Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida returns to the court after a seven-day break from competition for final exams and plays host to the 25th Annual Gator Holiday Classic presented by Honda of Gainesville, December 20-21. Joining the Gators in the two-day, four-game event at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center are Eastern Kentucky, N.C. State and Saint Francis.
 
Eastern Kentucky (4-4) and N.C. State (8-3) tip off the GHC on Sunday at 12 Noon, followed by the Gators (9-1) battling Saint Francis (2-7) at 2:30 p.m.
 
On Monday, Florida will play at 2:30 p.m. against either the EKU Colonels or the NCSU Wolfpack, while Saint Francis continues action at 12 Noon versus the team that produced the outcome during game one.
 
Final exams for the 2015 UF Fall semester ran from Saturday, December 12 through Friday, December 18.
 
Walk it Off

• Cassie Peoples earned her Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications Media and Society following the 2015 Summer session, however, she didn't get the chance to 'walk' with her peers when they received their diploma.
• Peoples walked during Saturday's graduation ceremony held in the O'Connell Center.

 
First Degree

• Three Gators have already received their respective Bachelor's degrees:
• Viktorija Dimaite - Anthropology and Criminology (dual major) (Spring '15)
• Carlie Needles - Telecommunications: Media and Society (Spring '15)
• Cassie Peoples - Telecommunications Media and Society (Summer '15)

 
A Gator Win on Sunday would ...

• Be the team's 10th consecutive victory and become the fourth-longest win streak in program history.
• Improve UF's season-opening record to 10-1 which would be the sixth time in program history the Gators have won 10 of their first 11.

 
Gator Classic History

• Florida's annual home tournament 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 16 of the 24 years, including the 1994 field that featured all four future NCAA selections.
• A total of 33 alumnae competing in UF's Gator Classic have gone on to play professional basketball in the WNBA.
• Florida has won 19 of the previous 24 Gator 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 every year.

 
Coach Butler Knows the Gator Classic

• Amanda Butler has played in the Gator Classic, worked as an assistant coach for two different teams in the Gator Classic and has guided Florida to the 2007, '08, '10, '11, '12 and '13 titles as a head coach.
• Butler was a freshman when the tournament debuted in December of 1990, and led the Gators to win the first four titles that culminated in her selection to the 1993 All-Tournament her senior year.
• In UF's inaugural game, Butler helped the Gators defeat Tennessee State in 1990 with a then-tournament record 10 assists, a record that still stands as the second-most in a single game. Her two-game 15-assist total in 1990 still stands as tied for the most in tournament history, while her six steals against Penn in 1993 ranks second in the Gator Classic record book.
• As a Gator assistant coach during the 1996 and 1997 events, Butler and UF captured the Gator Classic titles.
• Butler returned to the Gator Classic as an assistant coach with Charlotte, but the 49ers fell to the Gators, 86-72, in the 2004 title game.

 
Coach Page Knows the Gator Classic, too!

• Current UF assistant coach Murriel Page played in the Gator Classic each of her four years wearing the Florida orange & blue. UF won the title every year (1994-95-96-97), while she was a three-time All-Tournament Team honoree and selected MVP of the 1997 event.

 
2013 GHC was for the Peoples

• Florida's Cassie Peoples was named the MVP of the 2013 Gator Holiday Classic when she scored a career-high 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting in the championship game win against FIU.
• The Gators won the GHC title by defeating Tennessee State in the first round.

 
The Series vs. GHC Teams

• Florida is 1-0 against Saint Francis with the lone meeting a 105-71 home win on December 17, 2013.
• UF also holds a 3-2 lead against the Wolfpack. The last time the teams met was back on November 23, 2013, when Florida won its second straight in the series after Carlie Needles drilled a three-pointer with six seconds remaining in the first game of the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout at the South Point Arena in Las Vegas.
• The Gators have never played Eastern Kentucky.

 
What's Next?

• Following the Gator Holiday Classic, the team will have some time off from Gainesville, where it will return for practice on Dec. 26 to begin preparing for the SEC-AAC Challenge on Wed., December 30 in Jacksonville.
• The Gators play UCF at 7 p.m., while the first game of the two-game single-day event features Mississippi State and South Florida at 4:30 p.m.

