Boca Raton, Fla. — The Florida women’s basketball squad heads back on the road next week, beginning with a matchup in Boca Raton against Florida Atlantic on Monday, Nov. 24. After that, the team will continue its Thanksgiving week journey with two games in the Cayman Islands.
Florida has been flawless at home this season with a 5-0 record, but fell 69-54 in its first away contest against Navy. Preseason All-SEC pick Liv McGill missed that game, though she returned against Florida State and delivered 27 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and seven steals.
Across NCAA Division I women’s basketball this year, only five performances have featured at least 25 points, five rebounds, five assists, and five steals. McGill owns three of those outings.
Sophomore forward Me'Arah O'Neal has already recorded four double-doubles, ranking second nationally, while junior Laila Reynolds has averaged 17.3 points per game over her last four appearances.
Florida Atlantic enters at 2-2 following a 70-63 defeat to South Alabama on Thursday, Nov. 20. The Owls have rotated eight different starters through four games. Their top contributors include junior guard Grace Carstensen (12.3 ppg, .552 FG%, .571 3FG%) and junior forward Vivian Onugha (12.3 ppg, 6.0 rpg, .640 FG%).
The Gators hold an 8-1 all-time advantage over Florida Atlantic, winning the last six meetings. Their most recent clash came on Nov. 4, 2024, when Jeriah Warren scored 21 points to lead four Gators in double figures during an 82-54 victory. Florida forced 15 turnovers, converting them into 23 points, while the Owls managed just two points off eight Gator miscues. The teams have not met on Florida Atlantic’s home floor since the 1994-95 season.
Florida Atlantic (2-2)
- Date: Monday, November 24
- Time: 7 p.m. EST
- Site: Abessinio Court at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena
- Listen: FloridaGators.com
- Watch: ESPN+
- Live stats: FloridaGators.com
A FLORIDA WIN WOULD …
- Push the Gators’ season record to 6-1.
- Extend Florida’s series lead over the Owls to 9-1 overall, including 3-1 on the road.
- Mark the program’s sixth consecutive victory against Florida Atlantic.
TALE OF THE TAPE
| Florida | Florida Atl | |
|---|---|---|
| 86.7 | PPG | 67 |
| 57.5 | OPP PPG | 65.8 |
| 31.2 | SCORING MARGIN | 2.8 |
| 48 | FG % | 43.5 |
| 38.1 | OPP FG % | 46.1 |
| 28.9 | 3 FG % | 38 |
| 31.9 | OPP 3 FG % | 30.2 |
| 6.2 | 3FG/G | 7.5 |
| 69.2 | FT % | 68.1 |
| 41.7 | REBOUNDS/G | 28.5 |
| 33.7 | OPP REBOUNDS/G | 33 |
| 8 | REB MARGIN | -4.5 |
| 14 | ASSISTS/G | 13.8 |
| 13.5 | TURNOVER/G | 17.8 |
| 1.04 | A/TO RATIO | 0.77 |
| 13.3 | STEALS/G | 10 |
| 3.33 | BLOCKS/G | 2.5 |
PROJECTED FLORIDA STARTERS
| No. | Ht. | Pos. | Class | Hometown / Previous School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Me'Arah O'Neal | 8 | 4-Jun | F | So | Houston, Texas |
| Alexia Dizeko | 9 | 11-May | G | Gr. | Sion, Switzerland |
| Laila Reynolds | 13 | 1-Jun | G | Jr. | PG County, Md. |
| Caterina Piatti | 14 | 4-Jun | F | Fr. | Scandiano, Italy |
| Liv McGill | 23 | 9-May | G | So | Minneapolis, Minn. |
GATOR BITES
- As of Tuesday, Nov. 18, Florida sits fifth in the SEC in scoring average (86.7 points per game), tied for eighth in scoring margin (+29.2), eighth in field goal percentage (.480), fifth in steals (13.3 per game), and third in turnover margin (+10.8).
- Liv McGill nearly secured her second career triple-double on Nov. 3 against North Florida, finishing with 26-point, 9-rebound, 9-assist effort. In the following game versus Chattanooga on Nov. 6, she posted 38 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds, falling just two boards short of the milestone again.
- On Tuesday, Nov. 11, Liv McGill became the first player in Florida women’s basketball history to earn recognition as the US Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Week. During that stretch, she averaged 27.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 5.0 steals, while shooting 40.9 percent from three-point range across three victories. She also collected SEC Player of the Week honors for the same performances.
- Since the 1999-2000 season, only two SEC athletes have recorded at least three games with 25 points, five rebounds, five assists, and five steals: Liv McGill (three in the first six contests this year) and Ole Miss’ Armintie Price (four).
- Florida is one of just four programs nationally with three players averaging 15.0 or more points per game—McGill (26.0), Me'Arah O'Neal (16.3), and Laila Reynolds (15.5).
- Me'Arah O'Neal has already logged four double-doubles this season, adding to the one she recorded during her freshman year.
PROJECTED FLORIDA ATLANTIC STARTERS *
| No. | Ht. | Pos. | Class | Hometown / Previous Schools | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Destyne Jackson | 0 | 7-May | G | Gr. | Lexington, Ky. / Memphis |
| Grace Carstensen | 2 | 11-May | G | Jr. | Hinsdale, Ill. / DePaul |
| Jess Moors | 3 | Jun-00 | G | Gr. | Auckland, New Zealand / Nova Southeastern |
| Michiyah Simmons | 4 | 6-May | G | Sr. | Pompano Beach, Fla. / South Alabama |
| Vivian Onugha | 22 | 2-Jun | F | Jr. | Lagos, Nigeria / Barton Community College |
* Eight different Florida Atlantic players have earned starting roles across the team’s first four contests. The lineup listed below reflects the group that opened their most recent game against South Alabama.
OWLS QUICK HITS
- Florida Atlantic’s leading five scorers consist of two juniors, one senior, and two graduate students. By comparison, Florida’s top contributors include two sophomores, one junior, and two freshmen.
- The Owls are currently in their third year competing in the American Athletic Conference. Before that, they spent a decade in Conference USA (2013–23), seven years in the Sun Belt (2006–13), and previously played in the Atlantic Sun from 1993–2006.
- Florida Atlantic last reached the NCAA Tournament in 2005–06 after finishing the regular season 20-11. Since then, the program has managed only two winning campaigns: 17-13 in 2011–12 and 16-14 in 2013–14, with the 2011–12 season also producing an NIT appearance.
- The team features two double-digit scorers—Grace Carstensen (12.3 points per game) and Vivian Onugha (12.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, .640 FG%)—while six other players contribute between 5.5 and 8.5 points per game, creating a balanced offensive approach.
- All nine Owls who have appeared in at least one game this season average 18 or more minutes on the floor. Jess Moors is the only player logging over 30 minutes per game, with an average of 31.3.
