Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Senior Alex McMurtry's two perfect 10.0s led the way for the No. 5 Gators as they took down No. 1 Oklahoma by the slimmest margin possible. She now holds the UF record for career 10.0s.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida defeats No. 1 Oklahoma on strength of McMurtry's pair of perfect 10.0s

By Alana Gomez | Jan. 26, 2018

Alex McMurtry didn’t hesitate. Facing the long stretch of mat ahead of her, the All-American threw her hands above her head before bringing them in close to her chest and breaking into a full sprint. A sold-out O’Connell Center watched as she spun into the air and touched her feet down to the ground in her first of two perfect 10.0s of the night.

Coach Jenny Rowland and the No. 5 Gators get their second opportunity to take down the No. 1 team in three weeks at the O'Connell Center tonight. “The Gators are always up for the challenge, and this weekend is not gonna be any different.”

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Florida gymnastics team faces No. 1 Oklahoma tonight at O'Connell Center

By Alana Gomez | Jan. 25, 2018

For the second time this season, the UF gymnastics team will host a No. 1 team at home. The No. 5 Gators (2-1, 1-1 SEC) are set to take on No. 1 Oklahoma (3-0, 1-0 Big 12) tonight at 6:45 in the nation’s top gymnastics match of the weekend.

Florida guard Funda Nakkasoglu scored 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting in the Gators' 90-53 loss to Mississippi State on Thursday night.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators women’s basketball team flounders in blowout defeat against No. 2 Mississippi State

By Justin Ahlum | Jan. 25, 2018

It was sink or swim for the Florida women's basketball team as it hit the road to play against the second-ranked team in the nation on Thursday.

Florida coach Mike White said UF's attention to detail must be better this weekend against Baylor.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Mike White, Florida men’s basketball team hoping to bounce back against Baylor on Saturday

By Jake Dreilinger | Jan. 25, 2018

Mike White stood in front of reporters on Thursday morning and was immediately asked about the amount of breakdowns Florida had in its three-point defense against South Carolina on Wednesday.

Coach Bryan Shelton and the No. 6 Gators men's tennis team are playing for a bid to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship this weekend in Gainesville.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida men’s tennis team hoping to secure bid to ITA National Indoor Championship

By Benjamin Brandt | Jan. 25, 2018

The Florida men’s tennis team is looking to start dual-match play 2-0 for the eighth consecutive season this weekend.

Coach Mike Holloway's men's (No. 1) and women's (No. 4) indoor teams will look to capitalize on a fast start to their seasons. “We always talk about leaving your failures (and) successes in the building,” Holloway said. “Our mindset is always that we’re just trying to get better.”

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TRACK

Florida track and field teams look to continue success this weekend at Razorback Invitational

By Alanis Thames | Jan. 25, 2018

Florida’s No. 1-ranked men’s and No. 5-ranked women’s track and field teams will head to Arkansas to compete in the Razorback Invitational this weekend for the Gators’ fourth meet of the 2018 indoor season.

Gregg Troy has the Gators men's (No. 4) and women's (No. 16) teams primed for a tough matchup against Tennessee this afternoon at 1.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS SWIM AND DIVE

Florida swimming and diving teams take on Tennessee in Knoxville

By Jacob McManamon | Jan. 25, 2018

The Florida men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will take on the Tennessee Volunteers at 1 p.m. Friday in Knoxville.

Senior Josie Kuhlman and the Gators begin dual-match play Saturday morning at 9. They are looking to rebound from a shaky opening tournament in Las Vegas.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators women’s tennis team officially begins dual-match play with ITA Kickoff Weekend

By River Wells | Jan. 25, 2018

The Gators women’s tennis team has faced some of the best programs in the nation this season. When it comes to its upcoming opponent in Cal State Fullerton, however, the squad is left entirely in the dark.

Senior forward Haley Lorenzen is nearly averaging a double-double (12.9 points and 9.6 rebounds per game) this season. On Tuesday, she was named SEC Player of the Week after helping UF to its first two conference wins.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Haley Lorenzen, Gators women’s basketball team preparing for No. 2 Mississippi State

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 24, 2018

As senior forward Haley Lorenzen pulled down her final rebound Sunday afternoon against Ole Miss, there were no opponents around her. Her boxout created enough space to take one step to her right, elevate and bank home the eventual game-winning score with 27 seconds left on the clock.

