Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

UF senior Lauren Embree returns a volley from Baylor sophomore Ema Burgic during the No. 1 Gators’ 7-0 win against the 15th-ranked Bears on Feb. 2. Embree has won four Southeastern Conference titles at Florida.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Senior named No. 1 player

By MICHELLE PROVENZANO< | Feb. 28, 2013

Lauren Embree knows how to use her racket.

Junior ace Hannah Rogers winds up to pitch during Florida’s 9-1 victory against UNC Wilmington on Feb. 17 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Rogers tossed 18.2 frames for the Gators at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Junior hurler pacing Florida’s thriving pitching staff

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN | Feb. 28, 2013

For the first time in 2013, No. 4 Florida (17-1) has gone a week without run-ruling an opponent.

Jennifer George (32) shoots during Florida’s 62-57 loss to Georgia on Sunday in the O’Connell Center. George notched her ninth double-double of the season in Florida's 69-58 win against Arkansas on Thursday.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida holds off late Arkansas rally for win in home finale

Feb. 28, 2013

Jennifer George wanted to cap a frustrating season with a victory in her final home game as a Gator.

Gymnast Marissa King does a Gator Chomp during Florida’s 197.65-196.025 win against Auburn on Jan. 25 in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Senior gymnast excited to perform in front of parents again

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Feb. 28, 2013

Marissa King’s parents went 48 meets without seeing her perform as a Gator.

Junior forward Will Yeguete talks with fans following Florida’s 69-52 win against Kentucky on Feb. 12 in the O’Connell Center. Yeguete has been medically cleared to play against Alabama on Saturday at noon.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Key reserves cleared to return on Saturday

By LANDON WATNICK | Feb. 28, 2013

Despite the Southeastern Conference title race implications on the line in Florida’s home matchup against Alabama on Saturday at noon in the O’Connell Center, coach Billy Donovan is taking a cautious approach with forward Will Yeguete (right knee) and guard Michael Frazier II (concussion).

Right-hander Jonathon Crawford throws a pitch during Florida’s 8-2 loss to Florida Gulf Coast on Feb 22 at McKethan Stadium. Selected 20th by the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the MLB Draft on Thursday, Crawford is the highest Florida pitcher taken since John Burke went sixth to the Houston Astros in 1991.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Gators need starters to last longer, take pressure off bullpen

By ADAM PINCUS | Feb. 28, 2013

After yet another poor performance on the mound, closer Johnny Magliozzi had enough. He brought Florida’s pitching staff together for a meeting after Wednesday’s extra-inning loss to North Florida.

Jaterra Bonds (10) drives the lane during Florida’s 68-57 loss to Vanderbilt on Feb. 21 in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Junior point guard driven by past failure in clutch moment

Feb. 27, 2013

Jaterra Bonds remembers the sequence like it was yesterday.

Freshman DeVon Walker runs down the court during Florida’s 83-52 win against Missouri on Jan. 19 in the O’Connell Center. Walker announced Monday he will return to Florida after asking for his release to transfer on May 6.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida struggles on the boards in loss to Tennessee

By LANDON WATNICK | Feb. 27, 2013

When Tennessee guard Trae Golden dished the ball to Jarnell Stokes on the low block with 8:16 left in the first half, forwards Erik Murphy and DeVon Walker double-teamed the 6-foot-8, 270-pound center.

Lauren Haeger (17) runs home after hitting a game-tying homer during Florida’s 4-3 victory against Charleston Southern on Feb. 17 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Home run helps Florida top South Florida

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN | Feb. 27, 2013

The No. 4 Gators (17-1) faced a familiar foe in South Florida left-handed pitcher Sara Nevins Wednesday night, but Florida saw its fortunes change against the southpaw at the USF Softball Field in Tampa.

Sophomore catcher Taylor Gushue calls out to the mound during Florida’s 4-3 loss to Duke on Feb. 15 at McKethan Stadium.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Slumping Florida baseball team needs to relax, have fun

By ADAM PINCUS | Feb. 27, 2013

Florida’s dugout erupted when Taylor Gushue executed a sacrifice fly to tie the game during the ninth inning of Tuesday night’s 7-6 loss to North Florida.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Final round washouts shorten Florida's tournaments

By RJ Schaffer | Feb. 26, 2013

The Florida men’s and women’s golf teams both failed to live up to expectations in rain-shortened tournaments.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Junior pitcher taking on more responsibility for Florida

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN | Feb. 26, 2013

Hannah Rogers had a busy weekend.

Christin Mercer (25) drives the lane in UF’s 87-54 win against Alabama on Feb. 3. Coach Amanda Butler has identified Mercer as an important post player for the Gators.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida struggling to establish consistent inside presence

Feb. 26, 2013

Earning trips to the foul line has been anything but charity recently for the Gators.

Center Patric Young wipes his brow with a towel during a timeout in Florida’s 83-52 win against Missouri on Jan. 19 in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Junior center limited by inconsistency, lack of instincts

By GREG LUCA | Feb. 25, 2013

Three years into his Florida career, Patric Young remains an enigma.

Trainers help Michael Frazier II (20) off the court after the freshman guard suffered a concussion in UF’s win against Arkansas on Saturday.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

UF tweaking lineup amid injuries

By LANDON WATNICK | Feb. 25, 2013

The Gators’ depth will be tested tonight in Knoxville, Tenn.

Coach Rhonda Faehn talks to freshman Bridget Sloan before her performance on beam during Florida’s 197.3-194.625 victory against Missouri on Jan. 18 in the O’Connell Center.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators preparing for postseason as regular season nears end

By CHUCK KINGSBURY< | Feb. 25, 2013

The Gators’ quest for their first national championship is nearing the postseason.

Senior T.J. Vogel eyes his shot during the SunTrust Gator Invitational at Mark Bostick Golf Course on Sunday. Vogel is back with the Gators after competing in The Masters.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS GOLF

Gators men in deep hole after first round

By RJ Schaffer | Feb. 24, 2013

Both the Florida women’s and men’s golf teams returned to action on Sunday with the women taking place in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Invitational in New Orleans, La., and the men competing in the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational in Ponte Vedra, Fla.

Senior Vickash Ramjit runs to third base during Florida’s 8-3 loss to Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday at McKethan Stadium. Ramjit had two hits in Florida's 4-1 loss to Indiana on Friday.

SPORTS | BASEBALL

Florida Gulf Coast completes sweep against Florida

By JOSH JURNOVOY | Feb. 24, 2013

Florida had a chance to salvage a bad weekend against Florida Gulf Coast.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida rallies to defeat Alabama

Feb. 24, 2013

Alabama has become a sight for sore eyes for Jaterra Bonds and Florida this season. But Sunday’s matchup hung in the balance longer than expected.

UF junior Elizabeth Beisel speaks to her teammates at the All Florida Invitational at the O'Connell Center in 2012.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida men win SEC Championships, women finish third

By ROBERT JUDIN< | Feb. 23, 2013

On the fifth and final day of the 2013 Southeastern Conference Swimming and Diving Championships, the men started the day in the lead while the women sat in third.