BLACKSBURG, Va. — Florida’s women’s basketball team continues its road stretch this week, heading to Virginia Tech on Thursday for a 5 p.m. EST matchup in the SEC/ACC Challenge. A win would mark the Gators’ ninth of the season and tie the program record for most victories through the first 10 games.
Liv McGill enters the contest fresh off her standout showing at the Grand Cayman Classic, where she was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. In Florida’s wins over Memphis (74-60) and Georgia Tech (65-56), the preseason All-SEC guard averaged 27.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 block.
As of Sunday, Nov. 30, McGill ranks third nationally in scoring (26.3 points per game), tied for 21st in assists (6.0 per game), and tied for eighth in steals (4.0 per game).
Me'Arah O'Neal has already recorded four double-doubles this season, contributing averages of 15.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.67 blocks. Laila Reynolds also provides consistent scoring, averaging 14.2 points per game.
Virginia Tech (6-2) opened the season with five straight wins before falling to James Madison (65-56) and BYU (64-60). The Hokies bounced back on Saturday, Nov. 29, with a 78-67 victory over Oregon State.
The Hokies feature a balanced offense, with six players averaging between eight and 16 points. Redshirt junior guard Carleigh Wenzel leads the way at 15.9 points per game. Senior forward Kilah Freelon adds 10.9 points and 10.1 rebounds, making her one of just 25 players nationally averaging a double-double this season. Freelon is shooting 50.9 percent from the field, second only to graduate guard Mel Daley’s 56.3 percent.
Florida holds a 3-1 all-time record against Virginia Tech, with their last meeting on Dec. 1, 2014 resulting in a 73-44 Gators win. Cassie Peoples scored 19 points in that game, Kayla Lewis added 15, and the Florida defense limited the Hokies to 31.3 percent shooting, including just 1-of-18 from three-point range.
The Gators remain unbeaten in ACC-SEC Challenge play, having defeated Clemson (77-64) last season and Georgia Tech (68-58) during the 2023-24 campaign.
Georgia Tech (6-2)
- Date: Thursday, December 4
- Time: 5 p.m. EST
- Site: Cassell Coliseum
- Listen: wruf.com/listen-live/
- Watch: ESPN2
- Live stats: FloridaGators.com
A FLORIDA WIN WOULD …
- Improve the Gators record to 9-1 on the year, tying the program record for most wins to start a season through 10 games.
- Improve Florida's record against Virginia Tech to 4-1.
- Improve Florida's record in the ACC-SEC Challenge to 3-0.
TALE OF THE TAPE
| Florida | Virginia Tech | |
|---|---|---|
| 79.8 | PPG | 76 |
| 56.9 | OPP PPG | 55.6 |
| 22.9 | SCORING MARGIN | 1-19 |
| 45.4 | FG % | 40.9 |
| 36 | OPP FG% | 37.6 |
| 25.6 | 3 FG% | 27.1 |
| 26.6 | OPP 3 FG% | 30.1 |
| 4.7 | 3FG/G | 5.4 |
| 71.4 | FT % | 75.3 |
| 42.1 | REBOUNDS/G | 41.6 |
| 35.8 | OPP REBOUNDS/G | 32.9 |
| 6.3 | REB MARGIN | 8.7 |
| 13.3 | ASSISTS/G | 16.6 |
| 14.9 | TURNOVER/G | 14.1 |
| 0.9 | A/TO RATIO | 1.17 |
| 11.1 | STEALS/G | 10.1 |
| 4.44 | BLOCKS/G | 4.86 |
PROJECTED FLORIDA STARTERS
| No. | Ht. | Pos. | Class | Hometown/Previous School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Me'Arah O'Neal | 8 | 6-4 | F | So | Houston Texas |
| Alexia Dizeko | 9 | 5-11 | G | Gr. | Sion, Switzerland |
| Laila Reynolds | 13 | 6-1 | G | Jr. | PG County, Md. |
| Caterina Piatti | 14 | 6-4 | F | Fr. | Scandiano, Italy |
| Liv McGill | 23 | 5-9 | G | So | Minneapolis, Minn. |
GATOR BITES
- Through games of Monday, Dec. 1, Florida is tied for 11th in the SEC this season in points per game (79.8), 11th in scoring defense (56.9), 10th in scoring margin (+22.9), 12th in field goal percentage (.454), ninth in field goal percentage defense (.360), sixth in three-point field goal percentage defense (.266), eighth in steals (11.1), and sixth in turnover margin (+6.78).
- Liv McGill just missed out on her second career triple-double with a 26-point, 9-rebound, 9-assist effort vs. North Florida on Nov. 3. She came up two rebounds shy in the Gators following game against Chattanooga on Nov. 6 with 38 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds.
- Liv McGill became the first player in Gators women's basketball history to be named a US Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Week on Tuesday, Nov. 11. She averaged 27.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 5.00 steals while connecting on 40.9 percent of her three-point field goal attempts in Florida's three wins. She also was named the SEC Player of the Week for her performance during that same stretch of games.
- Liv McGill was named the most outstanding player of the Grand Cayman Classic over Thanksgiving weekend when she averaged 27.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4,0 assists, 2.00 steals and 1.00 blocked shots.
- Since the 1999-2000 season, only two players in the SEC have recorded three or more games of at least 25 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals—Liv McGill (three in the first six games this season) and Ole Miss' Armintie Price (four)
- Me'Arah O'Neal has four double-doubles this season after recording one in her freshman campaign.
PROJECTED VIRGINIA TECH STARTERS
| No. | Ht. | Pos. | Class | Hometown / Previous Schools | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilah Freelon | 0 | 6-1 | F | Sr. | Denver, Colo. / Texas Tech |
| Carleigh Wenzel | 1 | 6-0 | G | RS-Jt. | San Antonio Texas |
| Nelson Mackenzie | 3 | 5-8 | G | RS-So.. | Greenwich, Conn. |
| Carys Baker | 10 | 6-2 | F | Jr. | West Hartford, Conn. |
| Mel Daley | 21 | 5-11 | G | Gr. | Hastings, N.Y. / Northwestern |
HOKIES QUICK HITS
- Virginia Tech made the NCAA Tournament for four straight seasons from 2020-2024, advancing to the semifinals in 2022-23 before falling to LSU. Last season, they were 19-9, but just 9-9 in conference, and did not make the NCAAs.
- The Hokies are undefeated at home this season (5-0), and 61-10 in Blacksburg since the beginning of the 2021-22 season.
- Through games of Monday, Dec. 1, Kilah Frelon is tied for 16th in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (4.1), and tied for 28th in rebounds per game (10.1).
- Through games of Monday, Dec. 1, Mackenzie Nelson is tied for 13th in the nation in assists per game (6.4), and 11th in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.64).
