GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Women’s Basketball Team (10-2) continues its homestand this week with two contests leading into the holiday break, beginning Wednesday, Dec. 17 against Florida A&M (0-8). Tip-off at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center is scheduled for 3 p.m. EST, serving as the opening game of a doubleheader before the nationally-ranked Florida men’s basketball team faces St. Francis at 6:30 p.m.
The Gators enter the matchup following an 85-41 win over West Georgia, where Florida held the Wolves to just 19.6 percent shooting (third lowest in program history) and nine made field goals (tied for the fewest ever allowed by a Gators team, and the fewest this season by an SEC defense). Junior transfer Jade Weathersby posted a season-high 13 points, while Me’Arah O’Neal (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Liv McGill (12 points, 10 assists) each recorded double-doubles.
As of Dec. 14, Liv McGill ranks second nationally in scoring (25.8 ppg), fifth in steals per game (4.00), and 22nd in assists per game (5.9). The Minnesota native has narrowly missed four triple-doubles this season, including her 12-point, 10-assist, nine-rebound performance against West Georgia.
Me’Arah O’Neal (14.1 ppg) and Laila Reynolds (13.4) join McGill to give Florida three double-digit scorers. The Gators are averaging 78.5 points per game, which, if sustained, would mark the second-highest scoring average in program history.
Florida A&M is still searching for its first victory of the season after a significant roster overhaul in the offseason. The Rattlers return only two players from last year, who combined for 21 games and 239 minutes.
Junior guard Shaniyah McCarthy leads A&M with 10.9 points per game, while five other players average between 6.4 and 9.5 points. Breazia Robinson (.458) is the lone starter shooting above 40 percent, as the team collectively connects on just 32.3 percent of its attempts. Florida A&M’s scoring average of 53.0 points per game ranks 15th lowest nationally.
On defense, the Rattlers allow opponents to score 82.8 points per game and give up 35.5 percent shooting from three-point range.
The Gators and Rattlers share three common opponents this season: Florida State, South Alabama, and Jacksonville.
| Florida | Florida A&M | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W/L | Fla | Opp | W/L | Fla A&M | Opp | |
| Florida State | W | 89 | 67 | L | 39 | 112 |
| South Alabama | W | 75 | 61 | L | 54 | 75 |
| Jacksonville | W | 100 | 55 | L | 63 | 70 |
Florida holds a 13-5 all-time record against the Rattlers and has captured six consecutive victories in the series. Those six wins have come by an average margin of 30.3 points per game. In last year’s 102-67 triumph, Liv McGill scored 21 points to lead six Gators in double figures, while RA Shays Kyle contributed a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double. Florida shot 59.6 percent from the floor and forced 22 turnovers from A&M.
Florida A&M (0-8)
- Date: Wednesday, December 17
- Time: 3 p.m. EST
- Site: Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center
- Listen: wruf.com/listen-live/
- Watch: SECN+
- Live stats: FloridaGators.com
A FLORIDA WIN WOULD …
- Improve the Gators’ record to 11-2 this season. Only eight teams in program history have started with 11 wins in their first 13 games.
- Extend Florida’s home record to 9-0 this year.
- Push the Gators to 33-3 at home during November and December in the Kelly Rae Finley era, including 8-0 this season.
- Stretch Florida’s streak of non-conference home victories to 15, tying for the sixth-longest such run in program history.
- Mark the Gators’ 10th consecutive home win overall, which would stand as the sixth-longest streak in program history.
TALE OF THE TAPE
| Florida | Florida A&M | |
|---|---|---|
| 78.5 | PPG | 53 |
| 56.8 | OPP PPG | 82.8 |
| +21.7 | SCORING MARGIN | -29.8 |
| 45.1 | FG % | 32.3 |
| 35.3 | OPP FG% | 44.9 |
| 26.4 | 3 FG% | 17.4 |
| 25.2 | OPP 3 FG% | 35.5 |
| 4.8 | 3FG/G | 2.6 |
| 71 | FT % | 62 |
| 42.7 | REBOUNDS/G | 37.1 |
| 35.9 | OPP REBOUNDS/G | 44.9 |
| +6.8 | REB MARGIN | -7.8 |
| 13.5 | ASSISTS/G | 8.2 |
| 15.5 | TURNOVER/G | 20.4 |
| +0.87 | A/TO RATIO | 0.39 |
| 11.6 | STEALS/G | 5.6 |
| 4.67 | BLOCKS/G | 2.75 |
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
- As of Sunday, Dec. 14, Florida ranks 10th in the SEC in points per game (78.5), 10th in scoring defense (56.8), 12th in scoring margin (+21.7), 11th in field goal percentage (.453), eighth in field goal percentage defense (.364), first in three-point field goal percentage defense (.252), seventh in steals (11.6), ninth in turnover margin (+5.50), ninth in defensive rebound percentage (.374), and ninth in blocked shots (4.67).
- The Gators have limited 14 consecutive opponents to fewer than 70 points.
- Florida’s NET rating, which factors into NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship selections, stood at No. 45 through games of Sunday, Dec. 14.
- Liv McGill became the first player in Gators women’s basketball history to earn US Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Week honors on Tuesday, Nov. 11. During that stretch, she averaged 27.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 5.00 steals, while hitting 40.9 percent of her three-point attempts across three Florida victories. She also collected SEC Player of the Week recognition for the same performances.
- Liv McGill was named the most outstanding player of the Grand Cayman Classic over Thanksgiving weekend, averaging 27.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.00 steals, and 1.00 blocked shot.
- Liv McGill has recorded three games this season with at least 25 points, five rebounds, five assists, and five steals. Across the more than 4,500 players competing in Division I women’s basketball, the rest have combined for only three such 25-5-5-5 performances.
PROJECTED FLORIDA A&M STARTERS
| No. | Ht. | Pos. | Class | Hometown / Previous Schools | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miya Giles-Jones | 1 | 6-0 | F | RSSo. | Fayetteville, N.C. / Fordham |
| Aina Subirats | 2 | 5-8 | G | Sr. | Barcelona, Spain / Morehead State |
| Tahnyjia Purifoy | 3 | 5-0 | G | RSJr. | Pensacola, Fla. / Chipola College |
| Za'Naria Robinson | 15 | 6-4 | G | Jr. | Fayetteville, N.C. / Tallahassee CC |
| Sahniyah McCarthy | 22 | 5-8 | G | Jr. | Apopka, Fla. / Cerro Coso CC |
RATTLERS QUICK HITS
- The Rattlers bring back only two players from their 2024-25 roster.
- Florida A&M Head Coach Bridgette Gordon competed for the Sacramento Monarchs during the WNBA’s first two seasons (1997, 1998).
- The Rattlers are still searching for their first victory of the 2025-26 campaign and have dropped 11 consecutive games dating back to last season.
- Florida A&M averages 53.0 points per game offensively, ranking as the 15th lowest mark nationally.
- Defensively, the Rattlers surrender 82.8 points per game, the fifth-highest average in the country.
- Florida A&M was projected to finish eighth out of 12 teams in the SWAC preseason poll, as determined by league coaches and sports information directors.
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