Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Points came early and often for the University of Florida women's basketball team on Sunday (Dec. 20) afternoon, when a pair of significant 20-year-old school records fell in a 122-65 victory over Saint Francis in the first round of the Gator Holiday Classic held at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.
 
Florida will play N.C. State on Monday at 2:30 p.m. in the championship game of its home tournament. Saint Francis will take on Eastern Kentucky at 12 Noon. The Wolfpack defeated Colonels, 73-62, on Sunday.
 
The Gators scored 30 of the game's first 32 points, eventually going on to score 70 points in the first half and shattering the previous UF record for points in a half. The 70 points were also the most by a team in any half of a game in the history of the O'Connell Center, topping the previous record of 65 points set by the Gators against Lynn University back on Feb. 16, 1995.
 
Florida's 122 total points broke the previous school record of 112 points, which it set against Lynn and at Florida Atlantic back on Jan. 11, 1995.
 
Five Gators logged double-digit scoring efforts. That group was highlighted by junior center Tyshara Fleming, who scored 20 points, her highest total in a UF uniform. Sophomore forward Haley Lorenzen posted 16 points for her fifth double-digit scoring game of the year, and it also marked the first time this year she's reached double figures in consecutive games.
 
Cassie Peoples dropped 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting to score in double digits for the sixth time this season, a figure that leads the team.

How It Happened
Florida scored the game's first 15 points and knocked down nine of its first 12 baskets to race out to a 21-2 lead before the halfway point of the first quarter.
 
The defense was stellar as well. Through the first 8:26 of the opening frame, Saint Francis missed all 14 of its field goal attempts and were forced into 10 turnovers before making its first basket.
 
Later in the half, following a steal and 3-point play by junior guard Simone Westbrook, senior guard Carla Batchelor finished a layup to make it 66-26, breaking the O'Connell Center record for points in a half.
 
At the 2:41 mark of the fourth quarter, sophomore guard Brooke Copeland sank a pair of free throws to score the 112th and 113th points of the game to break the school's single-game scoring record.
 
Florida vs. Saint Francis Series History

• The Gators improve their all-time record against Saint Francis to 2-0
• Florida has won both of its meetings with the Red Flash by at least 34 points

Gator Starters

• Dyandria Anderson, Carla Batchelor, Eleanna Christinaki, Haley Lorenzen, Carlie Needles
• It was the first career start for Batchelor

News and Numbers of Note

• In NCAA Division I records published prior to the start of the 2015-16 season, Florida's 70 first-half points tied the 16th-highest total against a Division I opponent in NCAA history
• UF reached the 100-point mark for the 22nd time in program history, and for the first time since it scored 105 points in a rout of Saint Francis on Dec. 17, 2013
• Florida forced a season-high 40 turnovers, marking its highest total since forcing 43 against Saint Francis back on Dec. 17, 2013
• The Gators also set a season high with 25 assists, their largest output in that category since dishing out 29 helpers against Saint Francis on Dec. 17, 2013
• Three of the five Gators who scored in double figures had at least 10 points at the half—Haley Lorenzen (10 points), Carla Batchelor (10 points), Tyshara Fleming (11 points)
• Batchelor's 12 points were a season high
• Florida set first-half season highs in field goals made (28), assists (11), field goal percentage (58.3 percent) and steals (11)

Quotes from the Court
Florida Head Coach Amanda Butler
Opening Statement…
"I was really happy with most of the minutes we played tonight. To have those opportunities to break records, leave your mark, and score a lot of points, always makes for a special night. The way that we did was the most pleasing to me. We distributed the ball, the points, and the minutes remarkably well tonight. Effort was everywhere and it was ultimately fueled by our defense."
 
On what was said at halftime…
"No matter who you're playing, we want to make sure we're doing our best. When you build a lead like we had, the scoreboard doesn't always motivate you to strive for your best. We wanted to make sure we were striving for our best. Whether it was the understanding that 10 minutes at a time and one possession at a time we want to put our best foot forward and make sure were improving."
 
On playing a game like today's for the second time this season…
"It helped that we'd been in this situation before. As a team that draws confidence from one another, we're a team that generates energy from one another through these types of situations."
 
Florida redshirt senior guard Cassie Peoples
On correcting UF's unsatisfying play in the third quarter…
"It's all about getting back to what we know and making sure we stay disciplined. We know how to play transition defense. We'll go back and watch the film tonight and correct our mistakes."
 
On playing defense and staying motivated with a large lead…
"It's not hard to stay motivated. We get excited to play defense and look forward to fulfill the expectations we have for ourselves."
 
On having graduated and played within 24 hours…
"My family is here so they were able to see me walk across the stage and it was a humbling experience. It's always good to have family here to support me and it's nice knowing they were able to see me receive an outstanding degree from the University of Florida."
 
Florida sophomore forward Haley Lorenzen
On today's chemistry in the post…
"The chemistry as you go on in a season continues to build. We practice all types of situations in practice every day and when you continue to do those practices and execute on a daily basis, it adds to that chemistry and confidence in each other."
 
On coming out and playing with a big lead…
"It doesn't matter who the team is or what the score is, we're always going to come out and play hard. It's something our seniors and coaches have helped us understand and recognize."
 
Saint Francis Head Coach Joe Haigh
On the game against UF…
"Once we got some shots going, that seemed to take the pressure off our girls a bit. We had open shots and took them, but we weren't able to take advantage throughout the entire game. We went against pressure throughout the game that we're not used to. We rest our goals and expectations at halftime. Regardless of the score, we wanted to play hard and communicate well. If we can continue to communicate effectively and work together on the floor, we'll continue to become a better team down the road."

Postgame Links

• Game Highlights
• Postgame Press Conference (Coach Butler, Haley Lorenzen, Cassie Peoples)
• Photo Gallery
• Final Box (PDF)
• Final Box (HTML)
• Final Box (XML)

 
Up Next for the Gators

• Florida will host the second day of Gator Holiday Classic on Monday, Dec. 21 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla.
• Saint Francis and Eastern Kentucky will tip off day two at 12 p.m., while the Gators will face N.C. State at 2:30 p.m. to close out the event.

 
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