The Florida women’s basketball team will attempt to rebound from last Thursday’s 74-73 loss at DePaul in the Preseason WNIT semifinals this afternoon against North Florida in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center at 4:30 p.m.
The women’s game is the first part of a basketball doubleheader. In the nightcap, Billy Donovan’s Gators men’s team meets Florida Atlantic at 7 p.m.
Florida brings a 2-1 record into the women’s contest, while North Florida comes in at 1-2 following a 63-61 victory over Florida Atlantic. The Ospreys’ two losses came on the road at North Carolina (110-41) and Cincinnati (61-42).
“I felt like we put ourselves in position to win at DePaul with our effort. I was very, very proud of my team in the way that they executed, especially in the last couple of possessions,” Florida coach Amanda Butler said. “There were game situations there that you cannot replicate in practice with the same level of intensity and was really pleased with how our team responded.
“We’ve had a chance to learn from last week’s games and hopefully we’ll see some improvement on Tuesday in a lot of different areas,” Butler continued.
North Florida has a blend of veterans, with three players who started every game last year returning for the 2010-11 season, joining four other letterwinners and six newcomers. Junior guard Brittany Kirkland, who was selected to the 2010-11 preseason Atlantic Sun All-Conference team as voted on by the head coaches, leads the Ospreys in scoring, netting 15.0 per game.
“North Florida is a very, very scrappy team. They have played an incredible road schedule this early in the season,” Butler said. “They have some veterans. They are a team with good balance with good perimeter players and outside scoring.”
GAME 4 PREVIEW BOX
NORTH FLORIDA (1-2)
(Pos: Name, Height, Year, 2010-11 statistics)
G: Juliemay Syquio, 5-7, SR, 8.7 points per game, 2.7 rebounds per game
G: Brittany Kirkland, 5-7, JR, 15.0 points per game, 2.3 rebounds per game
C: Larkira Jones, 6-2, SO, 5.7 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game
F: Jadhken Kerr, 5-11, SO, 4.3 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game
F: Margaret Bell, 5-10, JR, 4.7 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game
FLORIDA (2-1)
(Pos: Name, Height, Year, 2010-11 statistics)
G: Jordan Jones, 5-9, rJR, 12.0 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game.
G: Lanita Bartley, 5-6, JR, 9.3 points per game, 2.7 rebounds per game.
G: Kayla Lewis, 5-11, FR, 8.0 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game.
C: Azania Stewart, 6-4, JR, 10.7 points per game, 8.0 rebounds per game.
F: Ndidi Madu, 6-1, rJR, 8.0 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game.
Who: North Florida (2-2) at Florida (2-1)
Where: Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville.
When: Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Radio: WBXY-FM (99.5).
Tickets: Available. Contact the UF Ticket Office at 352-375-4683, extension 6800, or visit http://www.gatorzone.com.
Coaches: North Florida, Mary Tappmeyer (19th year at North Florida, 259-259; 354-342 in 26th year overall); Florida, Amanda Butler (fourth year at Florida, 60-40; 100-62 in sixth year overall).
Notable: The game is the first half of a basketball doubleheader and will be followed by the men’s game between Florida Atlantic and Florida. … The Gators are coming off a 74-73 loss to DePaul in the WNIT Semifinals, while North Florida comes in off its 63-61 victory over Florida Atlantic. … Junior Lanita Bartley is dishing out 3.67 assists and averaging 3.0 steals a game. … Redshirt junior guard Jordan Jones was named to the Preseason WNIT All-Tournament team after totaling 36 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists in Florida’s three-game run. … Junior center Azania Stewart contributed 32 points, 24 rebounds and 6 blocks. … Jones is shooting 44.4 percent (8 of 18) on 3-pointers. … Butler is getting 27.3 points per game from her bench, led by 5-7 freshman guard Jaterra Bonds of P.K. Yonge at 8.3 and 6-2 redshirt freshman forward Lily Svete at 4.7 ppg. … Florida is averaging 75.3 points per game and surrendering 70.3 ppg. … North Florida is giving up 77.3 points per game and scoring just 48.7 ppg. … The two teams have met just once previously and the Gators came away with a 78-37 victory on Nov. 10, 2006. … North Florida opened its season with a 110-41 loss at North Carolina and then dropped a 61-42 contest at Cincinnati. … The first 2,500 fans receive a free schedule key tag featuring MBB, WBB and gymnastics schedules. … Fans who bring two or more canned good items to the game will receive a free general admission seat. Recycle bins will be outside Gate 1. Fans will receive a voucher and then take it to the Ticket Office window for free admission. … Today is also Two of Tuesday ticket promotion. Buy one ticket and get one free of equal or lower value. … Next games: North Florida at Savannah State Saturday afternoon at 1, while Florida participates in the Dead River Company Classic at the University of Maine in Orono. The Gators meet South Alabama on Friday at 4 p.m. followed by Navy and Maine. The championship and consolation games will be played Saturday at 2 p.m. and 12 p.m.