed live on SEC Network with Tiffany Greene and Steffi Sorensen on the call while Kyle Crooks and Brittany Davis will handle radio responsibilities on 98.1FM/850AM WRUF.

Florida earned their biggest win of the season last Sunday, taking down #11 LSU in Gainesville, 73-72, behind a strong defensive team effort that led to a 22-8 points from turnovers advantage. The victory marked the first time in a season that UF has defeated three top-25 teams since the 2015-16 season when they defeated No. 6/7 Florida State, No. 12/11 Tennessee, No. 12 Kentucky and No. 12/11 Texas A&M. It was also the highest-ranked win for UF since an 82-72 victory over No. 6/7 Florida State on Nov. 16, 2015.
Kiara Smith earned SEC Player of the Week honors following impressive performances against No. 23 Kentucky and No. 11 LSU. The two games marked the best two-game stretch of the season with 48 points, 11 rebounds, 14 assists and four steals. Against UK, the graduate led the Orange & Blue with 25 points, eight rebounds, six assists and a steal on 10-of-18 shooting. She then followed that performance with a 23-point, eight-assist, three-rebound and three-steal performance in a 73-72 victory over No. 11 LSU.
After earning SEC Freshman of the Week honors for her performances against Auburn and Alabama two weeks ago, Alberte Rimdal was named the USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week last week. Rimdal became the first freshman in Florida history to record back-to-back games with five made three-pointers after hitting five against Kentucky.

The Gators earned their fifth-straight win in the SEC after defeating No. 11 LSU, marking the first time since the 2008-09 season when they won seven-consecutive conference matchups. It's also the first time that the Gators have had two-separate five-game winning streaks in a season since the 08-09 season as well, with streaks of 11 games and seven games, respectively.
The Gators are receiving votes in both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll following wins over No. 23 Kentucky and No. 11 LSU last week. It's the first time since December 21, 2016 that the Orange & Blue are receiving votes in the polls.
South Carolina enters Sunday's contest boasting a 19-1 record, 7-1 in Southeastern Conference play, while holding the No. 1 ranking in the nation. Most recently, the Gamecocks defeated Ole Miss, 69-40, in Columbia, S.C.

more at:Showdown with No. 1 South Carolina on Deck for Gators - Florida Gators

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Women's Basketball 1/29/2022 10:31:00 AM
Gamecocks Set for Noon Tipoff at Florida Sunday
GAMECOCK NOTABLES

• The Gamecocks lead the SEC in offensive rebound percentage at 45.2 percent, so it's no surprise to see Aliyah Boston (3.45) and Victaria Saxton (3.10) among the SEC's top five offensive rebounders, ranking third and fifth, respectively. South Carolina has turned its 16.6 offensive rebounds per SEC game into an average of 16.4 points.
• After winning at Arkansas on Jan. 16, the Gamecocks used the eight-day gap in their game schedule to recommit to their core principles on both sides of the ball. The offensive result has been 49.5 percent field goal shooting, 18.5 made free throws per game on 78.7 percent shooting from the line and just 20 total turnovers across the two games. Defensively, Vanderbilt and #24/rv Ole Miss managed just 35.0 points per game on 24.1 percent shooting and 4.5 made free throws per game.
• South Carolina's bench has been contributing more over the last two games, adding 33.5 points on 53.3 percent shooting and 16.0 rebounds per game over the stretch.
• In league play, drawing more attention than ever from opponents, National Player of the Year candidate Aliyah Boston averages 17.6 points (9th), 13.5 rebounds (2nd) and 2.25 blocks (3rd). Her eight double-doubles in league play are just one off her total from last season and two shy of Alaina Coates' school-record 10 (2015-16).
• Senior Victaria Saxton has taken advantage of opponents' extra attention on frontcourt partner Boston. The lithe forward has scored in double figures three times in the last seven games after entering the stretch averaging just 4.5 points. In those seven games, she has averaged 8.0 points on 67.6 percent (23-of-34) shooting to go with 6.4 rebounds, including 3.3 on the offensive end,

BY THE NUMBERS

3 – Aliyah Boston needs three rebounds to become the seventh Gamecock all-time to reach 900 career rebounds.

7.0 – South Carolina has outscored its opponents by an average of 7.0 points in the third quarter – a number that rises to 7.6 in SEC play.

27.2 – The Gamecocks have allowed their last five opponents to shoot just 27.2 percent from the field for 44.2 points per game.


NOTES
The Florida Series
South Carolina leads the all-time series 21-20 after winning the last 13 meetings. In the Dawn Staley era, the Gamecocks are 13-4. Nine of the last 10 meetings were decided by double digits, including each of the last four.

Defense dominated the most recent meeting, which resulted in a 75-59 South Carolina victory on Dec. 31, 2020, in Columbia. The Gamecocks allowed just six points in the first quarter and 12 in the second to claim a 39-18 halftime lead. Aliyah Boston and Zia Cooke combined for 54 points on 52.5 percent shooting, and Boston and Victaria Saxton combined for seven blocks in the game.

In their last trip to Gainesville (Feb. 27, 2020), the Gamecocks burst out to a 54-30 lead at halftime and were consistent in the second half of the 100-67 victory.
Road Ready
The Gamecocks are 281-260 all-time in road games, including a 106-46 mark under head coach Dawn Staley. Her .697 winning percentage on the road is the best in program history.
more at
Gamecocks Set for Noon Tipoff at Florida Sunday - University of South Carolina Athletics

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