Head Coach Amanda Butler, her coaching staff and members of the team gathered with family members, friends and fans of the program on Sunday in the Gator Room located inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and celebrated the successes of the 2015-16 season.
Assistant coach Bill Ferrara served as the colorful emcee of the banquet, where several individual awards were presented and individuals recognized.
“I am grateful for all of the different relationships that are represented here because that is something we feel is the foundation of our program,†Butler shared with everyone. “Ultimately, our success is the people and the connections that exist between those people.â€
Humbled by receiving the 2016 WBCA Region 2 Coach of the Year and a finalist for the National Coach of the Year award, Butler deflected the honor onto her staff when she introduced and thanked them, calling the group, “a great tidal wave of positivity.â€
2015-16 Postseason Awards
- The Charge Award (player who records the most during the season): Carlie Needles
- The Dish Awards (player who records the most assists): Eleanna Christinaki
- Most Improved Player: Dyandria Anderson and Tyshara Fleming
- Brickhouse (Practice): Ronni Williams
- Brickhouse (Team): Ronni Williams
- Academic Achievement: Elenna Christinaki
- Miss Elliott Unsung Hero Award: Haley Lorenzen
- Power of Touch (Practice): Ronni Williams
- Power of Touch (Game): Carlie Needles
- Most Valuable Player: Ronni Williams
SEC Awards
- SEC Community Service Award: Brooke Copeland
- All-SEC Freshman Team: Eleanna Christinaki
- All-SEC Second Team: Ronni Williams
- All-SEC Defensive Team: Simone Westbrook
Some of the handful of highlights from UF’s 2015-16 season include:
- Final overall record: 22-9
- Tied for fourth in the final Southeastern Conference standings after being selected during the preseason to finish 12th in the 14-team league (10-4 SEC record)
- Earned the 15th NCAA Tournament berth in program history
- UF was awarded a No. 5 seed in the NCAAs, its highest since 2004 (No. 5)
- UF led the SEC in scoring offense for the first time in program history and ranked No. 16 nationally (as of March 22), one year after being ranked No. 222 in the country and No. 9 in the SEC.
- Gators ranked No. 10 nationally in offensive rebounds per game, one year removed from not appearing in the top-30 in the country.
- Team won 9 more games than it had the previous season, the second-best one-year turnaround in program history
- Posted 15th 20-win season in program history; sixth under Butler
- Compiled 20 wins prior to the SEC Tournament for the first time since the 2008-09 season
- Team compiled 22 wins, the most since the 2012-13 season (22 wins)
- Florida achieved its highest national ranking in the polls (No. 16, Feb. 9 AP poll) since Feb. 16, 2009.
- The 2015-16 Gators joined the 1996-97 and 2000-01 teams as the only clubs in program history to defeat four top-15 opponents in a season.
- Compiled the second-longest winning streak in program history (12 games)
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