Sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Forward Paulina Hersler tied her career high with 19 points in Florida's 65-51 win over Arkansas, its first conference victory in the Cameron Newbauer era.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Paulina Hersler, Haley Lorenzen lead UF women’s basketball team to first SEC win of 2018

By Justin Ahlum | Jan. 18, 2018

At the start of the third quarter, Florida forward Paulina Hersler received a pass and pulled up from the top of the key for the Gators’ first shot of the frame. The shot went straight through the basket, increasing UF’s lead over Arkansas to double digits and jump starting a 14-4 run to start the second half.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

KeVaughn Allen looked like old self for Florida men’s basketball team on Wednesday night

By Jake Dreilinger | Jan. 17, 2018

KeVaughn Allen stepped up to the three-point line from the right side of the court with two Razorbacks players guarding him as 32 seconds remained in the first half. He pulled up for the shot, towering over defenders as the ball sailed into the basket.

“This group responds,” coach Cameron Newbauer said. “They respond from film, they respond from just their own personal thoughts from the game. I look forward to practice each day because of that.”

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Coach Newbauer all smiles before Thursday’s matchup with Arkansas

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 17, 2018

The shift in Cameron Newbauer’s mood between Sunday’s postgame press conference and Tuesday’s practice was palpable.

KeVaughn Allen poured in a career-high 28 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field in Florida's 88-73 win over Arkansas. “Wow, did he play a great game,” coach Mike White said. “He needed it, and we needed it.”

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

KeVaughn Allen scores season-high 28 as Gators beat Arkansas on Wednesday, move back into first in SEC standings

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 17, 2018

Florida guard Chris Chiozza dashed toward the basket, zipping through a scattered Arkansas defense as he ran the length of the court on a fast break. As he entered the paint, Chiozza hit fellow guard KeVaughn Allen with a no-look, behind-the-back bounce pass. Allen hit the three-pointer from the right wing of court, increasing UF’s lead to 12 points.

New Orleans Saints third-string quarterback Taysom Hill nearly blocked a punt in Sunday's divisional round playoff game, prompting praise from Fox broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: Let’s talk about race in NFL broadcasting

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 16, 2018

In games that I have no emotional stake in, I root for chaos. And punts — both blocked and returned — provide a good chance of something ridiculous happening.

Florida men's basketball coach Mike White and the rest of the Gators are entering today's contest against Arkansas short-handed, with as many as five players expected to sit out.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Short-handed Gators face Arkansas tonight at O'Dome

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 16, 2018

The list of injuries was already long for the Florida men’s basketball team.

Former Florida defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. didn’t mince words after the Jaguars’ 45-42 playoff win over Pittsburgh on Sunday. “For everybody that was down on us, they can eat that,” he said.

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Gators in the NFL: Fowler Jr. fired up as Jags advance to AFC Championship

By Tyler Nettuno | Jan. 16, 2018

When it came to addressing the NFL community that had overlooked his team all season, former Florida and current Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. did not mince words.

Coach Bryan Shelton will watch two of his freshmen compete in the main draw on Wednesday afternoon.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators competing in main draw of Sunrise tourney

By Benjamin Brandt | Jan. 16, 2018

After a day of rain and four rounds of competitive qualifying play over the weekend, two Florida men’s tennis players will battle in the City of Sunrise Pro Tennis Classic’s main draw this morning.

Coach Roland Thorqvist watched his players struggle over the weekend in their season-opening tournament in Las Vegas. “Although our performances were too up and down, there’s no question we have the ability to improve a lot in the next few weeks," Thornqvist said.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators struggle in season-opening Freeman Memorial

By River Wells | Jan. 16, 2018

Of the four Florida women’s tennis players who competed in the Freeman Memorial in Las Vegas over the weekend, three of them were freshmen looking to make an immediate impact on the team. Overall, UF’s first-year players mostly fell flat.

“It’s tough right now,” said coach Cameron Newbauer after his team's fifth consecutive loss. “We gotta keep fighting, keep figuring out a way to get better.”

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators continuing to work through struggles in midst of five-game losing streak

By Justin Ahlum | Jan. 15, 2018

After Sunday’s loss to LSU marked Florida’s fifth straight defeat, UF women’s basketball coach Cameron Newbauer spent the opening moments of his press conference with his head down as he spoke to reporters.

Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey (63 Tackles, 4 Interceptions) leads a young and surprising Jacksonville defense into the AFC Championship Game against the Patriots on Sunday.

SPORTS | COLUMNS

Column: ‘Defense Wins Championships’ reigns true in NFL Playoffs

By Skyler Lebron | Jan. 15, 2018

One thing is for certain — it’ll be hard to match an NFL Divisional Round quite as exciting as the one we saw this past weekend.

