Gator Backcourt Club

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

Gators Look to Continue Momentum, Host No. 12 Ohio State Wednesday, 5:30 pm

Florida returns home to Gainesville with its modest three-game win streak and plays host to No. 12 Ohio State in Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday’s game is the first part of a Gator basketball doubleheader, with the men’s team playing host to Loyola Chicago at 8 p.m.

Gators Take on Second Ranked Opponent

  • Ohio State is the second nationally-ranked opponent Florida is playing this year.
  • The Gators first played and lost to No. 17/14 Florida State, 84-54.
  • Florida is 54-92 all-time against teams ranked No. 11-25 in the polls, with the last win coming on Feb. 4, 2016, against No. 12/11 Texas A&M (83-81) in Gainesville.

A Glance at Ohio State

  • Ohio State may feature the most veteran starting lineup Florida will play this season, as four are seniors (or redshirt seniors) and the other is a redshirt junior.

OSU’s Magnificent Mitchell

  • The Buckeyes are talented from top to bottom of their lineup, but senior guard Kelsey Mitchell is the highlight.
  • Through games played on Dec. 3, Mitchell leads the nation in scoring with 25.7 points per game.
  • She is already the NCAA DI career 3-point leader. She has made 411 three-pointers in her career (entering Wednesday’s game)
  • Two-time Big Ten Player of the Year
  • Three-time All-American
  • Mitchell enters today’s game just 8 points shy of the program’s career record
  • What makes Mitchell even more dangerous is that she has as many treys (43) as she does assists.

More Buckeyes

  • Four of the five starters average a double-figure scoring average, with the fifth at 9.3 points per game.
  • Stephanie Mavunga averages a double-double with 15.9 points and 12.2 rebounds.
  • As a team, OSU has hit 98 three-pointers, while averaging 89.5 points per game.

Gators vs. Buckeyes: The Series & More

  • Wednesday’s is the second meeting between the two programs.
  • The only other meeting was a 70-65 Gator win in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Tournament played in Bowling Green, Ohio. OSU was the No. 8 seed and UF the No. 9.
  • Both teams now feature different head coaches since that initial meeting.

“Chuck it from the Cheap Seats!”

  • The Gators are listening to Coach Cam Newbauer’s approach to shooting and has told every member of the team to “chuck it from the cheap seats!” (Coach is a HUGE movie guy and the quote is from “Hoosiers”)
  • The Gators reset the program record for threes in a game in two of their last three outings. The new standard stands at 17 after the Nov. 23 performance against Savannah State.
  • The team canned 15 three-pointers vs. Richmond (11/21/17) to first break the program record for threes in a game, which was 13 at Arkansas, Feb. 1, 2009.

Gators for THREEEEEE!

  • Entering Wednesday’s game, the Gators are averaging 10.5 three-pointers per game and converting at a 38.0 percent clip.
  • Thru games played Dec. 3, UF ranks No. 8 in the country in threes per game! (and No. 7 in total three-pointers made)
  • TEN of the 11 players on the roster have hit at least one trey this season. Only freshman guard Tameria Johnson has yet to have one fall from deep.

What Else do the Gators do well?

  • Aside from hitting the three at an SEC-leading rate, Florida doesn’t get fouled. The Gators rank No. 2 in the country in staying out of foul trouble, being whistled for just 12.6 fouls per game.
  • Through the first eight games, not one Gator has fouled out this season.

What Just Happened

  • Dyandria Anderson scored a career-high 29 points, Delicia Washington posted a double-double and presented first-year Florida head coach Cameron Newbauer with his first signature victory after a resounding 80-61 win at Oklahoma on Sunday.
  • The Gators, who did their part in representing the league at the week-long Big12-SEC Challenge, handed the Sooners their largest non-conference home loss since 2004.
  • Washington finished with 11 points and a career-best 15 rebounds. Funda Nakkasoglu posted 24 points, as she and Anderson took turns from beyond the arc with the Gator junior converting 4-of-9 from deep and 6-of-7 from the line. It was her 32nd career game scoring in the 20s.

Gator Watch

  • Through eight games, Florida is averaging a respectable 75.2 points per game.
  • Top two Gator scorers: Funda Nakkasoglu (16.3 ppg) and Dyandria Anderson (13.9 ppg)
  • Top two rebounders: Haley Lorenzen (8.9 pg) and Delicia Washington (8.9 pg)
  • Assists leaders Delicia Washington (33 total, 4.1 pg) and Dyandria Anderson (31 total, 3.9 pg)

Who’s Hot!

  • During UF’s current three-game win streak, the Gators five primary starters are each averaging a double-figure scoring effort, with Dyandria Anderson atop the chart with 16.0 points per game. Anderson is swishing three-pointers at a 53.3 percent (8-15) clip.
  • Haley Lorenzen and Delicia Washington are averaging a double-double during the three-game span, with Lorenzen recording 15.0 points and 10.0 rebounds and Washington 11.7 points and 12.0 boards.

Game Day at a Glance

  • Who: Florida (5-3) hosts #12 Ohio State (8-2)
  • Where: Exactech Arena (10,151) * Gainesville, Florida
  • When: Wed., December 6 * 5:30 pm ET
  • What: Game 1 of a Gator hoops doubleheader (men host Loyola Chicago at 8 pm)

 

 

Game Notes (PDF)

Game Coverage & More!

  • Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1FM & 850AM WRUF in Gainesville with Kyle Crooks & Kelly Davis
  • Internet Audio: link thru FloridaGators.com (FREE) – http://bit.ly/2A4VyuP
  • Television: none
  • Streaming Video: SEC Network+ with Tom Collett & Brittany Davis – http://es.pn/2nxBU4X
  • Internet Scoring: LIVE through FloridaGators.com – http://bit.ly/1YdNeuV

Women’s Game Special Promotions

Sponsored by SunTrust

  • Wear Black – Fans are encouraged to wear black as the Gators will wear black uniforms!
  • Cheat Day – Students can take a break from studying for finals and enjoy a relaxing stress relief experience filled with FREE massages, games, prizes all night and more! (Location-Practice Court)
  • Student Tailgate – Get to the game early to enjoy the student tailgate featuring FREE food from Krispy Kreme and Domino’s pizza, games and more! (Location-Practice Court)
  • T Shirt Giveaway – The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a special black T shirt! (Location-Main Atrium)
  • Dollar Day – It’s another Dollar Day as fans can purchase hot dogs for just $1. (offer valid until halftime)
  • Halftime Performance – A special halftime performance from the Little Gators Hip Hop Squad!

Gator Pronunciations for this Release:

  • DYANDRIA Anderson: dee-ANN-dree-uh
  • FUNDA NAKKASOGLU: FOON-da knock-ah-SO-glue
  • DELICIA Washington: duh-LEE-shuh

Links of Note – Gators recap Oklahoma win, previews Ohio State game

 

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