UF returns to the O’Dome for a Thursday night matchup against the Commodores. The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m. and will be streamed on SECN+.
GAINESVILLE, Fla.- The Gators are home for a Thursday night contest against No. 23 Vanderbilt. The conference game is slated for a 7 p.m. start and will be streamed on SECN+. Thursday’s matchup will mark UF’s and Vanderbilt’s eighth SEC outing of the season.
Vanderbilt (17-4, 4-3 SEC)
* Date: Thurs., Jan. 30
* Time: 7 p.m. ET
* Site: Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O’Connell Center<https://floridagators.com/facilities/?id=2>
* Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM<https://floridagators.com/watch/?Live=5562&type=Live>
* Watch: SECN+<https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/8f7a5909-5635-4304-8aa1-7fb46d5ffa25>
* Live stats: Statbroadcast<https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=552547>
* Promotion: Country Night
* Giveaway: LED western hats for the first 500 fans
* Halftime: Line dancing performances
A FLORIDA WIN WOULD:
* Be UF’s second win over Vanderbilt in less than a year
* Mark the Gators first ranked win since 2022
* Tally UF’s tenth home victory of the season
* End Florida’s current three-game losing streak
* Put the Gators’ SEC record at 3-5
* Make Florida’s all-time SEC record 229-330
* Give Coach Finley her 68th win as UF’s head coach
TALE OF THE TAPE:
Florida
Vanderbilt
77.6
PPG
85.8
67.3
OPP PPG
62.9
+9.2
SCORING MARGIN
+22.9
47.2
FG %
45.8
39.7
OPP FG%
41.3
33.5
3 FG%
32.5
71.5
FT %
77.6
40.2
REBOUNDS PG
40.6
14.7
ASSISTS PG
17.4
17.1
TURNOVERS PG
13.5
7.8
STEALS PG
12.8
4.1
BLOCKS PG
3.0
THE SERIES:
The all-time series between Florida and Vanderbilt stands in favor of Vanderbilt at 34-29.
GATORS x VANDERBILT HISTORY:
Florida and Vanderbilt have met a recorded 63 times with their initial matchup dating back to 1978. Since then, the Gators and the Commodores have met consistently with 25 games being tipped in Gainesville, 28 taking place in Nashville, and nine being hosted at neutral sites. Thursday’s contest will be the Commodores’ first time back in Exactech Arena since Jan. 22, 2023. Florida’s last win over Vanderbilt was March 7, 2024, defeating the Commodores 62-59 at the SEC Tournament.
PROJECTED FLORIDA STARTERS:
Florida
No.
Height
Position
Class
Hometown/Previous School
Alexia Dizeko<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/alexia-dizeko/16856>
9
5-11
F
Sr.
Sion, Switzerland
Laila Reynolds<https://admin.floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/laila-reynolds/16860>
13
6-1
G
So.
PG County, MD
Jeriah Warren<https://admin.floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/jeriah-warren/16862>
20
6-0
G
Sr.
Lake Charles, LA
Liv McGill<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/liv-mcgill/16880>
23
5-9
G
Fr.
Minneapolis, MN
Ra Shaya Kyle<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/ra-shaya-kyle/16858>
24
6-6
C
Sr.
Marion, Ind. / Purdue
FLORIDA’S LAST TIME OUT:
UF’s last time on the court was Sunday, Jan. 26 in a 74-51 road loss to Auburn. The Gators were challenged by the Tigers on offense, being held to a season-low 51 points.
In the scoring column, Ra Shaya Kyle<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/ra-shaya-kyle/16858> and Liv McGill<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/liv-mcgill/16880> led Florida with 11 points each. Laila Reynolds<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/laila-reynolds/16860> followed closely with 10 points and Kenza Salgues<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/kenza-salgues/16861> added seven to the board. Defensively, the Gators and Auburn were even at 31 rebounds apiece, but UF was unable to outscore Auburn’s DeYona Gatson (18), Celia Sumbane (12), and Oyindamola Akinbolawa (16).