Two of coach Bryan Shelton's three freshmen qualified for the main draw in the Sunrise Pro Tennis Classic over the weekend. Jordan Belga and Duarte Vale will play their matches later this week.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Two freshmen will represent UF in main draw of Sunrise Pro Tennis Classic

By Benjamin Brandt | Jan. 15, 2018

A successful first set of tennis placed freshman Duarte Vale just six games away from victory on Monday. But after dropping the second set and battling for a 5-5 tie in the deciding third, Vale faced elimination. He won the final two games of the match however, and secured his spot in the City of Sunrise Pro Tennis Classic’s main draw with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 upset over No. 8-seeded Filip Bergevi.

After a midseason meeting with coach Mike White, sophomore forward Keith Stone has seen his role in the Gators' offense increase. “Sometimes, just by talking and leading and being infectious and thinking about your teammates can get you going,” White said.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Stone developing into scoring threat, leader for Gators

By Jake Dreilinger | Jan. 14, 2018

After receiving the ball on an offensive rebound, Florida forward Keith Stone scored an easy layup with six seconds left in Saturday’s 78-72 loss against Ole Miss.

SEC Freshman Gymnast of the Week Jazmyn Foberg is part of a young core that will be a big part of Florida's rotation this season. “These freshmen came in ready to fight, determined and nothing is going to stand in their way,” coach Jenny Rowland said.

SPORTS | GYMNASTICS

Gators moving on from SEC-opening loss to LSU

By Alana Gomez | Jan. 14, 2018

The odds were all lined up in favor of the Florida gymnastics team. After coming off a first-meet win that featured a record-breaking 39.575 all-around score from junior Alicia Boren, the Gators were finally back at home. And for the first time ever, they were performing in front of a sold-out O’Connell Center.

Florida sophomore Johannes Ingildsen lost in the third round of the City of Sunrise Pro Tennis Classic's qualifying draw on Sunday, leaving teammates Jordan Belga, Oliver Crawford and Duarte Vale as the only Gators remaining in the event.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Three UF men’s tennis players advance to final round of qualifying draws in Sunrise Pro Tennis Classic

By Benjamin Brandt | Jan. 14, 2018

It’s not often you see college teammates competing against each other in a professional tournament. On Monday morning, however, two of Florida’s men’s tennis players will go head to head for a spot in the City of Sunrise Pro Tennis Classic’s main draw.

Haley Lorenzen matched a season high with 20 points and added 10 rebounds against LSU in a 66-59 loss on Sunday. “We let our mistakes kind of dictate what we were trying to do,” Lorenzen said.

SPORTS | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Gators continue SEC skid against LSU, fall to 0-5 in conference play

By Morgan McMullen | Jan. 14, 2018

Down by 15 with just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Florida women’s basketball team played like a group desperate for its first conference win.

Florida women's tennis coach Roland Thornqvist watched UF freshman Victoria Emma lose her semifinals match in the Freeman Memorial on Saturday in Las Vegas.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Emma falls in semifinals of Freeman Memorial Women’s Tennis Championships

By River Wells | Jan. 13, 2018

With a victory against UCLA’s Jessie Aney (6-4, 6-2) on Saturday, Florida freshman Victoria Emma punched her ticket to the semifinals of the Freeman Memorial Women’s Tennis Championships in Las Vegas. She was one step closer to her goal of winning the event’s singles tournament.

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

Gators run in early-season competition at Commodore Invitational

By Andrew Huang | Jan. 13, 2018

A week after the UF track and field program opened its season in South Carolina, the Gators left Nashville, Tennessee, with mixed results in the Commodore Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

Junior Keith Stone scored 8.8 point per game in 2017-18 and grabbed 4.3 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-8 forward said he looks to improve defensively in the upcoming season.

SPORTS | MEN'S BASKETBALL

Foul trouble, defensive issues for Florida lead to 78-72 loss to Ole Miss

By Skyler Lebron | Jan. 13, 2018

Ole Miss junior forward Bruce Stevens received a pass in the paint with under two minutes remaining in the game.

Florida women's tennis coach Roland Thornqvist watched three of his four players competing in the singles bracket of the Freeman Memorial lose on Saturday.

SPORTS | OTHER SPORTS TENNIS

Gators off to rough start as Day 1 of Freeman Memorial Women’s Tennis Championships concludes

By River Wells | Jan. 12, 2018

Freshman McCartney Kessler saw her first action as a member of the women’s tennis team on Friday, and it didn’t go the way she had hoped.