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Alex McMurtry becomes first Gators gymnast with multiple perfect scores in one meet

January 27, 2018

On Friday, Florida’s senior gymnast Alex McMurtry accomplished something no one in the program’s history had done. Florida gymnasts had scored forty perfect 10’s all-time, but McMurtry became the first to land two perfect scores in one contest.

McMurtry started her night with a perfect score in the vault. It was the first perfect vault performance in college gymnastics this season and McMurtry’s third of her career.

McMurtry also nailed her performance on the balance beam. This was her first perfect routine on the beam and was all she needed for a career Gym Slam (perfect scores on all four apparatuses).

McMurtry became only the second Gators gymnast to complete the Gym Slam and has moved past Bridget Sloan for first place with nine career perfect scores.

McMurtry only (lol) scored a 9.9 in the uneven bars.

To note just how important McMurtry’s performance was, the Gators defeated #1 Oklahoma by only .025 of a point.

Florida’s 198.150 is the highest score in the country this season, but couldn’t have been accomplished without the incredible performance of Alex McMurtry.
Florida ranked first in 2018 Big East Preseason Poll

January 27, 2018
The Florida Gators are the preseason favorite to win the Big East. The Gators received all nine first place votes available.

The Gators are 28-1 since joining the Big East in 2015, and have won a program record 22 straight conference contests.

Florida returns five 30-point scorers from last year’s 17-3 team and open the season ranked #5 in the Inside Lacrosse Women’s Preseason Rankings.

2018 Big East Preseason Lacrosse Poll:
1. Florida (9)
2. Denver (1)
3. Georgetown
4. Temple
5. Connecticut
6. Vanderbilt
7. Marquette
8. Villanova
9. Cincinnati
10. Butler
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Ronbeck, Hicklen earn Preseason Big East honors

In addition to Florida being ranked #1 in the preseason poll, the Gators also swept the preseason Big East honors.

Lindsey Ronbeck was selected as the preseason offensive player of the year. Florida goalkeeper Haley Hicklen was named the preseason defensive player of the year.

Ronbeck is a junior from Manhasset, NY. Last season Ronbeck recorded 53 goals and 20 assists for 73 total points.

Hicklen, a junior from Baltimore, was the 2017 Big East Goalkeeper of the Year. Hicklen turned in a 17-3 record with a .477 save percentage. Hicklen has a program record .499 career save percentage entering her junior season.

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Six Gators selected to Preseason All-Big East team

Florida had six players selected to the All-Big East team. No other Big East program had more than two selected.

Ronbeck and Hicklen were joined by seniors Allie Pavinelli and Shayna Pirreca as well as junior Sydney Pirreca and sophomore Cara Trombetta.

2018 Preseason All-Big East Team:
- A Katie Comerford – Villanova
- A Julia Feiss – Denver
- A Kendra Lanuza – Denver
- A Grace Nolan – UCONN
- A Shayna Pirreca – Florida
- A Lindsey Ronbeck – Florida
- A Morgan Ryan – Georgetown
- M Julia Blaze – Vanderbilt
- M Grace Gabriel – Marquette
- M Allie Pavinelli – Florida
- M Sydney Pirreca – Florida
- D Cassie Ekstrom – UCONN
- D Nicole Latgis – Temple
- D Cara Trombetta – Florida
- GK Haley Hicklen – Florida
Florida opens their season with a home tilt against Colorado on Sunday, February 9th.

*Information for this article was provided by the official UF lacrosse press release.
Five Gators selected to 2018 Preseason All-SEC team

January 24, 2018
On Wednesday the Southeastern Conference announced the softball Preseason All-SEC team which included five Gators.

Seniors Nicole Dewitt, Kayli Kvistad, and Aleshia Ocasio as well as juniors Kelly Barnhill and Amanda Lorenz each claimed the preseason honor. All five earned first team All-SEC honors a year ago.

Florida led the league with the most selections as no other team even had three players chosen.

Florida finished last season as the national runner-up and will begin their season February 9 in the USF Wilson-DeMarini Tournament in Tampa.

2018 Preseason All-SEC Team:
- IF Nicole DeWitt (UF)
- IF Kayli Kvistad (UF)
- IF Alyssa DiCarlo (UGA)
- IF Katie Reed (UK)
- IF Megan Gregg (UT)
- IF Tori Vidales (TAMU)
- OF Alyssa Rivera (AU)
- OF Amanda Lorenz (UF)
- OF Cortni Emanuel (UGA)
- OF Kylan Becker (MISS)
- OF Elantra Cox (MISS)
- OF Regan Nash (MIZZOU)
- P Alexis Osorio (ALA)
- P Kaylee Carlson (AU)
- P Kelly Barnhill (UF)
- C Ashley Walters (TAMU)
- DP/UT Aleshia Ocasio (UF)
*Information for this article was provided by the official UF softball press release.
RB Jordan Scarlett among four reinstated by football program

January 23, 2018

In August a scandal rocked the Florida Gators football program. Five months later it seems we are starting to get some closure.