GATOR QUICK HITS:
* Florida leads the SEC in three-point shooting during conference play with a 41.7 percent from behind the arc
* The Gators are No. 1 in the SEC for defensive rebounds during conference games with a 72.7 percent
* McGill has tallied eight games with 20+ points in her freshman year
* Florida is ranked No. 5 in the SEC and No. 18 in the NCAA with a 47.2 field goal percentage
* UF has four players averaging in double figures
* McGill (15.9) Kyle (14.8), Warren (13.0), and Reynolds (10.4)
* McGill and Kyle are in the SEC’s top-20 for scoring
* McGill at No. 15 (15.8), and Kyle at No. 18 (14.7)
* Kyle is No. 16 in the country and No. 3 in the SEC for double-doubles with a combined 10 this season
* McGill is the No. 1 freshman in the NCAA for total assists (108), and for average assists per game (5.1)
* Kyle is No. 5 in the SEC for rebounds per game (9.1)
* UF is undefeated this season when they hold their opponents to 69 points or less
* The Gators have secured 20+ points in 39 of 86 quarters played
* Warren leads the SEC in three-point shooting for conference play (60.7%)
* Kyle is No. 10 in the NCAA and No. 3 in the SEC with a field goal percentage of 62.4
* Kyle is No. 4 in the SEC and No. 33 in the nation for total rebounds with 192
* Alexia Gassett<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/alexia-gassett/16882> leads Florida in total blocks with 20 on the season
* Eriny Kindred<https://floridagators.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/eriny-kindred/16857> leads the Gators in free throw shooting at 89.5 percent from the line (17-19)
PROJECTED VANDERBILT STARTERS:
Vanderbilt
No.
Height
Position
Class
Hometown/Previous School
Mikayla Blakes
1
5-8
G
Fr.
Somerset, N.J/ Rutgers Prep
Jane Nwaba
10
5-10
F
Gr.
Carson, Calif./ Palisades Charter
Jordyn Oliver
11
5-10
G
Gr.
Prosper TX. / Prosper
Khamil Pierre
12
6-2
F
So.
Phoenix, Ariz./Perry
Iyana Moore
23
5-8
G
Sr.
Milwaukee, Wis./Blackman
VANDERBILT QUICK HITS:
* The Commodores are on a three-game win streak, which includes two upsets over then ranked No. 15 Tennessee (71-70), and No. 19 Alabama (66-64)
* Blakes is the only freshman in the NCAA to have multiple 30-plus point outings
* Vanderbilt is No. 5 in the SEC for scoring offense averaging 85.76 points per game
* The Commodores sit at No. 2 in the SEC for free throw percentage (77.6)
* Vanderbilt is No. 4 in the SEC for assist distribution with 17.4 per game
* Vanderbilt is No. 2 in the SEC for steals averaging 12.7 per game
* Vandy ranks at No. 8 in the country for offensive rebounds per game (16.4)
* Three Commodores are averaging double figures for scoring
* Pierre (21.7), Blakes (20.9), and Moore (13.6)
* Khamil Pierre is No. 4 in the country and No. 2 in the SEC for double doubles with a combined 12
* Pierre is No. 2 in the SEC and No. 8 in the nation for scoring with 21.7 points per game
* Pierre leads the SEC in steals with an average of 3.2 a game
* Pierre is No. 2 in the SEC for rebounding with an average of 10.3 per game
* Mikayla Blakes is No. 8 in the country for total points this season with 440
* Blakes is No. 4 in the SEC for points per game with an average of 20.9
* Oliver is No. 11 in the SEC for assists with 81 on the season and 3.8 per game
FOLLOW THE GATORS:
SOCIAL: X<https://twitter.com/GatorsWBK>| Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/GatorsWBK/> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/gatorswbk/?hl=en>
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #GoGators
