Gator Backcourt Club

The Official Booster Club of the University of Florida Women's Basketball Team

Williams, Christinaki Earn Preseason All-SEC Honors by Coaches

Florida’s Ronni Williams and Eleanna Christinaki were recognized by the Southeastern Conference head coaches, who today released their preseason rankings and All-SEC performers.

Williams was honored by the coaches at the end of last year as a second team member. This year, the Gator senior gets the preseason node as a First Team All-SEC performer.

Christinaki capped last season on the 2016 All-SEC Freshman Team and was thought highly enough of to be honored with 2016-17 preseason All-SEC Second Team notice.

The Gators, who tied with Kentucky last year for fourth in the final regular-season SEC standings, were picked by the league’s coaches to finish fourth again.

Williams (11.1 ppg) and Christinaki (10.4 ppg) were UF’s top two scorers from last year’s Gator team that was the highest-scoring squad (77.4 ppg) in the SEC.

2016-17 SEC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Order of Finish

  1. South Carolina
  2. Mississippi State
  3. Tennessee
  4. Florida
  5. Kentucky
  6. Auburn
  7. Missouri
  8. Texas A&M
  9. Vanderbilt
  10. Arkansas
  11. LSU
  12. Georgia
  13. Alabama
  14. Ole Miss

 

Player of the Year

A’ja Wilson, South Carolina

 

First Team All-SEC

Jessica Jackson, Arkansas

Ronni Williams, Florida

Makayla Epps, Kentucky

Victoria Vivians, Mississippi State

Sophie Cunningham, Missouri

A’ja Wilson, South Carolina

Alaina Coates, South Carolina

Diamond DeShields, Tennessee

 

Second Team All-SEC

Brandy Montgomery, Auburn

Eleanna Christinaki, Florida

Shandricka Sessom, Ole Miss

Dominique Dillingham, Mississippi State

Morgan William, Mississippi State

Mercedes Russell, Tennessee

Marqu’es Webb, Vanderbilt

When Do They Start

  • The Gators play South Alabama in their season opener on Nov. 11at Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville
  • Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. ET and is the first game of a Gator Basketball doubleheader, with the UF men’s team tipping off at 7:30 p.m.
  • TICKETS:  http://jaxevents.com/event/uf-basketball/
  • Florida will play its first 12 games on the road due to a $64.5 million renovation of the Exactech Arena at the O’Connell Center, which is slated to be completed in mid-December.
  • The Gator’s home opener is set for Dec. 28 against Southeastern Louisiana.

Gator Pronunciations:

ELEANNA CHRISTINAKI: L-ee-on-uh chris-tin-OCK-ee

 

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