Florida Gators

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The No. 20 Gators travel to Chattanooga, Tenn., and play the second game of a season-opening 12-game road trip, when Florida plays at UTC Monday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
 
Monday's game will be UF's first of three trips to the Volunteer State during the 2016-17 season, returning on Jan. 29 (at Vanderbilt) and on Feb. 23 (at Tennessee).
 
There will be live streaming video provided by Chattanooga through the SoCon Digital Network [direct link]
 
 
Welcome Home!

• Gator junior Brooke Copeland is a native of Cleveland, Tenn., located approximately 32 miles from Chattanooga.

 
 
Last Time Out: UF 85, South Alabama 33 (Nov. 11 in Jacksonville, FL)

• Florida's top three scorers from last year returned for this season and all led the Gator offensively en route to an 85-33 win against South Alabama at Veterans Memorial Arena in the season opener for both clubs.
• Senior Ronni Williams, junior Haley Lorenzen and sophomore Eleanna Christinaki each tallied 16, while senior Tyshara Fleming added 11 points, as all nine Gators who suited up scored in the 52-point win that was tied for the largest season-opening margin of victory in the program's 43-year history.
• Junior Brooke Copeland and freshman Delicia Washington both scored eight points and both collected six rebounds.
• Chattanooga had little trouble getting past Rutgers, 66-53, to earn an all-important road victory.

 
 
The Series: Florida vs. Chattanooga
3-Game Series: UF trails 1-2 (UF Home: 0-0; Away: 0-0; Neutral: 1-2)
Last Meeting: Dec. 5, 1986 – UF 86, UTC 78 (UAB Invitational, Birmingham, AL)
                                             UF          Opp
Date                     Rank      Rank      Result    UF          Opp        Diff        Site        Code
Jan. 22, 1977      --            --            L             80           86           -6           N            ^6
Nov. 27, 1982     --            --            L             55           80           -25         N            22
Dec. 5, 1986       --            --            W           86           78           +8           N            28
6 = Tennessee Tech Invitational - Cookeville, Tenn.
22 = Lady Sunshine Classic - Sanford, Fla.
28 = UAB Invitational - Birmingham, Ala.
 
 
Quick Scout on the Mocs

• The Mocs are coached by the legendary Jim Foster, who is in his fourth year at UTC where he has guided each of his squads to the Southern Conference championship
• UTC is picked to win the Southern Conference in preseason coaches' and media polls.
• Jasmine Joyner is the SoCon preseason Player of the Year, with Queen Alford and Keiana Gilbert joining Joyner on the preseason All-Conference team.
• The entire starting five consists of juniors and seniors and all five boast significant starting experience.
• UTC hit 17-of-18 free throws in its season-opening win at Rutgers.
• Florida also will play Southern Conference member Wofford on Nov. 30 in Ocala, Fla.

 
 
Quoting UF Head Coach Amanda Butler:
"They are very good. Chattanooga is a team that's use to winning on its home court. They opened the season with a big win at Rutgers and that's a great indication of what to expect from them all season. It's going to be a giant challenge for us. They are very balanced and dynamic. Every player on their team is capable of scoring. They are a very confident team and you have to credit their coaches for instilling that in them."
 
 
Returning from 2015-16

• Florida returns seven letterwinners from last season, with only six of whom will suit up for the season.
• UF also lost six players from last year's squad (five graduating, one transferred).
• The Gators welcome five newcomers, however, only three will be in action this year.

 
 
The 2016-17 Gators
Florida's top three scorers from last year's SEC-leading scoring offense (77.4 ppg) return for the 2016-17 season, with senior Ronni Williams (11.1 ppg), sophomore Eleanna Christinaki (10.4 ppg) and junior Haley Lorenzen (9.3 ppg) pacing the Gators. Williams has been UF's leading scorer each of the last two seasons.
 
Head Coach Amanda Butler, who was named the 2016 WBCA Region 2 Co-Coach of the Year and a 2016 WBCA National Coach of the Year finalist, enters her 10th season coaching her alma mater. Her tenure at UF is tied for the second-longest among active coaches in the SEC this year.
 
Last year's Gators finished ranked in the top10 of four national stats categories: No. 3 for Turnovers Forced, No. 4 for Steals per game, No. 7 for Steals, No. 10 for Offensive Rebounds per game. UF also ranked No. 16 for Scoring Offense.
 
 
On the Road Again

• Florida will play its first 12 games on the road due to the $64.5 million renovation of the Exactech Arena at the O'Connell Center, which is slated to be completed in mid-December.
• During that season-opening road swing, the Gators will have traveled a total of 8,289 miles without leaving the contiguous United States or playing in the Pacific Time Zone before playing host to Southeastern Louisiana in their home opener.

 
 
Gator Watch

• Ronni Williams, a 2016 Second Team All-SEC performer, was UF's leading scorer (11.1 ppg) and rebounder (7.8 ppg).
• In SEC games, Williams averaged team-bests of 8.8 rebounds per game, while netting 10.6 points.
• Williams ranked No. 3 in the SEC for rebounding in league games
• She recorded eight double-doubles during the season (13 in career)
• 19 double-figure scoring games last year (most on team)
• SEC Player of Week (honored Feb. 9, 2016) for 20-point, 15-rebound game vs. No. 12 Texas A&M - first such honor of career

 
 
 
Gator Pronunciations:
DYANDRIA Anderson: dee-ANN-dree-uh
ELEANNA CHRISTINAKI: L-ee-on-uh chris-tin-OCK-ee
TYSHARA Fleming: tie-SHEER-uh

 
 
Game Day Information

• Who: #20/24 Florida at Chattanooga
• When: Mon., November 14 * 6:30 pm ET
• Where: McKenzie Arena (10,966) * Chattanooga, Tenn.

 
Florida Game Notes [direct link]
UTC Game Notes [direct link]
 
Game Coverage & More!

• Radio: LIVE on ESPN Gainesville (WRUF-AM850/FM95.3) with Adam Schick & Brittany Davis
• Internet Audio: LIVE thru FloridaGators.com (FREE) [direct link]
• Television: none
• Streaming Video: SoCon Digital Network [direct link]
• Internet Scoring: LIVE thru FloridaGators.com [direct link]

 
Opening Tip

• Chattanooga leads the series, 2-1, and all three previous games have been played at a neutral site.
• Last meeting between the teams was on Dec. 5, 1986.
• Chattanooga defeated Rutgers, 66-53, in Piscataway, N.J., in its season-opener on Friday.
• UTC is receiving votes in the Associated Press national poll.
• UTC has won 64 of its last 66 home games, with notable victories during that span against Tennessee twice (No. 4 in 2014 and No. 20 in 2012) and Stanford (No. 7 in 2014)
• Gator junior Brooke Copeland is a native of Cleveland, Tenn., located just 32 miles from Chattanooga.

 
 
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