Gator Backcourt Club

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

Senior Day Victory Over Vanderbilt

Dyandria Anderson, Paulina Hersler and Haley Lorenzen guided the Gators to an 88-71 victory on Senior Day against Vanderbilt at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Sunday afternoon.

The senior trio, along with injured Gabby Seilers, was recognized in a pregame ceremony and then went to work on the court, scoring Florida’s first nine points en route to combining for 50 of the Gators’ total offensive output. Lorenzen finished with 18 points and Hersler and Anderson both with 16.

Junior Funda Nakkasoglu took game scoring honors with 25 points, as she continued her torrid pace from beyond the arc, knocking down 7-of-13 as Florida hit 12-of-30 overall – the team’s 11th game this season with double-digit treys.

Sophomore guard Delicia Washington, who didn’t even know if she was going to play until less than an hour before tip-off after an ankle injury during Thursday’s game at Texas A&M, flirted with a triple-double, recording nine points, nine rebounds and eight assists in 25 minutes of action.

 

How it Happened

With Florida holding a four-point lead early in the second quarter, the Gators used a 9-0 run with six straight points from Lorenzen and a three from Hersler to take a 30-17 lead with 7:30 remaining in the first half.

The teams went back and forth for the rest of the quarter, as the Gators took a 43-30 halftime lead.

Nakkasoglu opened the third with a three, before Vanderbilt (6-22, 2-12 SEC) 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.

Florida (11-16, 3-11 SEC) led by as many as 26 points with 6:47 remaining in the game, as the Gators snapped a six-game slide, all of which came during a six-game run against nationally-ranked opponents.

Rachel Bell came off the bench to lead Vanderbilt with 22 points.

Numbers of Note

  • The 88 points were Florida’s most in an SEC game this season and second-most overall.
  • Florida shot 50.8 percent (33-65) from the floor, its second straight game converting at least half its shots.
  • Florida outrebounded Vanderbilt, 48-29, tied for its largest margin in an SEC game this year.
  • The Gators dished 20 assists, their second consecutive game with at least 20.
  • UF’s 12 three-pointers marked the 11th game this year with double-digit threes.

What’s Next for the Gators

  • Florida returns to its run versus ranked foes, next playing host to No. 11 Tennessee on Thursday at 7 p.m.
  • The game will be the Gators’ final home outing of the season and their second-to-last regular season game before the SEC Tournament.

Individual Numbers of Note

  • Lorenzen recorded 18 points with a game-high 11 rebounds for her 12th double-double this year and 16th of her career.
  • Anderson scored the 700th point and collected the 400th rebound of her career during the game
  • Hersler scored the 550th point of her during the game
  • Washington collected the 400th rebound and 150th assist of her career during the game
  • Nakkasoglu posted her sixth 20-point game of the season and the 36th of her career

 

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:

 

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