Florida Women’s Basketball Prepares to Take on No. 4 South Carolina

Florida women’s basketball prepares to face off against No. 4 South Carolina on Thursday night in Columbia. Both teams are coming off tough losses and are aiming to bounce back and regain their momentum.

The Gamecocks currently hold the upper hand in their all-time series with Florida, leading 22-20 and riding a 16-game win streak over the Gators. Florida (12-12, 3-7 SEC) has not been able to defeat South Carolina under head coach Kelly Rae Finley.

Looking Back at Recent Losses

South Carolina (22-2, 10-1) comes into this matchup following a heartbreaker against No. 3 Texas on Sunday. The Longhorns edged out the Gamecocks 66-62, snapping South Carolina’s 57-game SEC regular-season win streak that had dated back to the 2021-22 season. Texas led throughout, preventing the Gamecocks from leaving Austin with a win.

Meanwhile, Florida’s recent loss came against No. 23 Alabama on Thursday. The Gators fought hard in the first half, entering halftime just five points behind after a 17-17 tie in the first quarter. However, Alabama pulled away in the final period, with Aaliyah Nye of Alabama scoring 27 points, setting both a school record and a career-high with nine 3-pointers.

Thursday Night Showdown

Looking ahead to Thursday’s game, Florida will need to capitalize on opportunities at the free-throw line. South Carolina committed 20 personal fouls against Texas, and Florida’s free-throw shooting has been strong, setting a season-best 85.7% against Alabama. If the Gamecocks commit similar fouls on Thursday, Florida will have a chance to take advantage and score easily from the line.

The Gators also need to be wary of South Carolina’s MiLaysia Fulwiley, the sophomore guard who has led the Gamecocks in scoring for two consecutive games, putting up 13 points against Texas.

However, Florida has a rising star in freshman Liv McGill, who averages 16.4 points per game. McGill was pivotal in Florida’s offensive push against Alabama, contributing 22 points—marking her tenth game with over 20 points this season.

On the defensive side, the Gamecocks will need to keep an eye on Florida’s Jeriah Warren. The senior guard had a standout performance against Alabama, securing 10 rebounds—her second time this season achieving double digits in rebounds.

Game Details

The Gators will take on the Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena, with the game set to tip off at 7 p.m. For fans looking to tune in, the game will be streamed on the SEC Network and can be heard on ESPN 98.1-FM/850-AM WRUF, starting at 6:40 p.m.

Stay tuned for more updates as we head into what promises to be an exciting showdown between two hungry teams!