KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — A surging Florida women’s basketball team visits a Tennessee squad looking to prove itself in Southeastern Conference play when the Gators and Lady Volunteers meet on New Year’s Day at Thompson-Boling Arena. The Thursday afternoon matchup opens the SEC schedule for both teams. Florida (12-3) enters with momentum, having won four of its last five games, including an 82-66 victory over Furman on Sunday. Tennessee (8-3) seeks consistency after a 24-point road loss to Louisville on Dec. 20 followed by a dominant 89-44 home win over Southern Indiana. A key matchup will feature Florida’s Me’Arah O’Neal against Tennessee’s backcourt. O’Neal, a dominant post player, is coming off a 22-point, 4-assist, 4-block performance against Furman. Over her last five games, she has averaged 13.4 points and multiple blocks, providing a critical interior presence for the Gators. Tennessee will counter with guard Nya Robertson, who scored 20 points in just 24 minutes against Southern Indiana. Robertson’s perimeter scoring will be vital for the Lady Volunteers, who have shown explosive offensive potential, as evidenced by a 112-point outing against Winthrop, but have also been held under 70 points in all three of their losses. Florida’s record is bolstered by a strong non-conference slate that included wins over Florida State and Memphis. Their three losses came by a combined 17 points. Tennessee’s resume features a notable road win at Stanford but also double-digit losses to Louisville, UCLA and NC State. The game marks the beginning of a challenging January for both squads. Florida hosts South Carolina on Jan. 4, while Tennessee hits the road for games at Auburn and Mississippi State next week. Securing an early conference victory at home is crucial for the Lady Volunteers before that stretch. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST on Thursday. The game will be televised on the SEC Network.