sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Senior attacker Shayna Pirreca and her upperclassman teammates will attempt to lead a young Gators squad over No. 1 Maryland on Saturday.

Sports

Florida preparing for matchup with top-ranked Maryland

By Tyler Nettuno | Feb. 16, 2018

Since its inception, Florida lacrosse has played Maryland three times. It has lost every one.

Junior Kelly Barnhill tossed her third career no-hitter in the Gators' home-opening win over North Florida Thursday night.

Sports

Gators travel to Louisiana for matchup with Cajuns

By Mark Stine | Feb. 16, 2018

It has been easy for the Florida softball team in the early going.

Despite guard Funda Nakkasoglu's 24-point performance against Texas A&M on Thursday, the Florida women's basketball team fell to the Aggies 85-80.

Sports

Gators suffer sixth straight loss against ranked opponent

By Justin Ahlum | Feb. 16, 2018

With just over a minute left in the fourth quarter and the Florida women’s basketball team down by one possession, Texas A&M had the ball. From the right wing, freshman Chennedy Carter pulled up from three and watched as her shot fell through the basket.

Coach Bryan Shelton and his team will head to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to face off with Ole Miss in the Round of 16.

Sports

No. 11 Florida to open ITA National Team Indoor Championships against No. 6 Texas A&M

By Benjamin Brandt | Feb. 16, 2018

The Seattle Tennis Club sits on the rocky shores of Lake Washington with a distant view of Mount Rainier. The choppy, blue waters and the snow-topped mountain will serve as the backdrop to this weekend’s ITA National Team Indoor Championships.

Amelia Hundley is prepared for tonight’s road meet against UGA. “We don’t have the 10,000 fans cheering for us,” she said, “so we have to make sure to bring that energy.”

Sports

UF hoping to win fourth straight SEC meet tonight against UGA

By Alana Gomez | Feb. 16, 2018

At the beginning of its practice on Tuesday, the Florida gymnastics team wasn’t rehearsing its sprints on vault or tweaking its routine on balance beam. It wasn’t even preparing to warm up. Instead, each member of the team had a smile on her face and a lacrosse stick in her hand as the team competed in a small lacrosse scrimmage.

Senior Taylor Tomlinson is tied for 12th after two rounds in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate Golf Championship in New Orleans.

Sports

Florida women’s golf team looks to move on from seventh-place finish at Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge

By Chris O'Brien | Feb. 14, 2018

The No. 20 Florida women’s golf team didn’t have the showing it wanted on par-3 holes during its first event of the spring — the Florida Challenge in Lecanto, Florida — on Jan. 29. The Gators shot 9 over on the course’s shortest holes, a tie for the third-worst mark in the competition, hindering its chances of pulling off a victory.

California native Chloe Kim won gold in the women's halfpipe event Tuesday at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Sports

Few care about snowboarding most of the time. Why do the Winter Olympics change that?

By Ethan Bauer | Feb. 14, 2018

I never watch snowboarding, and you probably don’t either.

Despite five consecutive losses, coach Cameron Newbauer likes the progress he has seen in his team. "I’m just so proud of our squad,” he said.

Sports

Gators women’s basketball wraps up 6-game stretch against ranked teams with matchup against No. 17 Texas A&M

By Morgan McMullen | Feb. 14, 2018

If the Gators women’s basketball team was disappointed following its fifth consecutive loss of SEC play on Sunday, it hardly showed. Instead, coach Cameron Newbauer and his players talked about the fight and pride that has been a staple of postgame press conferences and pre-practice soundbites all season long.

Starting in center field against North Florida, senior Aleshia Ocasio finished with two RBIs. She recorded at least one RBI for the fourth consecutive game.

Sports

Florida softball win streak continues with home-opener shutout of North Florida

By Mari Faiello | Feb. 14, 2018

With a 1-1 count in the bottom of the first inning, Florida catcher Janell Wheaton got ready for a third pitch.

Coach Roland Thornqvist said he isn't concerned about his team's losing record at this point in the season. “I think the process of discovery is really important to this team,” he said.

