sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Bridget Sloan performs on the balance beam during Florida’s win against Georgia on Jan. 24 in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Gators fall for first time in nearly a year

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Mar. 1, 2014

For the first time in 2014, the Gators tasted defeat.

Sports

McGee captures individual SEC title

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Mar. 1, 2014

Nothing on Day 2 of the Indoor Southeastern Conference Championship received more of a spotlight than Cory McGee.

Sports

Florida rebounds after tough defeat to shut down Texas A&M

By IAN COHEN | Mar. 1, 2014

Media and fans flooded into the Ring Tennis complex late Friday afternoon to watch the Gators play their first nationally televised match of the season.

Sports

Florida survives defensive miscues for top-five victory

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Feb. 28, 2014

Defensive miscues almost resulted in No. 1 Florida dropping its first game of the season to No. 4 Oregon at the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic.

Richie Martin fields a ball during Florida’s 4-0 shutout over Maryland on Feb. 14 at McKethan Stadium.

Sports

Errors cost Florida a victory despite solid pitching performance

By ADAM LICHTENSTEIN< | Feb. 27, 2014

Pitching and defense are the keys to any good ballclub.

Amanda Butler calls a play during Florida’s 68-62 loss against Georgia on Jan. 19 in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

UF tops Vandy with strong first half

By GORDON STREISAND< | Feb. 27, 2014

With a mighty No. 17 Texas A&M squad looming on the horizon, Florida needed a win at Vanderbilt to have a better chance of earning a ticket to the NCAA tournament.

Kelsey Stewart swings during Florida’s 8-0 win against Indiana on Feb. 22, 2014 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

Stewart leads Gators into tourney

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Feb. 27, 2014

Kelsey Stewart is leading Florida in more ways than one.

Belinda Woolcock swings at the ball during Florida’s 4-0 win against Louisville on Jan. 25 at the Ring Tennis Complex.

Sports

Florida hopes to rebound from Stanford loss in SEC opener

By IAN COHEN | Feb. 27, 2014

The Gators were disappointed after going scoreless against the Cardinal on Sunday, but their journey doesn’t get any easier with another top-10 squad on the schedule tonight.

Sports

Florida solidifying postseason lineup against Alabama

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Feb. 27, 2014

For the first time this season, Florida will travel to Alabama, but if the Gators continue to succeed, tonight’s outing likely will not be the last.

Kytra Hunter performs a vault routine during Florida’s 197.525-196.025 win against Arkansas on Feb. 14 in the O’Connell Center.

Sports

Hard work paying off for Hunter on vault

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Feb. 26, 2014

It may be the quickest event in a gymnastics meet, but vault is far from simple.

Taylor Gushue bats during Florida’s 4-0 win against Maryland on Feb. 14 at McKethan Stadium. Gushue leads Florida with one home run and nine RBIs through the Gators’ first eight games.

Sports

Florida kicks off three-team home tournament tonight

By ADAM PINCUS< | Feb. 26, 2014

Although Florida might not face a better starting rotation than it did against Miami, it held its own in its first road series this season — even though the team dropped the series.

Maxx Lipman swings at the ball during Florida’s 4-2 win against TCU on Jan. 26 at the Ring Tennis Complex.

Sports

Freshman clinches Florida’s indoor win over Florida State

By BRITNEE MCCOY< | Feb. 26, 2014

Despite a slow start, Florida bounced back to defeat Florida State in a 4-2 victory on Wednesday at the Perry Indoor Tennis Facility in its first home match in almost a month.

Sports

Gators sign 2015 tight end recruit

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Feb. 26, 2014

Florida’s 2015 class has rapidly expanded in the last week.

Dorian Finney-Smith (10) is fouled by Vanderbilt forward Rod Odom (0) during the Gators’ 57-54 win against the Commodores on Tuesday in Nashville, Tenn.

Sports

Finney-Smith helps Gators survive Commodores’ barrage

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Feb. 25, 2014

Scottie Wilbekin couldn’t ice the game, Michael Frazier II couldn’t break out from behind the arc and Casey Prather couldn’t score during the game’s last 32 minutes.

Cassie Peoples attempts a shot during Florida’s 81-76 loss to Missouri on Thursday in the O’Connell Center. Peoples averages 9.9 points per game.

Sports

UF aims for NCAA tourney

By GORDON STREISAND< | Feb. 25, 2014

With two games remaining in the season, the Gators hope to round back into the form that’s given them a shot at making the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012.

Olivia Janowicz returns the ball during Florida’s 4-0 win against Harvard on Jan. 26 at the Ring Tennis Complex.

Sports

Florida hopes to regain footing after blowout Stanford loss

By IAN COHEN | Feb. 25, 2014

The Gators dubbed their first loss of the season — a 4-2 upset at the hands of Northwestern, — a valuable learning experience.

Justine McLean runs toward first base during Florida’s 6-0 win against Jacksonville on Feb. 19 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. McLean leads the Gators with a .412 batting average.

Sports

Freshman on hot streak after slow start to first season

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Feb. 25, 2014

Justine McLean has found her stride.

Mary-Sean Wilcox defends a shotduring UF’s win against Cincinnati on Feb. 23 at Donald R. Dizney Stadium.

Sports

Defense improving in front of skilled UF goalkeeper duo

By EDEN OTERO | Feb. 25, 2014

After graduating 13 seniors in 2013, the No. 5 Gators (4-1) are quickly working to strengthen their depleted defense.

Sports

Florida finishes third at Sugar Bowl Intercollegiate Championship

By EMILY COCHRANE< | Feb. 25, 2014

The Gators left New Orleans with their best finish of the 2013-14 season.

Sports

Gators look to final meet before NCAA Championships

By Logan McGuire | Feb. 25, 2014

The Southeastern Conference Championships are over for Florida’s swimming and diving teams. Now, the focus shifts solely to the national championship meet set to begin on March 27 in Austin, Texas.