Senior Ra Shaya Kyle will be recognized before Thursday's game after posting 1,000 career points in UF's last home contest on Jan. 30 versus Vanderbilt.
GAINESVILLE, Fla.— Florida is set to host No. 23 Alabama at the O'Connell Center on Thursday evening. This marks the second meeting between the two programs this season, as they were scheduled for both home and away matchups during the 2025 SEC slate.
Heading into the midweek clash, both teams have completed nine conference games. Florida holds a 3-6 record in SEC play, while Alabama enters with a 5-4 mark. The upcoming contest will be the tenth for each squad, tipping off at 7 p.m. ET and broadcast live on SECN.
Alabama (18-5, 5-4 SEC)
- Date: Thurs., Feb. 6
- Time: 7 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
What a Florida Victory Would Mean
- Would be Florida’s first win against Alabama since 2023
- Improves the Gators’ home record to 10-4
- Marks the start of Florida’s first SEC win streak this season
- Elevates Florida’s conference record to 4-6
- Updates the program’s all-time SEC record to 230-331
- Awards Head Coach Kelly Rae Finley her 69th career win leading the Gators
TALE OF THE TAPE:
| Florida | Alabama | |
|---|---|---|
| 78.3 | PPG | 78.2 |
| 69.2 | OPP PPG | 60.5 |
| 9.2 | SCORING MARGIN | 17.7 |
| 47.8 | FG % | 46.3 |
| 40.1 | OPP FG% | 36.9 |
| 34.4 | 3 FG% | 37.3 |
| 71.9 | FT % | 67.3 |
| 40.6 | REBOUNDS PG | 39.3 |
| 14.9 | ASSISTS PG | 15.3 |
| 16.9 | TURNOVERS PG | 14.4 |
| 7.5 | STEALS PG | 8.5 |
| 4 | BLOCKS PG | 4.7 |
Series History
Alabama holds the edge in the all-time matchup against Florida, leading the series 33 wins to 30.
Florida vs. Alabama: A Storied Rivalry
Florida and Alabama have faced off 63 times since their first recorded meeting in 1976. Over the decades, the series has remained active, with 27 matchups held in Gainesville, 24 in Tuscaloosa, and 15 at neutral venues.
Thursday’s game marks Alabama’s return to the O’Connell Center for the first time since February 23, 2023—a night that also delivered Florida’s most recent win over the Crimson Tide, an 81-77 victory. Since then, the Gators have come up short in two close contests: 76-73 on February 29, 2024, and 79-69 on January 2, 2025.
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 Most Recent Performance
On Monday, Feb. 3, Florida earned a commanding 108-78 road victory over Arkansas. Me'Arah O'Neal led the scoring effort with a career-high 19 points, marking her first time as the Gators’ offensive leader. Liv McGill added 18 points, while Laila Reynolds contributed 14. Florida controlled the rebounding battle, finishing with a 52-35 edge on the boards. Ra Shaya Kyle led all players with 12 rebounds, notching her 18th game as the team’s top rebounder this season.
Gator Quick Hits
- McGill has posted 20+ points in nine games this season.
- Florida ranks No. 2 in the SEC and No. 9 nationally with a 47.7% field goal rate.
- Four Gators average double-digit scoring: McGill (16.1), Kyle (15.1), Jeriah Warren (12.9), and Laila Reynolds (10.6).
- McGill (No. 14) and Kyle (No. 17) are both in the SEC’s top 20 for scoring.
- Florida is third in the SEC for three-point shooting at 34.4%.
- Kyle ranks No. 9 nationally and No. 3 in the SEC with 12 double-doubles.
- McGill leads all NCAA freshmen in total assists (123) and assists per game (5.3).
- Kyle is fourth in the SEC for rebounds per game (9.3).
- UF is undefeated when holding opponents to 69 points or fewer.
- The Gators have scored 20+ points in 45 of 94 quarters this season.
- Kyle ranks No. 10 in the NCAA and No. 2 in the SEC with a 62.6% field goal percentage.
- She also ranks No. 34 nationally in total rebounds with 216.
- Alexia Gassett leads the team in blocks with 20.
- Eriny Kindred tops Florida’s free throw stats, shooting 89.5% (17-for-19).
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 |
ALABAMA QUICK HITS:
- Barker is No. 11 in the SEC for scoring averaging 16.7 per game
- Barker (51.7) and Green (49.5) sit at No. 7 and No. 8 for field goal percentage
- Alabama is No. 7 in the SEC and No. 28 in the nation for field goal percentage (46.3)
- The Crimson Tide sit at No. 5 in the SEC and No. 23 in the NCAA for blocked shots averaging 4.7
- Alabama is No. 4 in the SEC for 3-point FG made averaging 8.3
- Nye ranks at No. 2 in the SEC and No. 26 in the NCAA in 3-point FG percentage with 42.7
- Nye leads the SEC and ranks No. 3 in the nation in 3-point FG made with 73 on the season (3.1)
- Barker leads Alabama in field goal percentage with 51.7
- Four Alabama's starters are averaging double figures for scoring
- Barker (16.7), Green (15.7), Nye (13.7), and Cody (10.6)
- Cody leads Alabama in total blocks with 39 on the season
- Cody is No. 16 in the SEC and leads the Crimson Tide on the boards averaging 6.6 rebounds per game
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