Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball tops Long Island in season opener

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Feb. 11, 2012

Florida found their rhythm Friday night against Long

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida gymnastics defeats LSU, notches best score in nation

By LANDON WATNICK< | Feb. 10, 2012

Two weeks ago, the Gators posted a 197.775, the

Florida freshman
guard Brad Beal scored nine points and committed five turnovers in
a loss to Tennessee in January and said the Gators must be more
aggressive Saturday.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

UF working on ‘fractured minds’

By JOHN BOOTHE | Feb. 9, 2012

As Kentucky’s lead swelled in Rupp Arena and Florida’s missed shots mounted, Brad Beal could feel the disunity building on the court.

Florida point
guard Lanita Bartley (left) scored a team-high 17 points in
Thursday’s 70-56 win against Auburn in the O’Connell
Center.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida women's basketball wins third straight

By JOE MORGAN | Feb. 9, 2012

Ndidi Madu clenched her fists and screamed as she headed to the charity stripe.

Entrenched as the No. 1 starter after a stellar freshman season, Gators sophomore pitcher Hannah Rogers (left) said she doesn’t mind sharing time this season with highly touted freshmen hurlers Alyssa Bache and Lauren Haeger.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Completing the Circle: Heralded freshmen put pressure on Rogers to perform

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Feb. 9, 2012

Keep up.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators baseball relying on senior Pigott

Feb. 9, 2012

Daniel Pigott is looking forward to tracking down line drives to left field this season without the threat of clanking into a chain-link fence.

Florida freshman
midfielder Nicole Graziano scored four goals in an exhibition win
against England on Jan. 26, and coach Amanda O’Leary said she will
play Saturday against UNC.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

UF lacrosse freshmen earn playing time for season opener against UNC

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Feb. 9, 2012

The Gators’ lineup did not look like it would have room for newcomers.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Carleton thriving after transfer from Wake Forest to Florida men's tennis

By ELI MARGER | Feb. 9, 2012

After spending his first two years of college at Wake Forest, Frank Carleton wanted the opportunity to play for an elite tennis program. One month into his first dual-match season in Gainesville, he has made the most of that opportunity.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Underdog Gators men's golf confident heading into home tournament

By KATIE AGOSTIN< | Feb. 9, 2012

Underdog is not often heard when describing Florida, especially with a home-field advantage.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida gymnastics hosts LSU for Link to Pink meet

By LANDON WATNICK< | Feb. 9, 2012

Tonight, Florida and LSU will put school colors aside for a more meaningful one.

Kentucky forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist finished with six of his 13 points in transition in Tuesday’s game against Florida.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

‘Cats fast break quickly sunk Gators

By JOHN BOOTHE | Feb. 8, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Florida coach Billy Donovan warned his team before Tuesday night’s 20-point loss that poor shots and quick possessions would allow Kentucky to run wild in transition.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

UF women's basketball looking for more than scoring from sophomore Shine

By JOE MORGAN | Feb. 8, 2012

Brittany Shine thrives with time.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

The Rally: Which UF basketball team is better — 2010-11 or 2011-12?

By MATT WATTS | Feb. 8, 2012

MATT: The Gators completed a full-on walk of shame last night, arriving back in Gainesville with their scaly tails tucked neatly between their legs following a 20-point shellacking in Lexington, Ky.

Florida freshman midfielder Nora Barry (left) scored a goal in an exhibition game against England on Jan. 26 shortly after English defender Emily Gray picked up a yellow card.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Lacrosse rule change mandates tougher penalty for yellow cards

By JOSH JURNOVOY< | Feb. 8, 2012

A reckless hack with the stick is now carrying greater consequences than ever before.

After hitting .333 and leading the team in home runs as a freshman, Florida first baseman and relief pitcher Austin Maddox slumped to hit .280 as a sophomore.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida baseball's Maddox pushing past disappointing 2011 season

By TOM GREEN | Feb. 8, 2012

Austin Maddox is hoping his sophomore slump doesn’t follow him into his junior year.

Florida freshman
Brad Beal (left) credited Kentucky for shutting down the Gators’
strength on offense — 3-point shooting. UF made just 6 of 27
attempts from three in the 78-58 loss.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida cold from three in 20-point loss at Kentucky

By JOHN BOOTHE | Feb. 7, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. — In the Gators’ two previous losses against top-three teams, outside shooting was their saving grace from an embarrassing final margin.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Walker struggles against Wildcats’ length in blowout loss

By GREG LUCA | Feb. 7, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. — For 5-foot-8-inch Erving Walker, Kentucky was too tall of a test.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Mather dominates as Florida women's tennis sweeps South Florida at home

By ELI MARGER | Feb. 7, 2012

It took Joanna Mather just less than an hour to defeat her opponent on Tuesday, but it was an extra 15 minutes on Monday that really made the difference.

Florida sophomore gymnast Kytra Hunter works on the balance beam during a meet last season. Hunter matched a career-best of 9.90 on the uneven bars against Ball State on Friday at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Florida recorded its third-highest team score ever in season openers.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida gymnastics' Hunter excelling as all-around competitor in first year

By LANDON WATNICK< | Feb. 7, 2012

When Kytra Hunter first set foot on the mat in her collegiate debut, success soon followed.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators men's golf may look to underclassmen as season progresses

By KATIE AGOSTIN< | Feb. 7, 2012

Florida started off its spring schedule on the right foot with a team win and an individual win for junior T.J. Vogel at the Sea Best Invitational last week. But the Gators are working on consistency before hosting the SunTrust Gator Invitational on Saturday.