Gator Backcourt Club

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

Gators Host #15 Tennessee in Home Finale

Florida plays host to No. 15 Tennessee on Thursday in the team’s final home game of the season. Tip-off from Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Florida has at least 12 games set to be televised this season, however, Thursday’s game is not one of those. Fans can tune in online: SEC Network + will provide live streaming video thru the WatchESPN app.

So You’re Saying There’s a Chance…

  • Mathematically, Florida could be as high as the No. 10 seed for the SEC Tournament and earn a first-round bye for the five-day, single-elimination event.
  • For the Gators to capture a first-round bye, they would have to win their final two games (vs. Tennessee and at Georgia) AND Auburn would have to lose to Mississippi State and at home to Ole Miss.

Check this Regular-Season-Ending Stretch!

  • The Gators are nearing the end of a nine-game stretch against eight teams currently ranked in the top-25.
  • The run takes Florida through the end of the regular season.

Ranked Run of Six

  • During a six-game stretch late in the season, Florida play six consecutive games against ranked opponents and the Gators were impressive during the run despite not landing a win.
  • FOUR of the games were on the road.
  • FOUR of the games were decided by single digits.

Gators vs. Lady Vols: The Series

  • 54-Game Series: UF trails 4-50 (UF Home: 2-20; Away: 2-22; Neutral: 0-8)
  • Streak: Tennessee has won the last two meetings against Florida, as well as 13 of the last 14 match-ups.
  • Good Ones: Each of the last four games in the series, as well as six of the last seven, has been decided by single digits.

Florida vs. Ranked Teams

  • Florida has lost its last 14 games against nationally ranked teams, including EIGHT this season:
  • Florida State, Ohio State, Mississippi State, Georgia, at Missouri, vs. Mississippi State, at South Carolina and at Texas A&M.

That’s a Lot!

  • With Florida’s final two regular-season opponents – No. 15 Tennessee and No. 19 Georgia – both ranked in the current top-25, the Gators will enter the SEC Tournament having played 11 games against ranked opponents, which ties the program record for the second-most number of games against ranked teams.
  • The 1996-97 team played 11 games versus ranked foes before the SEC Tournament, ending the year with 16 dates against ranked foes.
  • The 1999-2000 Gator squad played 10 games against ranked teams before the start of the league tournament and finished with 11 games total.

Close Ones

  • Overall this season, the Gators have played 14 games – including nine in the SEC – decided by 10 points or less (4-10 record overall, 1-8 SEC).

Gator Watch

  • Top two Gator scorers: Funda Nakkasoglu (15.4 ppg) and Haley Lorenzen (12.9 ppg)
  • Top two rebounders: Haley Lorenzen (9.0 pg) and Delicia Washington (8.7 pg)
  • Assists leaders: Delicia Washington (100 total, 3.7 pg) and Dyandria Anderson (82 total, 3.0 pg)

Who’s Hot!

  • During the last FOUR games, Funda Nakkasoglu is averaging 21.8 points, connecting on 20-of-35 three-pointers for a whopping 57.1 percent!

As a Team, What’s Hot and What’s Not

  • HOT: Hitting the long ball! Over the last two games, the Gators have connected on 42.4 percent (25-59) of their free throws.
  • NOT: Florida has dropped eight games this season to top-20-ranked opponents.

Washington Dishes Century Mark!

  • With her eighth assist during the win against Vanderbilt (feb. 18), sophomore Delicia Washington logged the 100th assist of the season.
  • This is the 24th time in program history at Gator has dished the century mark during a season.
  • Washington recorded 51 assists in 31 games her freshman year.

Gators for THREEEEEE!

  • Entering Thursday’s game, the Gators are averaging 8.9 three-pointers per game and converting at a 32.2 percent clip.
  • Florida has converted double-digit threes in 11 games this year, most recently 12 against Vanderbilt (Feb. 18).

What Else do the Gators do well?

  • Aside from hitting the three at an SEC-leading rate:
  • Florida DOES NOT FOUL: The Gators rank No. 5 in the country in staying out of foul trouble, being whistled for just 12.6 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!
  • REBOUND: Florida has lost the rebounding battle just five times in 14 SEC games. The Gators rank No. 3 in SEC Games for defensive rebounds.
  • Individually, Haley Lorenzen (No. 7), Delicia Washington (No. 6) and Paulina Hersler (No. 12) each rank among the SEC’s top-15 for rebounds per game.

What Just Happened

  • Florida’s three seniors scored the Gators’ first nine points en route to combining for 50 of the team’s total output in an 88-71 win against Vanderbilt.
  • The win snapped UF’s six-game losing streak, all of which came against ranked teams.
  • Funda Nakkasoglu took game scoring honors with 25 points, knocking down 7-of-13 as Florida hit 12-of-30 overall – the team’s 11th game this season with double-digit treys.
  • The Gators used a 9-0 run to take a 30-17 lead with 7:30 remaining in the first half. The teams went back and forth and the Gators took a 43-30 halftime lead.
  • Nakkasoglu opened the third with a three, before Vanderbilt used a 6-2 spurt and cut UF’s lead to 10, 48-38.
  • Florida responded with a Hersler’s three-point-play, followed immediately by Anderson’s three-pointer, Nakkasoglu’s three-pointer and Lorenzen’s layup from for a 59-38 cushion with 5:16 on the clock.
  • Erin Whalen halted the 11-0 Gator run with a three for the Dores, before Nakkasoglu struck again from deep and Lorenzen followed with a pair of free throws and Florida’s lead reach 23 points, 64-41, with 3:27 left in the third.

Links to the Game Preview Interviews:

 

Game Day at a Glance

  • Who: Florida (11-16, 3-11 SEC) vs. Tennessee (21-6, 9-6 SEC)
  • Where: Exactech Arena (10,151) * Gainesville, Florida
  • When: Thu., February 22 * 7 p.m. ET

 

Game Notes (PDF):

 

Gator Game Coverage & More!

  • Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1FM / 850AM WRUF and WFXJ-AM930 (Jacksonville) with Tom Collett & Kelly Davis
  • Internet Audio: link thru FloridaGators.com (FREE)

o   http://bit.ly/2E1K3TF

  • Internet Scoring: LIVE thru FloridaGators.com

o   http://bit.ly/1YdNeuV

  • Television: none
  • Streaming Video: SEC Network + (WatchESPN app) with Kyle Crooks & Brittany Davis

o   http://es.pn/2EuvlrB

  • Television: none
  • TICKET PROMOTIONS:

o   FREE Admission will be offered to all UF Health employees who present their UF Health ID upon entry;

o   Adults, General Admission – $1; Kids age 12 & Under, UF Students – FREE

 

Game Day Promotions

 

Opening Tip

  • Thursday’s game is the final one at home for the Gators and the second-to-last game of the regular season.
  • Tennessee is UF’s seventh ranked opponent in its last eight games.
  • The Gators have played 14 games decided by 10 points or less (4-10 record overall, 1-8 in SEC games).
  • The Gators’ 237 three-pointers are the most in a season in program history. UF set the record in its 26th game, passing the 221 threes set by the 2008-09 squad in 32 games.

Gator Pronunciations for this Release:

  • DYANDRIA Anderson: dee-ANN-dree-uh
  • MIKAYLA Hayes: mih-KAY-la
  • FUNDA NAKKASOGLU: FOON-da knock-a-SO-glue
  • DELICIA Washington: duh-LEE-shuh

 

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