The Gators continue their two-game Southeastern Conference road trip and travel to Tuscaloosa and meet Alabama on Sunday in the first game played in the newly renovated and historic Foster Auditorium.
The game, which is scheduled for a 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT tip-off, will be televised live Sun Sports/FOX Sports Florida (Cox Channel 70/770 (HD) in Gainesville) with Dave Neal and Carol Ross. The radio broadcast also can be heard live in Gainesville on WBXY-FM 99.5 and in Jacksonville on WXFJ-AM (930), as well as free thru the internet at www.GatorZone.com, the official website of the Florida Gators.
Sunday’s game is the second of two regular-season meetings between Florida and Alabama. The teams also squared off on Jan. 27 in Gainesville, where the Gators collected the 70-64 victory.
The Crimson Tide hold a 28-21 lead in the 49-game series, including an 11-6 record in games played in Tuscaloosa.
There are a total of five regular-season dates remaining for league teams, with the SEC Tournament looming, March 3-6 in Nashville.
Including Sunday’s contest against Alabama, the Gators have just four regular-season games remaining before the conference’s 12-team post-season event.
Alabama is coming off a midweek bye from competition, while Florida will have midweek bye following Sunday’s game and return to the court on Sun., Feb. 20 and play host to Mississippi State.
Florida showed a marked improvement from its first meeting against Tennessee, but still dropped a 61-39 decision on Thursday in Knoxville. Freshman Jaterra Bonds was the only Gator to net a double-figure scoring effort, as she tallied 10 along with a team-high six rebounds.
Alabama enjoyed a midweek bye and have had a full week to rest and prepare for Sunday’s game. The last time the Crimson Tide competed was an 81-54 setback at Georgia, which started the game on a 10-0 run and never looked back en route to the win.
Alabama senior forward Tierney Jenkins continues to be a double-double machine, posting 16 already - the second highest total in the country this season thru games played Feb. 10. Jenkins averages 16.4 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.1 steals, leading all SEC players on the board, while ranking second in the other two categories. Freshman star Kaneisha Horn, one of the top recruits in the nation, is recording 8.8 points and 5.5 rebounds overall, with marks of 9.2 points and 5.4 rebounds coming in SEC action.
Alabama ranks second in the SEC and 11th in the country for turnover margin at 6.25 per game (thru games played Feb. 10).
Jordan Jones leads the balanced Gator scoring effort, recording 9.8 points per game, hitting a team-leading 52 three-pointers at a 36.4 percent clip and playing 32.6 minutes per outing. Azania Stewart is Florida’s leading rebounder with 6.1 per game and hits 53.4 percent field goal mark (Stewart led the SEC in field goal percentage last year, 61.9%). Her 50 blocked shots is also tops for the Gators and second in the SEC. Lanita Bartley is dishing 3.2 assists and 2.0 steals, while finding her way to the free throw a team-best 99 times.
Nine different Gators contribute at least 5.6 points per game, with 10 of the 12 reptiles averaging at least 13 minutes of playing time per contest.
Freshman Jaterra Bonds - who wears jersey #10 - tallied 10 points against Tennessee on Feb. 10 for her 10th double-figure scoring game - a total tied with junior Jordan Jones for team-high honors.
During the last three games, Jennifer George is averaging a team-best 11.7 points and 9.3 rebounds, while hitting 66.7 percent (16-24) from the floor. Freshman Brittany Shine also has stepped up her game recently, averaging 11.2 points on 14-of-35 shooting in the Gator’s last three contests.
Game Day Information
Florida Gators (14-12, 4-8 SEC) at the Alabama Crimson Tide (12-12, 1-10 SEC)
Sunday, February 13, 2011 - 2 pm ET/1 pm CT
Foster Auditorium (3,800) - Tuscaloosa, Ala.