 
Looking Back: Florida def. Robert Morris, 79-52 (Sunday, December 13)

• Florida won its ninth consecutive game on Sunday (Dec. 13), and the result was never in doubt. The Gators led from start to finish, stifling Robert Morris with their high-pressure defense in a wire-to-wire 79-52 victory at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
• For the fifth time this season, Florida forced its opponent to commit at least 24 turnovers. The defense also flustered Robert Morris' shooters, as UF held the Colonials to 17-of-47 shooting (36.2 percent), marking the fifth time this year its opponent shot below 37 percent.
• Three Gators—Dyandria Anderson, Eleanna Christinaki, Haley Lorenzen—scored at least 12 points.
• Christinaki led the trio with a team-high 13 points, her third consecutive 13-plus-point outing. Lorenzen snared a team-best eight rebounds, while Anderson dished out a game-high five assists.

 
Gator Watch

• Ronni Williams, a preseason Second Team All-SEC performer, is UF's leading scorer and rebounder with 10.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
• She has recorded four double-doubles this season (9 in career), including three straight
• First Gator to record three consecutive double-doubles since Jennifer George posted four in a row from Dec. 4-20, 2012.
• Williams fellow post-mate Haley Lorenzen earned MVP honors at the Omni Hotels Classic, Nov. 27-28 in Colorado, where she compiled 26 points (12-17), 16 rebounds, 4 steals
• Newcomer Eleanna Christinaki has logged three straight double-figure scoring games entering the GHC.

 
Florida at a Glance: On the 13-player roster...

• 10 Gators average at least 12 minutes of playing time per game
• 9 Gators average at least 5.5 points per game
• 11 Gators have made at least one three-pointer (Fleming and Lorenzen have never attempted a three-pointer).

 
 
Gator Holiday Classic at a Glance, Day 1

• When: Sunday, December 20, 2015
• Times: Noon - Eastern Kentucky (4-4) vs. N.C. State (8-3)
  • 2:30 p.m. - Florida (9-1) hosts Saint Francis (2-7)
• Where: Stephen C. O'Connell Center (11,548) * Gainesville, Florida
• What: 25th Annual Gator Holiday Classic
• Day 2, Monday, Dec. 21: game times 12 Noon and 2:30 p.m.

 
Media Notes:

• Florida
• Saint Francis
• Eastern Kentucky
• N.C. State
• Gator Holiday Classic History

 
Game Coverage & More (UF Games)

• Radio: LIVE on ESPN Gainesville (95.3 FM and 850 AM) with Adam Schick & Brittany Davis
• Internet Audio: LIVE thru floridagators.com (FREE)
• Television: none
• Internet Video: SEC Network + with Adam Schick & Brittany Davis
• Online Streaming: WatchESPN App
• Internet Scoring: (FREE) thru floridagators.com
• Ticket Prices: $5 – Reserved General Admission (Sections I1, J1)
  • $4 – General Admission   
  • FREE – UF and SFC Students with valid ID
  • FREE – Children 17 and Under (in General Admission areas)

 
Opening Tip

• UF is off to a 9-1 start for the EIGHTH time in program history.
• After dropping their season-opener, the Gators have won nine straight games.
• This is the ninth time in program history the Gators have compiled a nine-game winning streak. It is tied for the fourth-longest run.
• The Gators are 1-0 all-time vs. Saint Francis.
• UF has taken seven-day break from competition final exams and Sunday's game will be its first since last Sunday, December 13.

 
Additional Hoopla for Sunday's Game

• Toys for Tots: Fans who donate a new, unused toy upon entry will receive free admission to the game! Toys for Tots bin will be located inside the Gate 1 doors
• Bring 3, Get In Free: Fans, bring 3 kids 17 years of age or younger and receive one free general admission ticket!
• Gator Holiday Classic T shirt Giveaway: The first 500 fans will receive a free 2015 Gator Holiday Classic t-shirt. (Dec. 20 only)
• Alberta's Winter Wonderland: Albert and Alberta will be available for pictures, set up with a Winter Wonderland, complete with a gingerbread cookie and hot chocolate station
  • Kids can decorate their own gingerbread cookies and hot chocolate with an assortment of toppings  (Location-Gate 2 Lobby)
• Albert and Alberta will be roaming the stands handing out goodies to the nicest fans!