Coach Mike White said he didn't mind if KeVaughn Allen missed 10 shots in a game. He went 5 of 15 Wednesday against South Carolina. “KeVaughn didn’t shoot a great percentage, but I like him being really aggressive,” White said.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Notebook: Looking at the positives of the Gators’ home loss to South Carolina on Wednesday

By Skyler Lebron | Jan. 24, 2018

In the No. 20 Florida men’s basketball team’s 77-72 loss to South Carolina on Wednesday, three-point defense and poor shooting down the stretch resulted in a sloppy conference defeat, UF’s second of the season.

“We were really good. We were really locked in,” Florida guard Egor Koulechov said, referring to an 11-0 run to start the second half. “It’s a matter of ‘how many minutes can we go being locked in like that?’”

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators men’s basketball team falters down the stretch, falls to South Carolina on Wednesday

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 24, 2018

Florida guard Jalen Hudson reached his hands toward South Carolina guard Frank Booker, committing one last desperation foul with 20 seconds remaining in the game.

Former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar is serving 60 years in jail on child pornography charges. He's also currently being sentenced on multiple counts of criminal sexual misconduct.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Burn it all down: The case against Lou Anna Simon and Michigan State athletics

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 23, 2018

For Larry Nassar, a former doctor for Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics, there is no punishment cruel enough.

Florida big men Kevarrius Hayes and Keith Stone (above) have stepped up in the absence of injured teammates. "Boy, have they gotten better since October," coach Mike White said.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Florida men’s basketball team looking to avenge Elite Eight loss Wednesday against South Carolina

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 23, 2018

The last time Florida and South Carolina faced off, the Gamecocks earned a Final Four berth over the Gators in Madison Square Garden.

Former Florida football player and current Eagles tight end Trey Burton is one of three Gators heading to Super Bowl LII.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators in the NFL: Dante Fowler Jr. records two sacks; Trey Burton, Jaylen Watkins, Mike Gillislee Super-Bowl bound

By Sam Campisano | Jan. 23, 2018

For most of Sunday afternoon, it looked like former Florida football player Dante Fowler Jr. would get a chance to play in the Super Bowl.

Bryan Shelton said his players need to conserve their energy better following Monday’s win over UCF. “We had guys run out of gas,” he said.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida men’s tennis coach Bryan Shelton looking for his players to control on-court emotions

By Benjamin Brandt | Jan. 23, 2018

The Gators had already clinched the match. A crowd of over 350 fans had dwindled down to just a handful. In its home opener against UCF on Monday night, Florida was just about ready to return to the locker room victorious. But junior McClain Kessler was still battling for a third-set win on the No. 6 singles court.

Running back Jordan Scarlett is expected to be the bell-cow back by our sports editors.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators reinstate Jordan Scarlett, three other football players suspended last season for alleged credit card fraud

By Dylan Dixon | Jan. 23, 2018

The credit card fraud saga involving nine Florida football players last season appears to be coming to a close.

Haley Lorenzen had 7 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks in the fourth quarter of a 61-60 win against Ole Miss at the O'Connell Center on Sunday.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Haley Lorenzen, Delicia Washington stepping up for Gators in recent back-to-back victories

By Justin Ahlum | Jan. 22, 2018

Entering the fourth quarter down by 13, the Florida women’s basketball team was on the brink of another SEC loss on its home floor. But forward Haley Lorenzen had other ideas.

Despite the recent turmoil, LeBron James and the Cavaliers are the odds-on favorite to rise to the top of the Eastern Conference.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Despite their recent struggles, the Cleveland Cavaliers are still the hands-down favorite to represent the East in this year’s NBA Finals

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 22, 2018

Take a moment to check out my Twitter account, @AndrewJHuang. You’ll notice immediately that my cover photo is of Russell Westbrook. About halfway through my bio you’ll see the words “Go OKC.”

Florida men's tennis player teammate McClain Kessler (above) and teammate Duarte Vale defeated UCF doubles pair Mikhail Sokolovskiy and Gabriel Decamps 6-4 on Monday. The Gators as a whole beat the Knights 6-1 for the team's 2018 home opener at the Ring Tennis Complex.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Florida men’s tennis team victorious in home opener against UCF

By Benjamin Brandt | Jan. 22, 2018

The Florida men’s tennis team gave the home crowd at the Ring Tennis Complex exactly what it wanted in Monday’s home-opener against UCF.

Former Florida tennis player Belinda Woolcock went from an apprehensive 18-year-old nervous about leaving home to an NCAA champion full of confidence.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Home Away From Home: Belinda Woolcock’s decision to leave Australia for the U.S. paid off

By Mari Faiello | Jan. 22, 2018

It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment Belinda Woolcock never saw coming.