Senior Haley Lorenzen scored her 1,000th career point, notched her third consecutive double-double and Florida topped Delaware State, 85-51, on Wednesday at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in the team’s final non-conference game of the season.
After jumping out to a 22-10 lead in the first quarter, the Gators used a 28-9 second quarter scoring advantage to put the game away by halftime as they entered the locker room with a commanding 50-19 margin.
Lorenzen and Funda Nakkasoglu both logged 11 points during the first half when Florida (8-5) shot 52.8 percent (19-36) from the floor overall, including a 6-of-16 effort from long range. Delaware State (1-10) hit just 23.1 percent (9-39) during the first half with a 1-of-14 mark from deep.
The Lady Hornets came alive in the third quarter and outscored the Gators, 21-19, converting eight UF turnovers into seven points.
Florida returned to the long-ball for the fourth quarter, sinking 4-of-7 with Paulina Hersler, Nakkasoglu, Dyandria Anderson and Sydney Searcy each knocking down one during a one minute-45 second span early in the frame as the Gator lead swelled from 27 to 37 with 4:51 remaining.
Lorenzen led all scorers with 18 points and 12 rebounds to mark her seventh double-double this season and 11th of her career.
Hersler notched 15 points and eight rebounds, while Nakkasoglu finished with 14 points and five assists, with Anderson and Searcy both added with 11 points.
Delicia Washington had her career-long eight-game double-figure scoring streak snapped with six points on Wednesday, but did corral 12 rebounds and help Florida win the rebounding battle, 68-35.
What’s Next for the Gators
- Florida wrapped up both its non-conference schedule and its five-game homestand and will head to Auburn, Alabama, to play the Tigers on Sun., December 31 at 4 p.m. ET/3 p.m. CT.
- ESPN2 will broadcast the game live, with Paul Sunderland and Steffi Sorensen calling the action.
- The game will be the Southeastern Conference opener for both squads.
Lorenzen Joins Scoring Club
- With 4:14 remaining in the second quarter, Lorenzen knocked down a three-pointer from the top of the arc and became the 25th Gator to score 1,000 points in a career.
- She hit the milestone during her 103rd game played and was the 21st-fastest to reach the scoring plateau.
- Lorenzen finished the game with 1,011 career points.
Numbers of Note
- Florida’s 68 rebounds were the fourth-most in a game in program history and the most since collecting 70 against New Hampshire, Dec. 28, 1991.
- The Gators recorded 10 three-pointers, the sixth time for double-digit treys this season.
- Seven different Gators hit a three-pointer, paced by Searcy’s 3-for-4 effort.
Quotes from the Court – UF Head Coach Cameron Newbauer
Opening Statement
“We won and took care of business. It wasn’t the prettiest game. We would like to have more assists and less turnovers. It wasn’t quite what we scripted but, we took care of the ball and shared it. We could have made some better decisions here and there but, 10-of-29 from three we’ll take that.
“Hats off to Haley Lorenzen for getting her 1,000 point here at home. Great game for her, 18 (points) and 12 (rebounds).
“We needed to get her some more touches inside at times. H squared, Hersler and Haley going for 30 plus and a lot of rebounds as well. Any time we are getting that kind of production from them inside, it’s a good thing and no I’m not just reading the stat sheet but, I am. Now, it’s on to SEC play. We have to get better and tougher right away.â€
On Sydney Searcy’s return
“She had three threes in this game and she had three all of last year. She has done a really good job of being a good three-point shooter when her eyes and feet are set. Coming back after missing two weeks or maybe longer of practice and missing a few games, it was good for her to get back and play in this game. Happy to see her back out there and give us some production, especially those threes.â€
On feelings going into SEC play
“I feel probably the same way that every other coach in the conference feels going into SEC play, anxious because it’s such a gauntlet. Every team is just so stinking good. The best player, coaches and fans in the country. Talking road trips that is highly competitive basketball. We have players that are in completely different roles and we spent the first 13 non-conference games preparing for SEC play. Nothing can really prepare you for it and not really sure how you can prepare for Auburn being our first SEC game. They bring so much intensity and effort to the game. It’s just one of those things where you have to lace them up and stay together. Play hard for as long as you can. It’s a combination of excitement and anticipation of who we are and what we are made of.â€
On if toughness is still biggest improvement
“We talked about it tonight in the game, toughness is all-encompassing from physical toughness to emotional toughness. The biggest part of emotional toughness is staying focused one possession at a time and being able to focus on your matchup. We need you to communicate offensively what you are doing. Toughness is the word for you right now and will probably be all year.â€
Gator Player Quotes
Senior Haley Lorenzen
On scoring 1000 points at UF
“It’s quite an honor. I wouldn’t be here without my teammates now and in the past, my coaches. There are a lot of people I would like to thank that helped me get here but, I don’t like talking about myself. I would rather talk about being prepared for Auburn. It’s great to have teammates like these.â€
Junior Funda Nakkasoglu
On playing her first SEC game Dec. 31
“Playing some of the big teams in the non-conference helped us prepare and gave me a good taste of what we will face. I think that it helped me out a little. I watched from the bench last year and got some tips from that. Also, just being around my teammates and talking with them all helped me prepare. I’m excited and take it as it comes, the first game especially. I’ll watch a lot of film and get used to it through that.â€
Senior Paulina Hersler
On playing her first SEC game Dec. 31
“I’m excited as well. It has been in the back of our heads all season, the SEC season is coming. All these games have prepared us somehow. You don’t know exactly what to expect but, we have been practicing for this. We have really pushed each other and tried to make each other better
On talking with Haley about playing forward in the SEC
“I don’t know if we have. I have experience playing in other leagues and hopefully that helps. I feel like we know what to expect. It will always be a little bit of shock, the first game. We’ll just go at it.â€
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
Links of Note:
- Final Box (PDF): http://bit.ly/2CflkwM
- Video Highlights: http://bit.ly/2l8JbVc
- UF Press Conference: http://bit.ly/2E3i99w
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