The Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team is set to take on the Florida Gators on Thursday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Lady Vols, who are currently ranked #15 in the country, are looking to bounce back from a tough loss to Georgia on Sunday.
Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper, who is in her fourth season at the helm of the Lady Vols, is confident that her team will come out strong against the Gators.
“We’re excited to get back on the court and compete against a tough Florida team,” said Harper. “We’ve been working hard in practice to address some of the issues that hurt us against Georgia, and we’re looking forward to seeing how we respond.”
The Lady Vols will be facing a Florida team that is led by senior guard Lavender Briggs. Briggs is averaging 15.5 points per game, and has been a key contributor to the Gators’ success this season.
“Florida is a talented team with a lot of depth,” said Harper. “Lavender Briggs is a great player who can score from anywhere on the court. We’ll need to be disciplined on defense and make smart decisions if we’re going to slow her down.”
Tennessee will be looking to its own stars to lead the way against the Gators. Senior forward Jordan Horston is averaging 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, and has been a dominant force in the paint all season.
“Jordan has been playing at an incredibly high level all season,” said Harper. “She’s a matchup nightmare for opposing teams, and we’ll be counting on her to have a big game against Florida.”
The Lady Vols will also be looking to junior guard Jordan Walker to provide a spark on offense. Walker is averaging 14.5 points and 4.5 assists per game, and has been a key contributor to Tennessee’s success this season.
“Jordan has been playing with a lot of confidence lately,” said Harper. “She’s a talented scorer who can get hot quickly, and we’ll be counting on her to make some big shots against Florida.”
Overall, Thursday’s matchup between Tennessee and Florida promises to be an exciting and competitive game. Both teams have a lot to play for, and will be giving it their all in an effort to come out on top.
“I’m expecting a tough, physical game against Florida,” said Harper. “We’ll need to be at our best if we’re going to come out on top. But I’m confident in our team’s ability to respond to the challenge and come out with a win.”
Prediction: Tennessee 72, Florida 65
The Lady Vols have been one of the top teams in the SEC all season, and I expect them to come out strong against the Gators. Tennessee has a significant advantage in the paint, with Jordan Horston and Tamari Key providing a dominant force on the interior. I expect the Lady Vols to use their size and strength to control the tempo of the game and come out with a win.
Florida will certainly provide a challenge, with Lavender Briggs leading the way on offense. But I expect the Lady Vols to be able to slow her down with their strong defense, and come out with a hard-fought win.
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