Gator Backcourt Club

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

Gators Aim to Reverse Trend Thursday at Arkansas

Florida travels the 1,036 miles to Fayetteville, where the Gators play Arkansas on Thursday. Tip-off from Bud Walton Arena is set for 7:02 p.m. ET/6:02 p.m. CT.

The Gators are in search of their first SEC win this season and face a Razorback club that is 8-1 at home with its lone loss coming against Alabama, 83-76, on Jan. 7.

Arkansas’ last game was a 68-58 road win at Auburn, where Florida lost its league debut, 84-55.

 

Hi Mom!

  • Today’s game is the Gator’s second of six consecutive games televised by SEC Network.
  • Courtney Lyle and Tamika Catchings will be calling the action tonight.
  • Florida has at least 13 games set for television this season.

 

So Close!

  • The Gators have lost five straight games, including each of the last four by single digits. In that fifth game, Florida actually held a 15-point first-half lead.
  • Overall this season, the Gators have played nine games decided by 10 points or less (3-6 record overall, 0-4 SEC)

 

Gators vs. Razorbacks: The Series

  • 34-Game Series: UF leads 25-9 (UF Home: 11-3; Away: 10-5; Neutral: 4-1)
  • Streak: Florida has won four straight games against Arkansas, including both of last year’s meetings, with one of those in the first round of the SEC Tournament.
  • Extended Streak: Two of the last three meetings in Fayetteville have gone to overtime, with both teams winning one of the extra period games

 

“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 twice already. 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.
  • Four of the top five single-game records for threes have come under Cam.

 

Gators for THREEEEEE!

  • Entering Thursday’s game, the Gators are averaging 9.4 three-pointers per game and converting at a 33.0 percent clip.
  • Thru games played Jan. 11, UF ranks tied-No. 14 in the country in threes per game; and No. 11 in total three-pointers made (169).
  • Florida has converted double-digit threes in NINE games this year, most recently 10 vs. Kentucky (Jan. 11).
  • It took just six games for TEN of the 11 players on the scholarship roster to hit at least one trey this season.

 

What Else do the Gators do well?

  • Aside from hitting the three at an SEC-leading rate (all games), Florida does not get fouled. The Gators rank No. 4 in the country in staying out of foul trouble, being whistled for just 12.9 fouls per game.
  • It wasn’t until Florida’s 16th game of the season that a Gator (Delicia Washington) fouled out – and that didn’t happen until there was 2:45 remaining in the second-overtime period at Ole Miss!
  • Washington became the first Gator to foul out during regulation, doing so in UF’s 18th game of the year (vs. LSU) with 20.8 seconds remaining and the Gators in a must-foul situation.

 

What Just Happened

  • Haley Lorenzen and Delicia Washington both recorded double-doubles and Florida was involved in its fourth consecutive game decided by single digits, however, the Gators were unable to overcome a rough third quarter in a 66-59 loss to LSU.
  • Florida outscored LSU in three of the four quarters. It was that third quarter that became the Gator’s undoing, as the Tigers posted a 21-9 scoring advantage that proved to be the difference in the game.
  • During that third quarter, LSU outrebounded Florida 15-6, grabbing four on the offensive end. The Gators committed four turnovers that resulted in seven Tiger points, as the Gators hit just 23.1 percent (3-13) from floor, including a 1-7 effort from the three-point arc, while LSU shot 50 percent overall and 3-6 from deep.

 

Gator Watch

  • Through 18 games, Florida is averaging 70.3 points per game, with all five starters averaging double-figure scoring.
  • Top two Gator scorers: Funda Nakkasoglu (14.9 ppg) and Haley Lorenzen (12.6 ppg)
  • Top two rebounders: Haley Lorenzen (9.3 pg) and Delicia Washington (8.9 pg)
  • Assists leaders: Delicia Washington (64 total, 3.6 pg) and Dyandria Anderson (58 total, 3.2 pg)

 

Who’s Hot!

  • During the last three games, it’s been Florida’s frontcourt that has led the team offensively, with Haley Lorenzen atop the chart with 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
  • Fellow forward Paulina Hersler is averaging 13.7 points and 7.7 rebounds during the last three games.
  • Sophomore Delicia Washington continues to show her diversity on the court and is UF’s leading rebounder during the last three games, collecting 10.7 per game along with a team-best 14 assists (4.7 pg).

 

Links to Tuesday’s Media Interviews:

 

Game Day at a Glance

  • Who: Florida (8-10, 0-5 SEC) at Arkansas (11-7, 2-3 SEC)
  • Where: Bud Walton Arena (19,200), Fayetteville, Arkansas
  • When: Thu., January 18 * 7 pm ET/6 pm CT

 

Game Notes (PDF):

 

Gator Game Coverage & More!

  • Television: SEC Network with Courtney Lyle & Tamika Catchings

o   http://www.getsecnetwork.com/

  • Streaming Video: WatchESPN app

o   http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3245167/arkansas-vs-florida

  • Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1FM & 850AM WRUF with Kyle Crooks & Brittany Davis
  • Internet Audio: link thru FloridaGators.com (FREE)

o   http://floridagators.com/showcase?Live=952

  • Internet Scoring: LIVE thru FloridaGators.com

o   http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=185268

 

Opening Tip

  • Each of Florida’s last four games has been decided by single digits and in each of them, the Gators have held the lead.
  • Florida is still seeking its first SEC win of the season despite having held a lead all five games.
  • Florida and Arkansas feature the SEC’s two head coaching newcomers, with Cameron Newbauer and Mike Neighbors hired during the off season.
  • The Gators lead the SEC (SEC games only) in 3-pointers made per game (8.4) and are No. 2 in 3-point FG percentage defense (28.3%)
  • Gator junior Funda Nakkasoglu ranks No. 2 in the SEC (SEC games only) for 3-pointers made per game (3.0 pg).

 

Gator Pronunciations for this Release:

  • DYANDRIA Anderson: dee-ANN-dree-uh
  • Sydney SEARCY: SIR-see
  • Gabby SEILER: SIGH-ler
  • DELICIA Washington: duh-LEE-shuh

 

FOLLOW THE GATORS
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #WeChomp