Florida Gators

WINTER PARK, Fla. – Florida returns from a nine-day break of competition when the Gators turned their attention exclusively to the classroom, where final exams were being held December 10, 12-16.
 
The Gators (7-3) will play Indiana (8-3) and Florida A&M (1-8) in the Florida Sunshine Classic on Dec. 20 and 21.
 
Pairings for the two-game event were predetermined. The Hoosiers will face Stony Brook on Wednesday, while the Rattlers will have played Stony Brook on Tuesday prior to their game against the Gators.
 
There are four additional teams competing at Rollins College's Warden Arena.
 
Series Background: Florida vs. Indiana
2-game Series: tied 1-1 (UF Home: 0-1; Away: 0-0; Neutral: 1-0)

• Jan. 8, 1981: Indiana 81-51 (Gainesville FL)
• Nov. 20, 1998: Florida 72-67 (Preseason WNIT Final Four - Fort Collins, CO)
• Florida vs. teams from the Big Ten Conference: 10-21
• this year vs. Big Ten Teams: Loss at Northwestern, 73-68 (Nov. 25)

 
One-Time Ticker Game

• Both UF and IU have been ranked in the top-25 of the national polls this season, with the Gators falling out of the Dec. 12 listings for the first time this year and the Hoosiers reaching No. 23 in the Nov. 14 AP poll.

 
What Just Happened

• Florida enters Tuesday's game off a 29-point win (67-38) against N.C. A&T on Dec. 11 - nine days ago. That victory snapped a two-game skid, with both losses to nationally-ranked teams on their respective home courts.
• Indiana carries a four-game win streak - winning those by an average of 33.8 points per game (91.3 ppg to 57.5 ppg) -  into Tuesday's game. The Hoosiers defeated Valparaiso, 87-58, on Dec. 11, then took a seven-day break before playing host to Oakland on Sat., Dec. 17.

 
Final Four in Florida

• Florida's final four games of its season-opening 12-game road trip have at least come within the borders of the Sunshine State.
• The final game of the adventure is Wednesday against Florida A&M.

 
Notes from Florida's Last Game: defeated N.C. A&T, 67-38 (Dec. 11 in Panama City)

• All eight who dressed for the game scored for the shorthanded Gators, who outscored the Aggies, 23-2, in the fourth quarter, when Florida hit 7-of-14 shots and NCAT managed just 1-of-14.
• This was the second time this season the Gators have held their opponent scoring total to the 30s (South Alabama managed 33 points, Nov. 11)
• N.C. A&T shot 22.7 percent (15-66) from the floor, the second-lowest by a Gator opponent this season (19.6 percent by South Alabama)
• Florida out-rebounded the Aggies, 54-38, during the game, including a 16-4 margin in the third quarter.
• The game was Florida's 10th game as part of a 12-game season-opening road trip, as the Gator's home arena – Exactech Arena at the O'Connell Center – is undergoing a $64.5 million renovation. Florida's first home game is scheduled for Dec. 28.

 
Gator Watch

• Ronni Williams - the lone four-year senior on the roster - led UF in scoring as a sophomore and junior and is doing so again this season.
• Williams became the 24th Gator to score 1,000 career points, doing so on Dec. 3 vs. Long Beach State.
• In addition to scoring (15.2 ppg), Williams also leads the Gators in rebounding (8.3 pg) and is second for assists (24) this year.

 
Who's Hot

• While Williams is contributing close to her averages, junior Haley Lorenzen is averaging 8.7 rebounds over the last three games, along with 7.7 points and has blocked six shots.
• Brooke Copeland is knocking down 6-of-13 three-pointers (46.2 percent) over the last three games.

 
(Gator) Tail of the Tape
Florida

• Points Per Game: 72.4
• Scoring Defense: 59.7
• Scoring Margin: +12.7
• Rebounding Margin: +7.7
• FG%: 46.8%
• 3FG%: 26.3%
• FT%: 65.7%

Gator Leaders

• Scoring: Ronni Williams, 15.2
• Rebounding: Ronni Williams, 8.3
• Assists: Dyandria Anderson, 4.5

Indiana

• Points Per Game: 81.7
• Scoring Defense: 62.6
• Scoring Margin: +18.5
• Rebounding Margin: +10.1
• FG%: 49.8%
• 3FG%: 35.6%
• FT%: 68.6%

Hoosier Leaders

• Scoring: Tyra Buss, 18.8
• Rebounding: Amanda Cahill, 8.4
• Assists: Tyra Buss, 4.4

 
Quotes from the Court – UF Head Coach Amanda Butler [VIDEO preview]

• "Indiana is very good. They returned everyone from last year's NCAA Tournament team that surprised a lot of folks. This year, they aren't surprising as many people because everybody knows how good they are. They are very balanced. They have one of the best guards that we will play against in Tyra Buss. They have size, they have shooters and they are very well coached. It's one of the scouts where it's fun to learn a new team that has different ways of doing things. Then the more you watch them, you realized just how good they are and how much of a challenge it's going to be."

 
 
Game Day Information

• Who: #rv Florida (7-3, 0-0 SEC) vs. Indiana (8-3, 0-0 Big Ten)
• When: Tue, Dec. 20 * 7:45 pm
• Where: Warden Arena (2,500) * Winter Park, Fla. Winter Park, Florida
• What: Game 1: Florida Sunshine Classic (www.flsunshineclassic.com)
• Facility Notes: Played at Rollins College: Harold and Ted Alfond Sports Center, Chase Ave., Winter Park, FL (located at the corner of Fairbanks Ave. and Chase Ave.)

 
Pregame Notes:

• Florida [direct link]
• Indiana [direct link]

 
Game Coverage & More!

• Radio: LIVE on ESPN Gainesville 98.1FM/850AM with Tom Collette & Brittany Davis
• Internet Audio: LIVE thru FloridaGators.com (FREE) [direct link]
• Television: none
• Streaming Video: live, with link at www.flsunshineclassic.com
• Internet Scoring: Statbroadcast [direct link]
• Event Website: www.flsunshineclassic.com

 
Opening Tip

• Florida plays two games against pre-assigned opponents at the Florida Sunshine Classic
• Tuesday's game is the third meeting between Florida and Indiana and the first since Nov. 20, 1998 in the final four of the preseason WNIT. UF won that game 72-67 in Fort Collins, Col.
• On Wednesday, the Gators play Florida A&M. UF holds a 7-5 all-time record, however, the Rattlers won the most recent match-up - a 72-71 stunner on Dec. 1, 2009 in Gainesville
• The two games at the Florida Sunshine Classic are Florida's 11th and 12th on the road this season, as the Gators finally wrap up their season-opening 12-game road trip due to the $64.5 million renovations to its home arena.

 
Gator Pronunciations for this release:

• DYANDRIA Anderson: dee-ANN-dree-uh

 
 
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