Florida returns to action on Wednesday after taking a short break for the holiday and plays host to Delaware State beginning at 2 p.m. PLEASE NOTE THE EARLY WEEKDAY START TIME!
The Gators last played six days ago, defeating Saint Joseph’s, 71-51.
Wednesday’s game is the team’s final non-league outing of the season before turning its attention squarely to Southeastern Conference foes.
The game will mark Florida’s final outing of a five-game homestand.
Gators vs. Lady Hornets: The Series
·UF leads DSU, 1-0, in the all-time series.
·The last meeting between the two teams was on Dec. 6, 2004, when the Gators got the best of the Hornets, 71-47.
Quick Glance at the Hornets:
·Injuries are the early story for Delaware State, with the most notable a knee injury to junior forward NaJai Pollard, who was selected as the 2017-18 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Player of the Year.
Gators for THREEEEEE!
·Entering Wednesday’s game, the Gators are averaging 9.8 three-pointers per game and converting at a 34.9 percent clip.
·Thru games played Dec. 23, UF ranks No. 13 in the country in threes per game; and No. 12 in total three-pointers made
·TEN of the 11 players on the scholarship roster have hit at least one trey this season.
What Else do the Gators do well?
·Aside from hitting the three at an SEC-leading rate, Florida does not get fouled. The Gators rank No. 2 in the country in staying out of foul trouble, being whistled for just 12.3 fouls per game.
·Through the first 12 games, not one Gator has fouled out this season.
What Just Happened
·Haley Lorenzen posted her second double-double in as many days and helped lead Florida to a 71-51 win against Saint Joseph’s.
·Lorenzen, who was named to the Gator Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team, finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
·All five starters recorded a double-figure scoring effort against Saint Joseph’s, with Paulina Hersler logging a game and career-high 19 points along with eight rebounds.
·It was a five-point game with just under eight minutes remaining in the third quarter before Florida staged a 15-4 run over a 4:47 span and the Gators jumped out to a 49-33 lead with 3:04 left in the third.
·Delicia Washington sparked the run and Hersler followed with a three, as Dyandria Anderson and Funda Nakkasoglu both added treys of their own for a 14-point swell. After a bucket from the Hawks, Lorenzen converted back-to-back inside buckets with feeds from Elif Portakal and Nakkasoglu.
·Florida maintained a double-figure lead for the remainder of the game, using a 18-4 march early in the fourth quarter to put the game away, as the Gator lead grew to as many as 24 points.
Gator Watch
·Through 12 games, Florida is averaging a respectable 73.7 points per game, with all five starters averaging double-figure scoring.
·Top two Gator scorers: Funda Nakkasoglu (16.2 ppg) and Haley Lorenzen (12.3 ppg)
·Top two rebounders: Haley Lorenzen (9.4 pg) and Delicia Washington (8.6 pg)
·Assists leaders Delicia Washington (44 total, 3.7 pg) and Dyandria Anderson 41 total, 3.4 pg)
Who’s Hot!
·During the last three games, five Gators are each averaging a double-figure scoring effort, with Funda Nakkasoglu atop the chart with 16.0 points per game.
·Haley Lorenzen is averaging a double-double during the three-game span, recording 10.7 points and 10.3 rebounds.
Game Day at a Glance
·Who: Florida (7-5) hosts Delaware State (1-9)
·Where: Exactech Arena (10,151) * Gainesville, Florida
·When: Wed., December 27 * 2 pm ET
Game Notes (PDF)
·Florida – http://bit.ly/2CbY6rm
·Delaware State – dsuhornets.com
Gator Game Coverage & More!
·Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1FM & 850AM WRUF with Kyle Crooks & Brittany Davis
·Internet Audio: link thru FloridaGators.com (FREE)
·Television: none
·Streaming Video: SEC Network + (WatchESPN)
·Internet Scoring: LIVE through FloridaGators.com
·Gates Open: 1 pm
Additional Hoopla for Wednesday – Sponsored by K Country
·Holiday Joy – Fans will be filled with holiday spirit as the Exactech Arena turns into a winter wonderland!
·$1 Day – All general admission tickets are $1. Popcorn is available for just $1, as well.
·Kids Club – Kids Club members and their families receive FREE admission to the game
Gator Pronunciations for this Release:
·DYANDRIA Anderson: dee-ANN-dree-uh
·FUNDA NAKKASOGLU: FOON-da knock-a-SO-glue
·ELIF PORTAKAL: ee-LEAF POOR-ta-call
·Sydney SEARCY: SIR-see
·DELICIA Washington: duh-LEE-shuh
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