Gators Play Ball State in Colorado Friday at 7 p.m. ET
Thursday, November 26, 2015 | Women's Basketball
BOULDER, Colo. – The Gators travel their modest three-game winning streak 1,481 miles West to Boulder, Colo., where they compete in the 29th Omni Hotels Classic hosted by the University of Colorado.
Florida (3-1) faces Ball State (2-1) on Friday at 7 p.m. ET in the first game of the two-day tournament. Colorado plays host to Massachusetts in the second game at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Friday's game is the first time the Gators and Cardinals will meet on the hardwood.
Friday's game also is the second of a four-game run Florida will play in eight days and in three different states.
Florida vs. Ball State
· Friday will be the first meeting between Florida and Ball State on the hardwood.
· The Gators are 11-1 all-time against teams from the Mid-American Conference.
· Florida sports a 3-1 all-time record against teams from the state of Indiana.
· The last game against a team from the Hoosier state was IUPUI on Nov. 21, 2006 (UF won 71-57 in Gainesville).
· UF played Indiana on Nov. 20, 1998, in Fort Collins, Colo., in the Preseason WNIT Final Four consolation game, winning 72-67.
Looking Back: Florida def. Savannah State, 99-34 (Tuesday, November 24)
· 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.
· 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.
· 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.
Homecoming, Part 2
· Redshirt senior Carlie Needles will be playing collegiately in front of her hometown family and friends for the first time when the Gators participate in the 29th Omni Hotels Classic.
· Boulder is approximately 46 miles from Needles' hometown of Highlands Ranch.
· Needles is the first Gator from the state of Colorado
Needles Starred at ThunderRidge High School
· Carlie Needles earned her diploma from ThunderRidge High School in May of 2011
· A four-year starter for the Grizzlies, Needles helped TRHS to the 2009 and 2010 state 'final four,' including a No. 19 ranking nationally - both of the games were played at Colorado's COORS EVENTS CENTER (they went 0-2 during her career on that court)
· Finished stellar prep career as school's second all-time leading scorer with 1,809 points (behind only Abby Waner's 2,670 career -point total, 2001-05); career point total ranked ninth in Colorado girls HS history
· Held school career record for most free throws made (476, ranks No. 2 in state history) and attempted (601; fifth in state history); owned school's season record for made free throws (180) during her senior year
· Her eight three-pointers against Littleton HS on Feb. 17, 2011, set the school's single-game mark, while the 18 assists she dished on Dec. 12, 2008 versus Fruita Monument HS is the school's and state of Colorado's standard
· Ranked fourth in school history for career assists (482) and steals (333)
Sharp-Shooting Career
· Carlie Needles is 162-484 (33.5%) in her career from the three-point arc.
· Entering today's game, she is No. 5 all-time in UF history
· She passed Steffi Sorensen (2008-10) for fifth during the Nov. 24 win against Savannah State.
· Next on the chart: 194 by Jordan Jones (2009-12).
Gator Watch
· Ronni Williams, a preseason Second Team All-SEC performer, is UF's leading scorer and rebounder with 14.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.
· Recorded a double-double in each of last three games
· First Gator to record three consecutive double-doubles since Jennifer George posted four in a row from Dec. 4-20, 2012.
A Gator Win on Friday Would...
· mark the team's first four-game win streak since the 2013-14 squad won nine straight - a run that spanned from November to January.
· place UF in the championship game of a two-game tournament not hosted by the Gators since November of 2011 at the Courtyard LaGuardia Turkey Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y. UF won the event with victories against LaSalle and Charlotte.
Quotes from the Court – UF Head Coach Amanda Butler:
On Ball State:
· “They are very good and well-coached. They already have a quality win over Western Kentucky which is an NCAA Tournament team from last year. They have one of the most dynamic players from their region in the country in Nathalie Fontaine (18.0 points, 9.0 rebounds per game) and also one of the best shooters in Jill Morrison (11-24 three-pointers this year). They are a very complete team that understands what they are supposed to do, possession to possession.”
On Keys to the Game:
· “The way that we play has got to be more important than the way they play. There are some areas where our styles overlap and there are areas where there are a sharp contrast. We have to make sure that in those contrasting areas, our style is more important.”
On Gators who have impressed her:
· “Ronni's (Williams) consistency has been very important to us. I thought Eleanna (Christinaki) said it very well for us in our last press conference that the greatest strength of our team is the team, in that we have a lot of versatility and we go very deep. It's probably very difficult to anticipate who is going to make the play next.”
Game Day Information
· Who: Florida (3-1, 0-0 SEC) vs. Ball State (2-1, 0-0 Mid-American)
· What: 29th Omni Hotels Classic
· Where: Coors Events Center (11,064) * Boulder, Colo.
· When: Fri., November 27, 2015 * 7 p.m. ET
Game Coverage & More!
· Radio: LIVE on ESPN Gainesville (95.3 FM and 850 AM) with Adam Schick & Brittany Davis
· Internet Audio: LIVE thru www.Gatorzone.com (FREE) - http://bit.ly/1SiBG68
· Television: none
· Internet Video: none
· Internet Scoring: TBA
Opening Tip
· UF has won three consecutive games entering the 29th Omni Hotels Classic.
· The Gators are 1-2 all-time playing in the state of Colorado.
· The last time Florida played in the state was on Dec. 22, 2000, when the Gators dropped a tough 98-62 decision to Colorado.
· This is the first meeting between Florida and Ball State.
· Florida is playing the first game of a three-game road trip played in two different states.
· It's also the second game in a four-game span over eight days.
· Ronni Williams has posted three straight doubles-doubles.
· Senior Carlie Needles is from Highlands Ranch, Colo., approximately 46 miles from Boulder.
· Two of UF's games this year have been decided by 10 points or less (1-1)
· 14 of UF's 30 games last year were decided by 10 points or less (5-9 record), including eight in SEC play (2-6 record)
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