sports - The Independent Florida Alligator

Antoinette Bannister drives toward the net during Florida’s 75-67 win against Alabama on Thursday in the O’Connell Center. Bannister scored 18 points — a career high — while shooting better than 50 percent from the field against Ole Miss on Sunday.

Sports

Gators overcome rebounding drought, cruise past Rebels

By GORDON STREISAND< | Feb. 2, 2014

Successful rebounding was ubiquitous in Florida’s 81-60 win at Ole Miss on Sunday.

Lauren Haeger swings at a pitch during Florida’s 11-1 win against USF on May 18, 2013, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

Junior pitcher provides Gators with power in circle, at plate

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Feb. 2, 2014

It is rare to find a pitcher who can hit the ball out of the park when she steps up to the plate.

Sports

Brewer sets top triple-jump mark

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Feb. 1, 2014

Records are meant to be broken. And that is what Ciarra Brewer did on the final day of the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., on Saturday.

Sports

UF wins 23rd straight

By Logan McGuire | Feb. 1, 2014

After Saturday’s 179-121 win on the road over No. 18 Tennessee, the No. 2 Florida’s men’s swimming and diving team (8-0, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) extended its dual meet win streak to 23 — a stretch that spans the past three regular seasons.

Sports

Gators notch fourth-straight sweep against ranked Bears

By IAN COHEN | Feb. 1, 2014

A change in venue could not disrupt the Gators’ hot streak.

Sports

Key injury leads to Florida's first loss of the season

By BRITNEE MCCOY< | Feb. 1, 2014

Spencer Newman fought hard to help keep his team alive in doubles, but he couldn’t escape a match-changing ankle roll in singles that led to the Gators losing for the first time this season.

Patric Young drives into the paint against Texas A&M on Saturday. Young’s career-high 14 rebounds helped Florida win its 13th straight Southeastern Conference home game. Young fell short of a double-double, notching nine points against the Aggies.

Sports

Young leads UF to blowout win against TAMU

By LANDON WATNICK< | Feb. 1, 2014

On the afternoon of his 22nd birthday Saturday, Patric Young blew out Texas A&M’s candles.

Will Muschamp speaks at a press conference in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Jan. 13. UF hosted Friday Night Lights on Friday for its top prospects.

Sports

Prospects visit Florida campus

By MORGAN MORIARTY | Feb. 1, 2014

With National Signing Day just two days away, this weekend is a busy one for UF’s 2014 and 2015 recruiting classes.

Kytra Hunter performs a floor routine on Friday in the O’Connell Center. Hunter scored a perfect 10 on the floor exercise for the second straight meet — the first consecutive 10s in program history.

Sports

Junior notches second straight 10 on floor

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Feb. 1, 2014

Lightning usually does not strike the same place twice, but for Kytra Hunter, perfection did.

Sports

Gators off to record-breaking start in Razorback Invitational

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Feb. 1, 2014

Back in action with a record-breaking debut, Marquis Dendy jumped to success.

Patric Young (4) looks for an opening while Mississippi State’s Colin Borchert defends during UF’s 62-51 win in Starkville, Miss., Thursday.

Sports

UF grinds out ugly win against MSU

By JONATHAN CZUPRYN< | Jan. 30, 2014

The Gators were battered bloodied Thursday night in Starkville, Miss., but coach Billy Donovan and company escaped with their 12th straight win despite an ugly first half, defeating Mississippi State 62-51.

Lily Svete drives toward the net during Florida’s 75-67 win against Alabama on Thursday in the O’Connell Center. Svete scored 14 points against the Crimson Tide.

Sports

Strong shooting gives Gators edge over Crimson Tide

By GORDON STREISAND< | Jan. 30, 2014

The Gators stopped the Crimson Tide from extending its winning streak to three while making threes of their own.

Josh Tobias dives back to first base to avoid being picked off during Florida’s 8-3 loss against Florida Gulf Coast on Feb. 23, 2013. Tobias suffered a broken toe last year but is healthy to start the 2014 season.

Sports

Health playing major role for Florida infield starters entering 2014

By ADAM PINCUS< | Jan. 30, 2014

The sun stayed home on Thursday. A brisk sub-40 temperature combined with the occasional raindrop made for a dreary day of baseball at McKethan Stadium.

Hannah Rogers pitches during Florida’s 4-2 win against Mississippi State on April 6, 2013. Rogers led the Gators in wins and strikeouts in the 2013 season, in which UF went to the Women’s College World Series.

Sports

Rogers aiming to propel Florida back to postseason

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Jan. 30, 2014

With the longest season of her career behind her, Hannah Rogers is ready to return to the pitching circle.

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

Gators facing Sooners for first time since NCAA Super Six

By ERICA A. HERNANDEZ | Jan. 30, 2014

The last time Florida (3-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) competed against Oklahoma (3-0, 1-0 Big 12), UF won its first NCAA title at 197.575, and OU was a close runner-up at 197.375.

Marquis Dendy competes at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Track Championships on Feb. 23, 2013, in Fayetteville, Ark. Dendy won the long jump on Day 2 of the NCAA Outdoors Championships on Thursday in Eugene, Ore.

Sports

Jumper leading UF back to Arkansas

By LAWRENCE LAGUNA< | Jan. 30, 2014

The last time Florida visited the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark., was during the 2013 Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships.

Sports

Winning streak on line against Baylor

By IAN COHEN | Jan. 30, 2014

No. 2 Florida and No. 19 Baylor will meet on Saturday in similar situations.

Sports

Florida prepares for last dual meet of season

By Logan McGuire | Jan. 30, 2014

With one dual meet remaining on the schedule for Florida’s swimming and diving teams, UF will travel to Knoxville, Tenn., to take on Tennessee on Saturday at 10 a.m.

Olivia Janowicz hits the ball during Florida’s 4-0 win against Harvard on Sunday at the Ring Tennis Complex. Janowicz won her first match on the No. 1 court on Wednesday, defeating UCF’s Josephine Haraldson in straight sets.

Sports

Senior leads UF to home sweep against UCF

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Jan. 29, 2014

After a tough outing on the No. 1 court against Harvard on Sunday, Olivia Janowicz proved she is worthy of the top spot on Wednesday.

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

Sports

Gators look to win rebounding battle against evenly matched Tide

By GORDON STREISAND< | Jan. 29, 2014

The surging Crimson Tide is rolling into the O’Connell Center tonight.