Coach Kelly Rae Finley and the Gators have returned to Gainesville and are set to matchup against Mississippi State on Sunday afternoon in hopes of securing SEC win No. 4.
Gainesville, Fla. - The Gators return to the O’Connell Center on Sunday, Feb. 16, for a matchup against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET, with live coverage available on SECN+.
Mississippi State arrives in Gainesville following an 85-77 double-overtime victory over Vanderbilt on Thursday night. Florida, meanwhile, is looking to bounce back after falling to No. 4 South Carolina. Both programs enter the contest eager to add another win to their conference records as the calendar edges closer to March.
Mississippi State (18-8, 5-7 SEC)
- Date: Sun., Feb. 16
- Time: 2 p.m. ET
- Site: Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center
- Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1 FM / 850 AM
- Watch: SECN+
- Live stats: Statbroadcast
A Florida Victory Would:
- Mark the Gators’ first home win of the month of February
- Extend Florida’s run to two straight wins over Mississippi State
- Secure the team’s 10th home triumph of the 2024-25 campaign
- Improve UF’s SEC record to 4-8
- Bring Florida’s all-time SEC record to 230-333
- Earn Head Coach Kelly Rae Finley her 24th career conference victory
TAle of the Tape
| Florida | Mississippi State | |
|---|---|---|
| 77.2 | PPG | 76.9 |
| 71 | OPP PPG | 63.1 |
| 6.2 | SCORING MARGIN | 13.8 |
| 46.5 | FG % | 46.3 |
| 40.8 | OPP FG% | 37.5 |
| 33.6 | 3 FG% | 31.8 |
| 72.1 | FT % | 70.5 |
| 40.6 | REBOUNDS PG | 42 |
| 14.6 | ASSISTS PG | 15.8 |
| 16.8 | TURNOVERS PG | 16.6 |
| 7.2 | STEALS PG | 8.6 |
| 3.9 | BLOCKS PG | 4.2 |
The Series
Mississippi State currently holds a slight edge in the all-time matchup with Florida, leading the series 28-27.
Gators vs. Bulldogs History
- The two programs have faced off 55 times since their first meeting in 1978.
- Of those games, 25 have been played in Gainesville, 24 in Starkville, and six at neutral sites.
- Sunday’s contest marks Mississippi State’s first return to the O’Connell Center since Feb. 11, 2024, when Florida earned its first victory over the Bulldogs in two years.
- The Gators’ most recent win in the series came on that same date, a 90-70 road victory in Starkville, where UF secured a 20-point
margin.
PROJECTED FLORIDA STARTERS:
| Florida | No. | Height | Position | Class | Hometown/Previous School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexia Dizeko | 9 | 5-11 | F | Sr. | Sion, Switzerland |
| Laila Reynolds | 13 | 6-1 | G | So. | PG County, MD |
| Jeriah Warren | 20 | 6-0 | G | Sr. | Lake Charles, LA |
| Liv McGill | 23 | 5-9 | G | Fr. | Minneapolis, MN |
| Ra Shaya Kyle | 24 | 6-6 | C | Sr. | Marion, Ind. / Purdue |
Florida’s Last Time Out
- The Gators’ most recent game was on Thursday, Feb. 13, ending in a 101-63 road loss to No. 4 South Carolina.
- Liv McGill and Ra Shaya Kyle led the scoring effort with 15 points each.
- Laila Reynolds added 9 points.
- On the defensive end, Alexia Gassett paced the team with 8 rebounds, contributing to Florida’s 37 total boards.
Gator Quick Hits
- Liv McGill is the only freshman in the nation to record a triple-double this season.
- McGill has posted 10 games with 20+ points.
- Florida ranks No. 6 in the SEC and No. 25 nationally in field goal percentage (46.5%).
- Four Gators average double figures:
- McGill (16.3 ppg)
- Kyle (15.1 ppg)
- Jeriah Warren (12.2 ppg)
- Laila Reynolds (10.7 ppg)
- Both McGill and Kyle are among the SEC’s top 20 scorers:
- McGill at No. 14 (16.3 ppg)
- Kyle at No. 19 (15.0 ppg)
- Florida sits 6th in the SEC in three-point shooting (33.6%).
- Kyle ranks No. 17 nationally and No. 2 in the SEC with 12 double-doubles.
- McGill leads all NCAA freshmen in total assists (133) and assists per game (5.3).
- Kyle is 5th in the SEC in rebounds per game (9.1).
- Florida is undefeated this season when holding opponents to 69 points or fewer.
- The Gators have scored 20+ points in 46 of 102 quarters this season.
- Kyle ranks No. 9 nationally and No. 3 in the SEC in field goal percentage (61.7%).
- Kyle is also 35th in the nation in total rebounds (229).
- Alexia Gassett leads the team in blocks (21).
- Liv McGill has scored in double figures in 23 of 25 games this season.
PROJECTED FLORIDA STARTERS:
| Mississippi State | No. | Height | Position | Class | Hometown/Previous School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jerkaila Jordan | 2 | 5-10 | G | Gr. | New Orleans, La./ Tulane |
| Madina Okot | 15 | 6-6 | C | Jr. | Mumias, Kenya/ Zetech University |
| Denim DeShields | 0 | 5-5 | G | Jr. | Atlanta, Ga./McEachern HS |
| Eniya Russell | 4 | 6-0 | G/F | Gr. | Baltimore, Md./ South Carolina |
| Debreasha Powe | 21 | 6-5 | G/F | Jr. | Meridian, Miss./ Meridian HS |
Mississippi State Quick Hits
- The Bulldogs rank 7th in the SEC and 28th nationally in field goal percentage (46.3%).
- They sit at 5th in the SEC for defensive rebounds per game (28.62).
- Jordan leads the team in shooting efficiency with a 58.0% field goal percentage.
- Okot is 16th in the NCAA with 253 total rebounds this season.
- Three players average double figures in scoring:
- Jordan (16.3 ppg)
- Russell (12.0 ppg)
- Okot (11.6 ppg)
- Okot also ranks 3rd in the SEC in rebounding, averaging 9.7 per game.
- Powe is 5th in the SEC in three-point shooting percentage (41.3%).
- Okot leads the SEC and is 2nd nationally in field goal percentage (68.0%).
- DeShields is 14th in the SEC in assists, with 93 total (3.6 per game).
- As a team, Mississippi State is 17th in the nation in rebounds per game (41.9).
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