On Tuesday, the University announced that four of the nine players suspended for credit card fraud have been reinstated and will participate in team activities this spring.

RB Jordan Scarlett, WR Rick Wells, LB James Houston, and LB Ventrell Miller are the four returning to the program.

Four of the suspended players have announced their intentions to leave the school. WR Antonio Callaway has elected to enter the NFL Draft. DL Jordan Smith OL Richerd Desir-Jones and OL Kadeem Telfort have both announced intentions to transfer.

The addition of Scarlett only boosts an already loaded backfield featuring LaMichal Perine, Malik Davis, Adarius Lemons, and incoming freshmen Daemon Pierce and Iverson Clement.

Florida head coach Dan Mullen released a statement regarding the reinstatements:

“All of our players understand the expectations we have of them to be members of the Florida football program.”

One player currently enrolled in school, DL Keivonnis Davis was involved in a serious scooter accident and his football future is currently uncertain.
Florida F Haley Lorenzen named SEC Player of the Week

January 23, 2018

Florida senior forward Haley Lorenzen was tabbed the Southeastern Conference’s Player of the Week on Tuesday.

Lorenzen led the Gators to their first two conference victories and recorded double-doubles while averaging 15 points and 11.5 rebounds in the two contests.

Lorenzen has been Florida’s leading scorer and rebounder since SEC action has begun at a 13.1 points and 9.4 boards.

Florida is now .500 at 10-10 overall and 2-5 in SEC play. The Gators will travel to Starkville to face the #2 ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs on Thursday.

SEC Player of the Week press release:

Player of the Week: Florida’s Haley Lorenzen

Lorenzen had a double-double in both of UF’s games last week that helped the Gators halt a five-game losing streak and notch its first two SEC wins of the season. Her 13 rebounds against Ole Miss were a career-high and her five assists at Arkansas tied her career-high. She was huge in the fourth quarter against Ole Miss, which had defeated the Gators earlier in the season. On Sunday, the Gators entered the final quarter down 13 points, when Lorenzen took control. During that fourth quarter alone, she tallied seven points, seven rebounds, two blocks and one assist. Lorenzen grabbed an offensive rebound and put it in with 27 seconds remaining that proved to be the game-winner. Ole Miss had a chance to win it with 9.1 seconds to play, but Lorenzen blocked Alissa Alston’s layup and UF grabbed the rebound with one second remaining. She finished with a game-high 18 points and her 11th double-double this season and 15th of her career. She averaged 15.0 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 blocks and 0.5 steals for the week.

*Information for this article was provided by the official UF women’s basketball press release.
Florida’s Jalen Hudson named SEC co-Player of the Week; Gators re-enter AP Top 25

January 22, 2018
Florida guard Jalen Hudson had himself a week. On Monday, the Southeastern Conference rewarded the junior guard with SEC co-Player of the Week honors.

Hudson averaged 19 points in Florida’s two SEC games, including 21 in the Gators 88-73 victory over Arkansas. Hudson also made one of the biggest plays of Florida’s season when he blocked Kentucky’s PJ Washington on a last second shot attempt.

Hudson is a 6-6 guard from Richmond, Virginia.

SEC Player of the Week press release:

SEC Co-Players of the Week – Florida’s Jalen Hudson and Texas A&M’s Tyler Davis

Hudson, a 6-foot-6, 192-pound junior guard from Richmond, Va., and Davis, a 6-foot-10, 266-pound junior forward from Plano, Texas, were named SEC Co-Players of the Week. Hudson averaged 19 points and seven rebounds in wins over Arkansas and at Kentucky. He led the Gators in scoring at Kentucky (17 points) while being the second leading scorer against Arkansas (21 points). Davis averaged 15.5 points and 13 rebounds in wins over Ole Miss and Missouri. He posted his seventh double-double this season against Missouri, scoring 11 points and posting a game-high 14 rebounds. Against the Rebels, Davis made 8-of-14 shot attempts to record 20 points.

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Florida ranked #20 in latest AP Poll

After an impressive 6-1 start to league play, Florida finds themselves in a familiar position: ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll.

