Behind a stifling team defensive effort and a season-high 14 points from January Miller, Florida (7-4) earned a spot in the 24th Annual Gator Holiday Classic championship game by downing Southern U., 78-49, Sunday afternoon at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
The Jaguars (2-7) held the early momentum, but it didn't last long. After an early 5-0 deficit, Haley Lorenzen hit a 10-foot jumper to start a 15-2 run for the Gators that gave UF a 15-7 lead through the first 10 minutes of action.
The Gators never trailed the rest of the way and forced 20 first-half turnovers, entering halftime with a 41-20 lead.
Lorenzen scored all of her 12 points in the first half and was joined in double figures by Cassie Peoples, who netted 11 points in the opening 20 minutes of action. The duo went a combined 9-for-13 from the field (69.2%), hitting more shots than Southern (7) hit in the first half.
UF opened the second half with a 13-0 run and held the Jaguars scoreless until the 14:10 mark. The Gators forced 10 turnovers in the second half and ended the game with 30, tying a season high.
Florida received a balanced offensive attack as all 11 players who dressed out scored; and five scored in double figures, led by Miller's 14. Peoples finished with 13 points and a game-high five assists, while Lorenzen netted 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting and swatted three shots. Antoinette Bannister and Ronni Williams both tallied 10 points, with Bannister had three assists and Williams corralled a game-high seven rebounds in 22 minutes of work.
The Gators will face Eastern Washington (6-4) on Monday at 2:30 p.m. in the tournament's championship game, marking the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Eastern Washington defeated Georgia Southern, 55-42, in the first game of the tournament. Southern U. (2-7) and Georgia Southern (2-6) square off at 12 Noon on Monday.
Postgame Links:
· Postgame Press Conference Video (FREE): UF Head coach Amanda Butler, Haley Lorenzen and Cassie Peoples from GatorVision: http://www.gatorvision.tv/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=3620813&db_oem_id=6500
· Game Video Highlights (FREE): http://www.gatorvision.tv/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=3620825&db_oem_id=6500
· Photo Gallery: http://www.gatorzone.com/gallery/?gallery_id=2930
Updated Records:
· Florida: 7-4
· Southern: 2-7
Turning Point:
· After Southern scored the first 5-points of the game, UF answered with a 15-2 run capped off by Cassie Peoples' three-pointer at the 10:35 mark of the first half. UF never trailed for the remainder of the game.
Stat Line of the Game:
· Cassie Peoples scored for team lead in scoring with 13 points, knocking down three three-pointers, recording five assists and also grabbing four rebounds.
Series Update:
· The Gators improved to 3-1 in the all-time series against Southern.
· Florida and Southern last met on Dec. 20, 2013, in Gainesville, with the Gators taking the victory 62-35. That matchup was also the opening round of the Gator Holiday Classic.
Numbers of Note:
· The Gators' bench contributed 32 points to Southern's 14. Florida improved to a solid 6-3 when its bench comes outscores theirs.
· In the paint, Florida also came out on top, scoring 32 points while Southern managed 18.
· UF scored 35 points off 30 Southern turnovers.
Double-Figures:
· Antoinette Bannister notched her second double-figure scoring game of the season and seventh of her career, as she scored 11 points.
· Haley Lorenzen notched her third double-figure scoring game of the season, as she canned 12 points.
· January Miller scored a season-high and game-high 14 points, and was in double-figures for the fourth time this season and 28th in her career.
· Miller led the Gators in scoring for the third time this season and for the 11th time in her career.
· Cassie Peoples recorded her sixth double-figure scoring game of the season and 23rd of her career, as she poured in 13 points.
· Ronni Williams tallied 11 points off the bench, marking the fifth time this season and 19th in her career that she scored double-digit points.
· Today marked the third time this season that five Gators scored in double-figures.
Streaks:
· Cassie Peoples' three-pointer with 10:35 remaining in the first half marked the Gators' 142nd consecutive game with a trey.
