WINTER PARK, Fla. – Senior Ronni Williams scored a game-high 25 points to lead four Gators in double-digit scoring and a 78-65 win against Florida A&M at the Florida Sunshine Classic played at Warden Arena on the campus of Rollins College on Wednesday evening.
 
The victory successfully wrapped up Florida's season-opening 12-game road trip, as the team traveled 8,289 miles waiting for the completion of the $64.5 million renovations taking place in Gainesville. The Gators make their debut in the newly renamed Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Wednesday, December 28, when Florida plays host to Southeastern Louisiana, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
During Wednesday's game in Winter Park, Fla., the Rattlers kept it close the entire first half and held a 23-22 lead with 5:05 remaining in the second quarter. That's when Florida used a 19-7 run that included 11 points from Williams, who hit 10-of-16 from the field during the game, four points from Dyandria Anderson and two each from Haley Lorenzen and Tyshara Fleming.
 
FAMU scored the next four points and closed to within seven points, before the Gators countered with a 26-15 march – capped by Williams' three-point-play – that went into the fourth quarter and Florida held a 69-49 lead with 6:23 left in the game and Florida rode its eighth win of the season.
 
Updated Records:

• Florida: 8-4
• Florida A&M: 1-10

 
Double-Digit Gators

• Williams' 25 points marked her fourth 20-point game of the year, as well as her 60^th career double-figure scoring game. Williams also collected a game-high-tying eight rebounds.
• Lorenzen scored 16 points (7-13 FG) with seven rebounds and a career-best five steals.
• Fleming scored 15 points (6-10 FG) with eight rebounds.
• Anderson tied her career high of 13 points for her first double-figure scoring game of the year; dished a game-high seven assists.

 
Numbers of Note

• Florida committed a season-high 29 turnovers and forced FAMU into 36 miscues, the most by an opponent this season
• The Gators tied their season-best of 20 steals (also vs. South Alabama)
• Tonight was the first time the Gators have been outrebounded in a victory
• There were five lead changes and one tied score

 
Postgame Comments

• UF Head Coach Amanda Butler – http://youtu.be/NDHqmfFuBII
• Senior Ronni Williams - http://youtu.be/YUZvadP5eFE

 
What's Next for the Gators

• Who: Florida (8-4) hosts Southeastern Louisiana (2-8)
• When: Wed., Dec. 28 * 7 pm
• Where: Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center (10,133) * Gainesville, Fla.
• Notes: this will be Florida's first home game of the 2016-17 season

 
Gator Pronunciations for this Release:

• DYANDRIA Anderson: dee-ANN-dree-uh
• TYSHARA Fleming: tie-SHEER-uh

 
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