Florida Hosts State Farm Classic on Monday and Tuesday
Sunday, December 28, 2008 | Women's Basketball
The University of Florida women's basketball team returns to action Monday, playing host to the State Farm Classic in the O'Connell Center.
The 18th edition of Florida's annual home tournament features 2008 Mid-American Conference champion Miami (Ohio), 2008 America East Conference runner-up and 2009 pre-season favorite Vermont and Towson, a team that won 21 games in 2008 and enters the SFC with a 7-1 record.
The Gators meet Vermont in the opening round at 7:30 p.m., after Miami (Ohio) and Towson tip-off the two-day event at 5 p.m.
Florida (11-1) aims to resume the momentum it carried into the holiday break, when the Gators downed No. 16/19 Pittsburgh, 90-83, on Sun., Dec. 21 to win its 11th consecutive game, the second longest winning streak in program history.
"We've been very focused and have a lot of momentum entering the State Farm Classic, coming off the Pitt win," UF head coach Amanda Butler said. "The thing that we are really grasping is that games are going to continue to get harder and more challenging, not only because we are approaching the Southeastern Conference season, but because the better we do, the bigger the target on our back becomes. We've tried to maintain and increase our focus and intensity."
When Florida takes the court on Monday at 7:30 p.m. against Vermont (5-5), it will be the team's first competition in eight days. The Catamounts also played their last game prior to the SFC on Dec. 21st, dropping a tough 67-56 road decision at No. 9/11 Louisville. In that game, Vermont was its own worst enemy, committing 32 turnovers, yet lost by just 11 points in front of 5,045 at Freedom Hall. The Gators played at Louisville last season and lost 79-62.
"We've had very challenging practices since returning from the holiday break and our players have responded. They understand how dangerous of a team Vermont is," Butler said. "They played a very, very talented Louisville squad to an 11-point ballgame and Louisville could not shake them. They are a senior team and they have the best player (Courtnay Pilypaitis) and the best defensive player (May Kotsopoulos) in the America East Conference and they certainly have our attention."
Miami's last game also took place on Dec. 21st, when the RedHawks (7-3) downed Murray State, 73-69. Towson (7-1), on the other hand, has not played since its 56-48 win at Richmond on Dec. 13th - 16 days ago.
The Gators carry a 14-game home winning streak versus non-conference opponents into the State Farm Classic, including a 6-0 record this season. UF's last setback to a non-SEC team was on Nov. 23, 2008, when the Gators dropped an 81-78 decision to then-No. 20 Florida State.
Florida's annual State Farm Classic has traditionally featured some of the nation's finest teams and players. At least one team from the four-team field has earned an NCAA Tournament berth in 12 of the 17 years, including the 1994 field that featured all four future NCAA selections. A total of 31 alumnae competing in UF's State Farm Classic have gone on to play professional basketball in the WNBA.
Florida has won 14 of the 16 State Farm Classic titles (the 2005 event featured only three teams and played a round-robin style tournament so no champion was declared) and has advanced to the championship game in all 16.
UF's Marshae Dotson was named MVP of the 2007 event, helping the Gators defeat Holy Cross, 66-42, in the first round, before downing Alabama A&M, 70-49, the following day. Depree Bowden, now graduated, also earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Florida has produced such a terrific offensive and defensive balance this season that it's tough to single out any one specific player who is 'hot.' Over the last seven games, 11 of the 14 Gators are averaging at least 10.3 minutes per game, with two more averaging at least seven minutes of court time.
During those last seven games, the scoring also has been evenly distributed, too. Senior Sha Brooks (Jackson, Tenn.) is the only Gator who is averaging double-figure scoring during that span, contributing 13.4 per game. Marshae Dotson (Columbus, Ohio) and Steffi Sorensen (Jacksonville, Fla.) are right behind with 9.9 and 9.1 points, respectively. Lonnika Thompson (New Orleans, La.), who tallied a career-high 16 points against Pittsburgh, is averaging 8.3 points over the last seven games, hitting 46.2 percent from the 3-point arc (12-26).
Entering Monday's game against Vermont, the Gator offense is lighting up the scoreboard for 75.5 points per game, while shooting 48.2 percent from the field - the top percentage among all SEC teams this season and the fourth-best in the country (through games played Dec. 21). A mark even more impressive since the Gators' don't have one 6-footer in their starting lineup.
Tournament Team Ties and Tidbits
*UF freshman Trumae Lucas was teammates and classmates with Towson rookie Krystin Fields at Grimsley HS.
*UF's Amanda Butler and Miami's Maria Fantanarosa are both the head coach of their respective alma maters.
*Vermont participated in the 1998 State Farm Classic, but the Gators and Catamounts did not meet, as UVM dropped its first game to California, 58-54, before falling to Western Michigan, 76-59, in the consolation game.
Jump Shots
*Florida has won 11 consecutive games entering the State Farm Classic, tied for the second-longest win streak in program history (the Gators also won 11 straight during the 2005-06 season and won a program-record 12 consecutive during the 1993-94 campaign);
*Florida sports an 11-1 record through its first 12 games, which is TIED for the BEST START through 12 games in the 35-year history of the program; only four other times has the team posted a 11-1 record (2005-06, 2000-01, 1995-96 & 1984-85 ... and each of those teams won its 13th game to improve to 12-1; only the 2006 and 2001 teams moved to 13-1);
*VERMONT is one of 18 different teams on UF's 2008-09 regular-season schedule that earned a post-season berth last year (the Catamounts reached the second round of the WNIT);
*Florida has never played any of the other three teams competing in the State Farm Classic.
State Farm Classic Information
What: UF hosts the 18th Annual State Farm Classic
When - Mon., Dec. 29: Miami (OH) (7-3) vs. Towson (7-1): 5 p.m.
Florida (11-1) hosts Vermont (5-5): 7:30 p.m.
When - Tue., Dec. 30: Vermont vs. Miami (OH) or Towson: 5 p.m.
Florida hosts Miami (OH) or Towson: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Gainesville, Fla. * Stephen C. O'Connell Center (12,000)
Radio: UF games LIVE on WRUF AM850 in Gainesville - audio simulcast on Cox Channel 96 with Steve Babik & Steve Russell
Internet Audio: LIVE thru GatorZone.com (FREE of charge)
GatorVision Online: streaming video LIVE thru GatorZone.com
Television: none
Post-Game Satellite Feed: same data both days: 10:45-11 pm ET … KU Band Digital Feed - Galaxy 17, Transponder 24K, Slot F … Downlink Freq.: 12187.5 Vertical ... Symbol Rate: 3.9787 … Data Rate: 5.5 ... FEC: 3/4 ... Truck Trouble #: 352- 372- 6468
Tickets: Reserved Seating: $5 - All; General Admission: $4 - Adults, $2 - Seniors age 55 and older & Youth age 17 & under; FREE - UF Students with valid ID
Parking: there is no charge or reserved section for parking in the O'Connell Center lot on Dec. 29 or Dec. 30
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