Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Freshman attacker Grace Haus scored four goals on five shots Wednesday against Jacksonville.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Gators avoid fourth-straight loss with convincing win against Elon

By Bryan Matamoros | Mar. 7, 2019

A change of scenery can be beneficial.

UF guard Funda Nakkasoglu became the second active player in the SEC to cross 2,000 career points in the Gators' regular-season finale victory over Vanderbilt on Sunday.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida's season ends in Round 2 with loss to Missouri

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 7, 2019

The sparse Florida crowd at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, sheepishly tried to revitalize the players, but only in vain.

Senior guard Jalen Hudson's 11 points in the Gators' 65-54 loss to Kentucky were his highest total since Butler (Dec. 29) and the first time this year he'd reached double figures in SEC play.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Hudson’s play not enough for Gators to beat LSU in final home game

By Jake Dreilinger | Mar. 6, 2019

Florida’s best option was Jalen Hudson. It had to be.

Kevin O'Sullivan's Florida baseball team is 6-4 to start the season after a 12-9 loss to UCF on Wednesday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

UF falters at home against FGCU

By Kyle Wood | Mar. 6, 2019

Pitching was the difference in both midweek games between Florida and Florida Gulf Coast. The Eagles held the advantage on the mound Wednesday night in a 7-2 victory over the Gators.

Florida guard Delicia Washington’s jumper gave UF a two-point lead with just 15 seconds left, and the Gators snapped a five-game losing streak with a 57-55 win over Alabama.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida advances to Round 2 with win over Ole Miss

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 6, 2019

Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin desperately tried to motivate her team during the final timeout of the game. She slammed her clipboard to the ground and pounded her fist against her red leather jacket looking for a reaction from her players, but she was met with silence.

Senior Gordon Neale finished in last place (7 over par) among the five UF golfers that participated in the team event at the Gators Invitational.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators fail to defend title at Southern Highlands Invitational

By Bryan Matamoros | Mar. 5, 2019

Florida’s men’s golf team traveled to Las Vegas with high expectations after winning the Southern Highlands Invitational last year.

Nelson Maldonado recorded one hit and a run in four at-bats in the Gators' 7-1 loss to North Florida on Wednesday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

UF blanks FGCU for fourth straight win

By Kyle Wood | Mar. 5, 2019

Florida’s offense put together yet another dominant showing against Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday night.

Freshman Andy Andrade accounted for the only point Florida could muster against No. 5 Texas A&M in Friday night's matchup.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators get first SEC win in beat down of Arkansas

By Noah Ram | Mar. 4, 2019

The Gators men’s tennis team traveled to Arkansas on Sunday with one goal in mind: Continue the dominance.

The UF swimming and diving teams had 28 NCAA-qualifying times on the men's side and seven times on the women's team.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Several Gators earn final NCAA spots

By Jack Braverman | Mar. 3, 2019

Countless UF swimmers had already earned spots to compete in the upcoming NCAA Championships, but this weekend served as an ever-important opportunity for those not already qualified to earn their invitations.

Sunday starter Jack Leftwich pitched five innings during Florida's 4-1 win over Miami at home, allowing five hits, one run and two walks. He struck out seven.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators sweep Winthrop in Sunday doubleheader

By Evan Lepak | Mar. 3, 2019

A rain-soaked Saturday caused the No. 7 Florida baseball team and Winthrop to compete in a doubleheader on Sunday at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium.

UF guard Funda Nakkasoglu scored 14 points in Florida’s 90-42 loss to Mississippi State on Thursday night. She was the only Gator to score in the first quarter.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Nakkasoglu reaches 2,000, Florida holds off Vanderbilt in regular season finale

By Dylan Rudolph | Mar. 3, 2019

Guard Funda Nakkasoglu stepped to the free-throw line amid a monster, 23-point performance.

Florida guard Jalen Hudson scored a team-high 13 points in UF's 61-55 loss to Georgia on Saturday at the O'Connell Center.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Georgia stuns the Gators at the O'Dome behind Claxton’s 25 points

By Tyler Nettuno | Mar. 2, 2019

The focus has been clear for the Florida men’s basketball team over the last few weeks: Just beat the teams you’re supposed to.

UF midfielder scored just one goal in Florida's 14-13 loss to Navy in Annapolis, Maryland, on Saturday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Florida drops third-straight in heart-breaking fashion

By Bryan Matamoros | Mar. 2, 2019

Navy coach Cindy Timchal searched for a way to stop Florida’s high-powered offense.

Kelly Barnhill pitched two innings and allowed six hits and four runs in the Gators 7-1 loss to UCLA on Wednesday.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

UF defeats Washington in thriller, falls to UCLA in shutout

By Mark Stine | Mar. 1, 2019

Kelly Barnhill stood in the circle then delivered the 3-2 pitch.

Coach Roland Thornqvist's women's tennis team SEC play on Friday at 5 p.m. when it hosts Ole Miss at the Ring Tennis Complex.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida dominates Rebels in SEC opener

By Victor Prieto | Mar. 1, 2019

Ida Jarlskog has been a dominant force for Florida this season.

Tyler Dyson will start in Game 1 of the Gators' three-game series against Winthrop Friday at 6:30 p.m.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators look the part of a top 10 team in win over Winthrop

By Kyle Wood | Mar. 1, 2019

The Gators clung to a narrow 3-2 lead over Winthrop through three and a half innings Friday night.

Senior gymnast Alicia Boren has competed in three "Link to Pink" meets during her time at UF. "Take a chance and enjoy competing for someone else...take a second to go speak to them and thank them," she said.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida defeats Arkansas, wins SEC Championship

By River Wells | Mar. 1, 2019

Alicia Boren clapped her hands in fury moments after she stuck her landing on the vault. With a scream of triumph, she high-fived every teammate and coach that rushed to congratulate her on the routine.

UF women's tennis coach Roland Thornqvist: This year, we have five new players, and so it’s going to take time... If our leaders are two sophomores, no matter how tough and into it they are, they’re still learning.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators enter SEC play on wrong side of history books

By Victor Prieto | Mar. 1, 2019

The Florida women’s tennis team has never had a losing record entering SEC play. Until now.

Sophomore midfielder Shannon Kavanagh scored four goals and was perfect from the free position against the No. 16 Greyhounds in Baltimore on Saturday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS LACROSSE

Florida continues four-game road stretch against ranked Navy

By Bryan Matamoros | Feb. 28, 2019

Florida’s women’s lacrosse team is not used to losing, especially two games in a row.

Coach Kevin O'Sullivan's squad is undefeated at 5-0 heading into its series with Miami.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Youth isn’t to blame for UF's struggles

By Kyle Wood | Feb. 28, 2019

The Florida baseball team was expected to struggle early on because of the sheer number of freshmen and newcomers on the roster.