The Gators are ranked #20 overall and sit at 14-5 overall after a dominating victory over Texas A&M and a thriller at Rupp Arena against (formerly #18) Kentucky.
AP TOP 25 (1/22/18)
1. VILLANOVA
2. VIRGINIA
3. PURDUE
4. DUKE
5. KANSAS
6. MICHIGAN STATE
7. WEST VIRGINIA
8. XAVIER
9. CINCINNATI
10. NORTH CAROLINA
11. ARIZONA
12. OKLAHOMA
13. OHIO STATE
14. TEXAS
15. GONZAGA
16. SAINT MARY’S
17. WICHITA STATE
18. CLEMSON
19. AUBURN
20. FLORIDA
21. ARIZONA STATE
22. TENNESSEE
23. NEVADA
24. RHODE ISLAND
25. MICHIGAN
The Gators will be back in action on Wednesday with a home tilt against South Carolina. The Gamecocks ended Florida’s season in the NCAA Elite Eight last year. The game is set to tip off at 7:00 PM.
Florida head coach Amanda O’Leary named Tewaaraton Legend

January 20, 2018

University of Florida head lacrosse coach Amanda O’Leary was named a 2018 Tewaaraton Legend by the Tewaaraton Foundation on Friday.

O’Leary, who was a four year starter for Temple University’s lacrosse and field hockey programs, led the 1988 Owls to an undefeated National Championship season and was named the Lacrosse Magazine’s Player of the Year.

O’Leary is the only coach in Florida lacrosse history after spending fourteen seasons as head coach at Yale. O’Leary has compiled 121 wins with the Gators since 2011.

O’Leary was inducted into the US Lacrosse National Hall of Fame in 2005, and was previously inducted into the Temple Owls Hall of Fame (2004).

The Tewaaraton Legend Award annually honors players whose play would have earned the prestigious trophy prior to 2001, when the Tewaaraton Award was introduced. The Tewaaraton Award is the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy in football.

The Gators open their season on February 11 with a home contest against Colorado. The match is set to begin at 12:00 PM.

*Information for this article was provided by the official UF lacrosse press release.
Gators earn first SEC win with dominating effort at Arkansas

January 18, 2018

FINAL: FLORIDA 65, ARKANSAS 51

1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT FINAL

GATORS 18 17 18 12 X 65

ARKY 13 15 7 16 X 51

FAYETTEVILLE, AR- The Florida Gators are finally off the schneid. Head coach Cameron Newbauer has earned his first SEC win. Florida can now look toward their home matchup with Ole Miss as an attempt at a winning streak.

Florida’s front court of seniors Haley Lorenzen and Paulina Hersler combined for 31 points and 17 rebounds in leading the Gators past Arkansas, 65-51.

While the front court played well, it was the defensive effort that sealed the victory. The Razorbacks made only 21 of 76 field goals for a 27.6% clip, including only 16% from deep.

Newbauer has emphasized rebounding since the beginning of the season, and on Thursday his team didn’t disappoint. Florida outrebounded the Razorbacks 54-42 and finished with one more offensive rebound than Arkansas.

Florida led the game the entire way (including a 9-0 run to open the game), but really pulled away in the third frame. Florida pushed their lead to eighteen by the end of the period.

Newbauer, who was spotted by television cameras celebrating with high-fives to his entire team, said he was proud of proud of his team for hanging on. Newbauer also talked about exploiting what he felt was an advantage for his team by attacking the basket with his senior leaders.

Hersler finished with a team high 19 points and added seven boards while Lorenzen added 12 points and ten rebounds. Guard Delicia Washington scored 14 points and chipped in nine boards.

Junior Malica Monk scored 28 points and grabbed eight boards to pace the Razorbacks effort.

The Gators will return home to face Mississippi on Sunday at 1:00 PM.

TEAM STATS:

GATORS ARKY

FG % 38 28

3-PT % 24 17

FT % 86 100

Offensive Rebounds 14 13

Total Rebounds 54 42

Assists 15 8

Steals 4 3

Blocks 1 3

Turnovers 14 8

WHAT’S NEXT:

Florida returns home to face Ole Miss in a home contest on Sunday. The Rebels and Gators squared off two weeks ago in a double-overtime thriller, and if history repeats itself, the fans will be in for a treat. Mississippi is 11-6 overall and 1-3 in conference play (their game against Missouri is currently ongoing). The Rebels has three scorers averaging 15+ points per game. Madinah Muhammad averages 17.8 to lead the team while Alissa Alston adds 15.1 per game. Senior Shandricka Sessom was averaging 15.1 before tearing her ACL just seven games into the season.

