GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Behind an outstanding defensive effort and yet another barrage of points in the paint, the Florida women's basketball team notched its third consecutive victory, routing Savannah State, 99-34, at the O'Connell Center Tuesday evening.
The Gators held the Lady Tigers to just 28.6-percent shooting and forced a season-best 39 turnovers, 22 of which were the result of steals. Florida converted those miscues and takeaways into 49 points, tallying 24 on fast breaks.
Mostly the result of layups off of turnovers and fantastic interior passing, Florida outscored Savannah State 58-22 in the paint.
Junior small forward Ronni Williams and junior guard January Miller scored a game-high 16 points apiece for UF, which posted the largest margin of victory in the Amanda Butler era that began with the 2007-08 season and was just four shy of tying the all-time program record. Williams also recorded a season-high three blocks and snared 10 rebounds for her third consecutive double-double.
Freshman guard Eleanna Christinaki, who made her second consecutive start, and reserve junior center Tyshara Fleming were the only other Gators in double figures. Both finished with 11 points, while Christinaki added six assists and Fleming corralled eight rebounds.
How It Happened
Florida got off to a roaring start and never looked back.
The Gators forced six turnovers in the first three-plus minutes, including three on consecutive possessions that sparked a 12-1 run and gave them a 15-3 lead. Five of UF's six made baskets during the run were layups. Moreover, Florida overcame a poor shooting start during that time, as it went on to make seven consecutive field goals after missing five of its first six attempts.
Savannah State cut the deficit to seven, but a three from Christinaki sparked a 13-3 Gators surge that carried into the waning moments of the first quarter.
Everything at both ends of the floor clicked for the Gators in a dominant second quarter.
Florida did not allow a single point during the 10-minute second frame, when its defense forced the Lady Tigers into 14 consecutive missed shots and nine turnovers.
After leading 50-13 at halftime, the lead swelled to as many as 66 points by the 2:03 mark of the fourth quarter.
Florida vs. Savannah State: Series History
· The Gators improve their all-time record against Savannah State to 3-2
· Each of Florida's three victories have come by 20-plus points, with the last two coming by 50 and 69, respectively
Gator Starters
· Dyandria Anderson, Eleanna Christinaki, Haley Lorenzen, Carlie Needles, Ronni Williams
News and Numbers of Note
· Florida's 65-point margin of victory was its third-largest in program history, and its largest since setting the school record in a 69-point win over Lynn on Feb. 18, 1995.
· The Gators held their opponent to less than 35 points for the first time since limiting Coppin State to 34 points on Dec. 10, 2008.
· Florida's 13 points allowed in the first half matched the third-lowest total ever recorded by an opponent in Gainesville, and the lowest total since Dec. 20, 2012, when it limited Savannah State to 13 first-half points.
· The Gators scored 50 points in the first half, marking their first 50-point half since racking up 54 points in the second half of its 83-69 win over Dayton in the NCAA Tournament First Round on March 23, 2014.
· UF's 50 points in the first half was its highest first-half total since tallying 53 points against Florida International on Dec. 21, 2013 in Gainesville.
· Florida's 37-point halftime lead was its largest of the Amanda Butler era (since the start of the 2007-08 season).
· The Gators' season highs in steals (22), assists (23) and forced turnovers (39) were all their most in a game since recording 24 steals, 29 assists and forcing 43 turnovers against Saint Francis on Dec. 17, 2013.
· UF's 22 steals were also the most by an SEC team in a single game this season.
· Ronni Williams is the first Gator to record three consecutive double-doubles since Jennifer George posted four in a row from Dec. 4-20, 2012.
· Simone Westbrook dished out a career-best eight assists, topping her previous high of three, which came last Saturday (Nov. 21) against Kennesaw State.
· Tyshara Fleming's 11 points and eight rebounds both matched the career highs she set against Kennesaw State.
Quotes from the Court
Florida Head Coach Amanda Butler
Opening Statement:
“I'm really proud of this win. There are so many good things to talk about. I was happy with our balance and our intensity. It was clear that we were playing for ourselves. We weren't paying attention to the scoreboard. We were using every opportunity to get better and not just increase the lead. We took advantage of the time we had together on the floor.
“It was just a fantastic demonstration of the teamwork and culture and the things that we talk about all the time.”
On playing with a chip on their shoulder as a result of the loss to Savannah State last season:
“I don't know that we were necessarily playing with vengeance but I think it certainly makes you respect a team differently. That might have been locker room motivation. Certainly, when you have a team full of returners, those conversations are theirs to have. More than anything, this team was concerned on being their best today. Any thoughts of last year were more so of, 'This is a quality team and one that can win their division so we'd better give them our best shot.'”
On tonight's defensive performance, and if she's ever coached one similar:
“It's hard to say with the new layout. I'm not positive if I've ever coached a team that held an opponent scoreless for 10 minutes or through a second quarter for that matter. What's important is that we did it tonight. There's a great attention to detail and our intensity was right where it needed to be. It didn't wear throughout the game. When we play that way, we're a fantastic defense.”
Florida junior guard/forward Ronni Williams
On keeping the team motivated:
“Well we play for each other. Every game we make that be known – that we're doing this for each other. So with that being said, we just come out and play our hardest for each other.”
On what works well for her and how her teammates find her:
“That's the main thing, my teammates do a great job of finding me. You have Ty(shara), who was two rebounds away from a double-double … and eight assists. With that, we just do a good job of finding each other, knowing each other, and going after the ball.”
Florida junior guard January Miller
On what keeps the team motivated:
“I think also just knowing the season last year that we had was the season that we wanted to have that outcome, and that motivated us every single practice, every single game to be better than what we were last year.”
Savannah State Head Coach Cedric W. Baker
On the game against UF:
“Well overall, Florida did an excellent job pushing the tempo and they caused a lot of turnovers. We didn't expect to turn it over as much as we did. However, once the game get out of reach, we just kind of settled down and used the opportunities to get better within our offensive and defensive systems. We are going to put this one behind us and keep moving forward.”
Postgame Links
· Official Postgame Press Conference (Coach Butler, January Miller and Ronni Williams) – http://www.gatorvision.tv/watch/?Archive=3355
· Game Highlights – http://www.gatorvision.tv/watch/?Archive=3356
· Photo Gallery
· Final Box (PDF)
· Final Box (HTML)
Up Next for the Gators
· Florida will compete in the 29th Omni Hotels Classic in Boulder, Colo., where it will face Ball State on Friday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. ET. The following day, the Gators will face either Colorado or Massachusetts.
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