Individuals:
· Kayla Lewis grabbed her 625th career rebound in the second half of today's game.
· Lewis played in the 100th game of her career
· Cassie Peoples played in her 50th career game
· Antoinette Bannister played in the 40th game of her career
· UF had a balanced scoring attack as all 11 Gators who dressed for today's game scored (first time this season)
Numbers to Start:
· Haley Lorenzen tallied her 5th career start
· January Miller made her 29th career start
· Kayla Lewis recorded her 70th career start and 43rd consecutive as a Gator
· Carlie Needles appeared in the starting lineup for the 43rd time in her career
· Cassie Peoples made her 35th start
Quotes from the Court:
UF Head Coach Amanda Butler
Opening Statement:
“I really loved our first half. I thought that we really came out and kind of skipped a couple beats in those first couple possessions but then from there really just took control of the game defensively. I think that was really, really important for us. We've been working hard on our defense. Offensively, that's going to come and go, and I think we're understanding that and appreciating that and understanding how important it is to play great defense, how important it is to do our job on that end of the floor. If we'll do that, it's going to make some of the offense a little bit easier. I think this (Southern) is a quality team. They've played an excellent schedule. It's a good win for us.”
On Florida's defense during the beginning of the second half:
“We kind of switched things up a little bit and went back to playing just a lot more straight-up fundamental stingy man, and that's what we really wanted to do. I think the way we played in the first half made that possible. They probably tried to think a lot more about zone. We played a lot of zone in the first half and how they were going to adjust to what we were doing. To be able to come back and have that completely different defensive look I think was really effective.”
Redshirt junior guard Cassie Peoples
On what started the run to start the game:
“We started the game pretty strong and we started with our defense being aggressive. Eventually teams get tired of us constantly coming at them. Once we get one turnover it rattles them into a second and then into a third, so we get on a roll from there. I think our consistent intensity helps us.”
Freshman Forward Haley Lorenzen
On her offensive role:
“My teammates are one of the biggest reasons I have this big of a role, especially Cassie [Peoples]. She looks for me in transition. My teammates are the biggest thing for finding me and getting rebounds.”
Next Game:
· When: Monday, December 22
· What: Gator Holiday Classic presented by Honda of Gainesville
· Tournament Schedule:
o 12 Noon – Southern U. vs. Georgia Southern
o 2:30 p.m. – Florida vs. Eastern Washington
· Where: Stephen C. O'Connell Center * Gainesville, Fla.
· Tickets: FREE - Donate a toy to the Toys for Tots Program and receive free admission to both games! $5 for reserved seats; $4 adult general admission; $2 for youth age 17 and under; FREE for UF students
· Parking: FREE in the O'Connell Center Lot Garage
Game Coverage & More!
· Radio: LIVE on ESPN850 WRUF-AM in Gainesville with Adam Schick, Brittany Davis & Jennifer George
· Internet Audio: LIVE thru www.GatorZone.com (FREE)
· Television: none
· Internet Video: SEC Network+
o HOW TO WATCH IT:
o SEC Network+ is only available through WatchESPN (accessible through the WatchESPN app and on SECNetwork.com)
o To access SEC Network+ on WatchESPN, fans must sign in with their credentials from a participating TV provider
· Internet Scoring: Stat Broadcast (FREE) via Gatorzone.com
Additional Hoopla for December 22
· Alberta Picture Taking Station - Alberta will be available for pictures in a Winter Wonderland setting!
· Gingerbread Cookie Station - Kids 12 & under can decorate their own gingerbread cookies.
· High-Five Tunnel - Kids 12 & under have the opportunity to high-five the Gators as they enter the court.
· Toys for Tots - Fans who donate a new, unused toy to Toys for Tots will receive free admission to the game
For all of the latest information on Florida women's basketball:
Official Website: www.gatorzone.com/basketball/women
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FloridaWomensBasketball
Twitter: @GatorZoneWBK and @CoachButlerUF
Instagram: GatorzoneWBK
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