While the Rebels are formidable at home, they have struggled away from The Pavillion. Ole Miss is only 1-4 on the road thus far this season.

Florida vs Mississippi

January 21, 2018

1:00 PM / Exactech Arena

SEC Network
Florida ranked first in SEC Preseason Coaches Poll

January 17, 2018
The three time defending SEC softball regular season champions have once again been voted as the class of the conference.

On Wednesday, the Southeastern Conference announced the 2018 Preseason Coaches Poll, and the Florida Gators were picked to again win the league. The Gators earned eleven of the thirteen first place votes. Tennessee and Alabama each received one first place vote.

Florida finished last season as the NCAA runner up after a thrilling three-game WCWS Championship Series against Oklahoma. The Gators ended 2017 with a 58-10 record, including a 20-3 record in SEC play.
2018 SEC Preseason Coaches Poll:
1. FLORIDA (11)
2. TENNESSEE (1)
3. TEXAS A&M
4. LSU
5. ALABAMA (1)
6. AUBURN
7. MISSISSIPPI
8. KENTUCKY
9. GEORGIA
10. ARKANSAS
11. MISSOURI
12. SOUTH CAROLINA
13. MISSISSIPPI STATE
The Gators will begin the 2018 season in Tampa as part of the USF Wilson-DeMarini Tournament on February 9.

*Information for this article was provided by the official UF softball press release.
Allen’s breakout performance propels Florida past Arkansas and into first place

January 17, 2018
FINAL: FLORIDA 88, ARKANSAS 73

1st 2nd OT FINAL

ARKY 33 40 X 73

GATORS 48 40 X 88

GAINESVILLE, FL- Florida’s sleeping giant may have awoken on Wednesday night, and if so, the whole SEC had better be on notice.

Florida’s junior guard KeVaughn Allen, who had made only 7 of his previous 24 shots, finished with a season high 28 points on only twelve shot attempts to lead the Gators past Arkansas 88-73.

Florida raced to a 15 point first half lead while knocking down 11 of their first 15 attempts from the field.

Arkansas managed to close the gap to single digits in the second half, but the Gators regained composure to complete the route.

Jalen Hudson added 26 points off the bench for Florida while Egor Koulechov contributed twelve more. Hudson also chipped in a team high nine boards. Senior point guard Chris Chiozza finished with a stat line of 7 points and 9 assists.

Chiozza exited the game midway through the first half after getting hit in the face with an elbow, but returned after being evaluated (and cleared) for a concussion.

Arkansas was led by senior guard Jaylen Barford who finished with 28 points.

With Auburn’s loss to Alabama on Wednesday, Florida is now tied with the Tigers atop the SEC standings.

Florida will travel to Lexington, Kentucky to face the Wildcats in a primetime matchup on Saturday. ESPN’s Gameday will broadcast from Rupp Arena in anticipation of the matchup

RECORDS:
- ARKANSAS: 12-6 (2-4 SEC)
- FLORIDA: 13-5 (5-1 SEC)
Team Stats:

ARKANSAS GATORS

FG % 44 48

3-PT % 47 52

FT % 40 86

Offensive Rebounds 14 10

Total Rebounds 36 40

Assists 10 14

Steals 3 4

Blocks 2 6

Turnovers 8 9

What’s Next:

Florida travels to Rupp Arena to face rival Kentucky in a huge SEC matchup. Kentucky enters the contest 14-4 overall and 4-2 in the league. In their most recent contest, the Wildcats lost at South Carolina 76-68. Kentucky led that game late, but blew a 14 point lead. Freshman forward Kevin Knox finished the game with 21 points and 8 rebounds, and could pose a matchup nightmare with Florida’s lack of interior depth.

Florida vs Kentucky

January 20, 2018

8:15 PM / Exactech Arena

ESPN

	GATORS	ARKY
FG %	38	28
3-PT %	24	17
FT %	86	100
Offensive Rebounds	14	13
Total Rebounds	54	42
Assists	15	8
Steals	4	3
Blocks	1	3
Turnovers	14	8

	ARKANSAS	GATORS
FG %	44	48
3-PT %	47	52
FT %	40	86
Offensive Rebounds	14	10
Total Rebounds	36	40
Assists	10	14
Steals	3	4
Blocks	2	6
Turnovers	8	9

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	FINAL
GATORS	18	17	18	12	X	65
ARKY	13	15	7	16	X	51

	1st	2nd	OT	FINAL
ARKY	33	40	X	73
GATORS	48	40	X	88

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