Florida Gators

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Sophomore Eleanna Christinaki scored a career high 29 points to lead three double-figure scoring Gators in a 72-61 road win at Chattanooga a McKenzie Arena on Monday evening.
 
Christinaki's scoring output is the most by a Gator since Dec. 21, 2013 when Christin Mercer netted 31 against FIU.
 
UTC made a run in the third quarter when the Mocs outscored the Gators 23-17 and actually took a 51-50 lead. The edge didn't last long, however, as Christintaki hit a 15-foot jumper with two seconds left in the third that shifted the lead back to the Gators and it was 52-51 entering the final quarter.
 
Haley Lorenzen, who finished with 16 points and five rebounds, opened the scoring in the fourth. UTC countered with a three-point-play and tied the score at 54. The teams traded buckets for the next minute-plus, before Christinaki hit a turn-around eight-footer in the paint and Ronni Williams followed with a jumper from the corner that gave UF a 63-58 lead with 6:06 on the clock.
 
Williams ended the game with 10 points and eight rebounds.
 
UTC answered with a three and the Mocs where within two, 63-61, with 4:38 remaining, but the Gators closed the game on a 9-0 run that included a big three-pointer from Dyandria Anderson and four points from Lorenzen and earned the 72-61 road victory.
 
Florida continues its season-opening 12-game road trip on Saturday, Nov. 19, when the Gators play Temple in Ocala, Florida.
 
 
Numbers of Note:

• Lorenzen earned her 50th career start
• Monday's game was 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).
• Prior to tonight, the last meeting between the teams was on Dec. 5, 1986.
• Entering Monday's game, UTC had 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)

 
 
Doubling their Fun:

• Eleanna Christinaki scored a game and career-high 29 points, the most points by a Gator since the 2013-14 season; it was her 26th career double-figure scoring game
• Haley Lorenzen scored 16 points for the second time this season; 20 career double-figure scoring game
• Ronni Williams finished with 10 points for her 53rd double-figure scoring game

 
 
Welcome Home!

• Gator junior Brooke Copeland is a native of Cleveland, Tenn., located approximately 32 miles from Chattanooga.
• More than 40 family members and friends were in the stands cheering for her during tonight's game.

 
 
Quarterly Report:
First Quarter: Gators 23-13

• Eleanna Christinaki came out sizzling during the first quarter, accounting for 14 of UF's 23 points, along with three rebounds and two steals.
• As a team, UF hit 10-19 FGs (52.6%), while UTC converted 4-14 (28.6%).
• Gators held the 16-6 rebounding advantage, with seven coming on the offensive end.
• UF used an 8-0 run midway through first quarter to extend a one-point lead to nine, 19-10

Second Quarter: Mocs 15-12

• HALFTIME SCORE: Gators 35-28
• UF is outscored in a quarter for the first time this year.
• UF continues to rebound, 10-7 edge this quarter
• UTC works final possession of quarter to perfection, hitting a three-pointer just before the halftime horn sounds
• Six different Gators score in the second quarter; seven in first half

Third Quarter: Mocs 23-17

• GAME SCORE: Gators 52-51
• UTC cut UF's lead to one three times and the Gators answered twice, before the hosts completed a 9-0 run and held a 51-50 lead. That edge didn't last long, as Christinaki's jumper swung the lead back to Florida 20 seconds later and the Gators wouldn't trail again.

Fourth Quarter: Florida 20-10

• FINAL SCORE: Gators 72-61
• UTC tied the score twice during the quarter, but UF answered both times with Ronni Williams connecting on two free throws on time and Christinaki nailing a three-pointer the second time.
• UF ended the game on a 9-0 run.
• UF hit 80 percent (8-10) from the floor in the final quarter, while UTC managed just 23.1 percent (3-13).

 
 
The Updated Series: Florida vs. Chattanooga
4-Game Series: even 2-2 (UF Home: 0-0; Away: 1-0; Neutral: 1-2)
 
 
Quoting UF Head Coach Amanda Butler:
"I thought our rebounding effort was superb. We just weren't going to be denied on the boards. It was a tone that we set very early. Eleanna (Christinaki) was obviously feeling it tonight. She looked great from mid-range. That balance of her being in double figures, with Ronni and Haley scoring in double-figures and everyone playing double-figure minutes so we could keep fresh people on the court is really when we're at our best. To get a win against UTC, which is an NCAA Tournament team, on their home court is a good indication that our tea is growing every single practice. Our freshman really had some chances to play during some significant moments. Our second-half leadership from our upperclassmen was tremendous."
 
 
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 Pronunciations for this release:

• DYANDRIA Anderson: dee-ANN-dree-uh
• ELEANNA CHRISTINAKI: L-ee-on-uh chris-tin-OCK-ee
• TYSHARA Fleming: tie-SHEER-uh
• ELIF PORTAKAL: ee-LEAF POOR-ta-call
• Sydney SEARCY: SIR-see

 
 
What's Next for the Gators:

• Who: Temple vs. Florida
• When: Sat., November 19 at 1 p.m. ET
• Where: Patriot Gym on the campus of College of Central Florida (1,000) * Ocala, Florida
• Tickets: FREE!

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: SEC Network+ [direct link]
• Internet Scoring: LIVE thru FloridaGators.com [direct link]

 
 
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