Gators Host Warner Southern in Exhibition Game on Thursday
Wednesday, October 31, 2007 | Women's Basketball
The University of Florida women's basketball team plays host to Warner Southern College on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the team's lone exhibition game before launching its regular season and the Amanda Butler Era on November 9th against Xavier.
The 2007-08 Gators return seven letterwinners from last year's roster, including their top three scorers and three of their top four rebounders. Six newcomers complete the 13-player roster that comprises Butler's inaugural season as the Gator's head coach.
Warner Southern also enters the 2007-08 season with a new head coach. Rick Brewer is in his first collegiate position, having spent the previous 17 years as a high school head coach. The Royals, who are an NAIA Division II program, posted a 10-18 overall record last season.
Depree Bowden (5-foot-11, Guard/Forward), is the lone senior on the 2007-08 Gator team and has embraced her leadership role. Bowden more than doubled - in some cases tripled - every offensive career category she had established entering the 2006-07 season, capping her junior season with averages of 12.8 points and 6.9 rebounds while seeing 30.8 minutes of court time.
Junior Marshae Dotson (5-foot-11, Forward) rose to the challenges of being a first-year starter in 2006-07. Dotson gained recognition as a second-team All-SEC performer after contributing 14.4 points along with a team-leading 7.6 rebounds per game. In the final five games of 2006-07, Dotson stepped up her game even more, averaging 20 points and nine rebounds, while shooting 60.9 percent (38-64) from the floor during that span, despite being the Gators' tallest starting post player at 5-foot-11.
Junior Sha Brooks (5-foot-7, Guard) was UF's leading scorer last season, contributing 15.4 points while playing a team-high 32.9 minutes per game. Brooks, who was a Second-Team All-SEC honoree her freshman year, managed these numbers in spite of playing a different position and enduring injuries that plagued her from January through the end of the season.
Brooks, Dotson and Bowden shouldered the offensive load for the Gators last season, but with a new coaching staff in place, Butler insists everyone begins the season with a clean slate. Her goal is to find five players who gel and will compliment each other every time they step onto the court.
That goal and a new era in Gator Basketball takes its first step on Thursday in an exhibition game, as the team makes its final preparations before launching the 2007-08 regular season on Friday, November 9th.
Game Day Information
What: Exh. Gm 1 (first game of a DOUBLEHEADER, men tip 8 p.m.)
When: Thursday, November 1, 2007 * 5:30 p.m. ET
Where: Gainesville, Fla. * Stephen C. O'Connell Center (12,000)
Radio: none for exhibition - all regular-season games air LIVE on WRUF AM850 in Gainesville - audio simulcast on Cox Channel 96 with Steve Babik & Steve Russell
Internet Audio: none - audio for all regular-season games is LIVE thru GatorZone.com (FREE of charge)
GatorVision Online: none
Television: none
Post-Game Satellite Feed: none
Tickets (doubleheaders): all fans MUST have a ticket to the men's game for admission to the women's game (or be a women's season-ticket holder AND and be a member of the BackCourt Club)
Men's Tickets/Doubleheaders: Reserved Seating - $18; General Admission - $10; UF Students are FREE
Fan Information for Home Doubleheaders
The Gator men's & women's basketball teams play host to FIVE doubleheaders during the 2007-08 season: November 1, 9, 20, 23 and January 2.
Ticket Information
(Most notably how it relates to the five DOUBLEHEADERS on the 2007-08 schedule)
Women's Season Passes
Adult Season Pass $25
Child/Senior Season Pass $10
Family Pack (2 adult, 2 youth) $40
Gator Gold Card $60
Women's Basketball, Volleyball & Gymnastics
Individual Game Tickets - Non-Doubleheader Women's Games
Game Reserved Seating $5
General Admission Adult $4
General Admission Child/Senior $2
The Gator Gold Card and Basketball Season Pass are not valid for the five doubleheader games scheduled with the men's basketball team (Nov. 1, Nov. 9, Nov. 20, Nov. 23 and Jan. 2). For admission to those games, a men's ticket must be purchased ($18 Reserved Seating & $10 General Admission).
However, individuals who possess a Women's Season Pass (or Gator Gold Card) AND are a member of the BackCourt Club (the women's basketball booster club, $25 for Individual, $40 for Family, $7 for Student) receive a general admission ticket to each of the five doubleheaders as part of their dual membership.
Purchasing Tickets
Tickets are available by calling the Gator Ticket Office at 800-34-Gator, ext 6800, or by visiting the main office located inside Ben Hill Griffin Football Stadium.
On game day, the O'Connell Center Ticket Office Window (located at Gate 1) opens for sales 90 minutes prior to tip-off, with doors open for fan entrance one hour prior to the start of each game.
Parking
Fans attending Florida basketball doubleheaders this season (November 1, 9, 20, 23 and January 2) are encouraged to use the Fast Break Shuttle service that begins at 4 p.m. from the commuter lot by Transportation and Parking on Gale Lemerand Drive.
Fans also can park free of charge beginning at 4 p.m. at the North End of James G. Pressly Stadium.
The garage in the O'Connell Center parking lot closes at 4:30 p.m. for pass-holders, but is FREE and open to all between 3:30-4:30 p.m.
For non-doubleheaders, parking for women's games is FREE and ample in the O'Connell Center entire parking lot and the garage.
GO GATORS!