Sports

Women’s Tennis season off to rough start after ITA indoor tournament

By River Wells | Feb. 14, 2018

At this time last year, the Florida women’s tennis team remained undefeated at 7-0 after winning the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.

Taylor Tomlinson, the Gators' lone senior on the team, finished the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge at 9 over par, good for a tie for 23rd.

Sports

Florida women’s golf team finishes seventh on final day of Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge

By Chris O'Brien | Feb. 13, 2018

Florida women’s golf coach Emily Glaser knew the field at the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge would be tough. She knew she needed someone on her team to step up.

Senior Caeleb Dressel and the men's team begins its title defense on Wednesday at the SEC Championships.

Sports

UF men’s swimming and diving team aiming to win sixth straight SEC title, women’s team looking to end nine-year drought

By Jacob McManamon | Feb. 13, 2018

The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are in College Station, Texas, this week as they are set to begin the SEC Championships.

Florida softball coach Tim Walton was pleased with the production he received from freshman Jordan Matthews during the team's opening weekend.

Sports

Jordan Matthews off to a hot start for Florida softball team heading into home opener

By Mari Faiello | Feb. 13, 2018

With runners on second and third base deep into the seventh inning, Florida freshman outfielder Jordan Matthews had one job.

Coach Amanda O'Leary addressed her team before their game against Colorado after Buffaloes senior Julia Sarcona died in a car accident in January. “We asked our team to honor Julia (Sarcona) by playing as hard as they can, and I feel like we accomplished that," she said.

Sports

A story worthy of national news coverage occurred this weekend at UF’s lacrosse game. And you all missed it.

By Jake Dreilinger | Feb. 13, 2018

I might be a little late to the party on this one, but something happened this past weekend that deserves recognition.

Coach Amanda O'Leary (center) was impressed with her freshmen in the Gators' season-opening game against Colorado. “It was exciting to see them get on the board early,” she said.

Sports

Freshmen making an early impact for Florida lacrosse team

By Tyler Nettuno | Feb. 13, 2018

Heading into the 2018 season, the biggest question facing the Gators was how they would replace the production of last year’s seniors.

Florida’s No. 1 doubles pair — Duarte Vale (left) and McClain Kessler (right) — helped lead UF to a 4-2 win over No. 13 Michigan on Friday.

Sports

McClain Kessler, Duarte Vale play top position as UF men’s tennis team experiments with doubles lineup

By Benjamin Brandt | Feb. 13, 2018

The loudest voices on the courts of the Ring Tennis Complex prefer quiet before a match.

Coach Cameron Newbauer said even with mounting loses, he's happy with the mentality of his team. “They’ve bought into just being the best we can every moment and not playing the scoreboard,” he said.

Sports

Despite UF’s women’s basketball team’s current five-game losing streak, coach Cameron Newbauer isn’t deterred

By Justin Ahlum | Feb. 13, 2018

It has been a rough past couple of weeks for Florida’s women’s basketball team.

NCAA President Mark Emmert's contract goes through October 2020.

Sports

Tired of the mind-numbing debate over whether college athletes should be paid or not? Here’s a solution.

By Morgan McMullen | Feb. 12, 2018

College football has a problem.

Senior Kennedy Baker earned her third career perfect 10.0 against Alabama on Friday.

Sports

Kennedy Baker, veteran teammates remain in mid-season form for UF gymnastics team

By Alana Gomez | Feb. 12, 2018

Before the No. 5 Gators walked onto the mats of the O’Connell Center, the team sat down and described its individual goals heading into its meet against No. 9 Alabama on Friday.

Sophomore Grant Holloway will defend his NCAA Championship title on Friday in Eugene, Oregon

Sports

Grant Holloway greeted by familiar face after breaking NCAA record

By Alanis Thames | Feb. 12, 2018

Stan and LaTasha Holloway watched eagerly from the sidelines as their son, sophomore Grant Holloway, peeled off without hesitation at the sound of the starting gun.