Florida Gators

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida travels the 154 miles west and plays Florida State for the 73rd time. Never before in the storied history between the two programs have both teams entered the game ranked among the nation's Top 25 – that is, until Thursday evening at the Donald L. Tucker Center where the two instate rivals will square off in the Fresh From Florida Sunshine Showdown at 6 p.m.
 
The Seminoles are No. 7 in both major polls. The Gators check in at No. 23 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 25 in the USA Today/WBCA poll.
 
VIDEO PREVIEWS:

• UF Head Coach Amanda Butler [direct link]
• Senior Ronni Williams [direct link]
• Junior Dyandria Anderson [direct link]

 
Where We're Coming From

• Florida (6-2) enters Thursday's game looking to bounce back from a 69-63 collapse at No. 24 Arizona State. The Gators led by 12 entering the fourth quarter and were outscored 30-12 during those final 10 minutes. That game marked the end of a three-game, five-day run for the Gators.
• Florida State (8-1) is riding a seven-game win streak into Thursday's game. The Seminoles only loss of the season has been a 78-76 setback on Nov. 14 to four-time defending NCAA champion UConn.

 
The 72-Game Series

• Florida holds a 42-30 edge in the all-time series against Florida State, but just a 13-16 record when playing in Tallahassee.
• Since Florida's 16-game win streak in the series, Florida State has won nine of the last 13 meetings, including three of the last four games.
• In last year's game, the Gators upset the then-No. 6/7 ranked Seminoles, 82-72, in Gainesville.
• The 72-game series versus the Seminoles is Florida's longest against any one opponent. The next closest is the 69-game series against Georgia, a team Florida will play twice this year during the regular season.

 
Tale of the Tape
Florida

• Points Per Game: 75.5
• Scoring Defense: 59.0
• Scoring Margin: +16.5
• Rebounding Margin: +9.2
• FG%: 46.8%
• 3FG%: 27.1%
• FT%: 68.4%

Gator Leaders

• Scoring:  Christinaki, 20.7
• Rebounding: Williams, 8.8
• Assists: Anderson, 5.8

 
Florida State

• Points Per Game: 83.2
• Scoring Defense: 57.7
• Scoring Margin: +25.6
• Rebounding Margin: +10.7
• FG%: 48.6%
• 3FG%: 39.5%
• FT%: 70.4%

Seminole Leaders

• Scoring: Thomas, 14.7
• Rebounding: Thomas/Brown, 6.0
• Assists: Brown, 5.6

 
The Gators as a Ranked Team

• The Gators sport a 162-85 all-time record when playing as a ranked team.
• UF is just 9-20 when playing as a ranked team against another ranked team and playing on its opponent's home court.
• UF is 46-41 (2-2 this year) when playing as a ranked team on the road.

 
Final Four in Florida

• Including Sunday's game at Florida State, Florida has just four more games remaining of its season-opening 12-game road trip.
• At least the last four games of this adventure all will be played within the state of Florida.

 
Half Way Home

• Last Wednesday's game against Wofford Nov. 30) was Florida's sixth of a season-opening 12-game road trip due to the $64.5 million renovations being done to Exactech Arena at the O'Connell Center.
• The Gator's first home game of the season will be on Dec. 28 against Southeastern Louisiana.

 
Notes from Florida's Last Game
Score: No. 24 Arizona St. 69, UF 63 (Dec. 4, Tempe, Ariz.)

• Florida led by 12 points entering the fourth quarter when Arizona State came alive and outscored the Gators by 18 and earned a 69-63 win in the Arizona State Classic title game
• Entering the deciding fourth, the Sun Devils had shot a mere 26.4 percent (14-53) from the floor. During the final 10 minutes, ASU converted 13-of-14 from the floor (92.9 percent), held UF to 35.3 percent (6-17) and outrebounded the Gators, 10-5.
• With Florida leading 57-50 and five minutes to play, the Sun Devils ended the game with a 19-6 run.
• Florida's 63 points were its fewest this season; was 68 in a loss a Northwestern.
• Florida was outrebounded for the first time this year (40-36).
• UF managed just six offensive rebounds after entering the game averaging 16.3 per game.
• Both of Florida's losses this season have come when being outscored in the fourth quarter.
• The Gators are now 1-2 in games decided by seven points or less.

 
Terrific Gator Trio

• Eleanna Christinaki, Haley Lorenzen and Ronni Williams have been UF's top three scorers in all except one game this season.
• All score in very different ways!
• Christinaki, a sophomore, is a guard who can shoot from anywhere on the court, is a fantastic passer (led UF in assists last year) and can create her own shot. She is contributing 18.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists.
• Lorenzen, a junior, has a great rapport with fellow frontcourt member Williams and knows how to get her the ball. Coach Butler stated that Lorenzen had extended her shooting range and Lorenzen backed that up by hitting the first three-pointer of her career during the win against Temple (Nov. 19) and converted one trey in both of the next two games! Entering the season, Lorenzen had not even attempted a three-pointer. She is averaging 13.3 points and 6.1 rebounds.
• Williams, the lone four-year senior, runs the floor like a guard and has been seen on numerous occasions snaring a defensive rebound, dribbling the length of the court and sinking the layup. Williams, who has been UF's leading scorer each of the last two years, is averaging 15.4 points and a team-best 8.6 rebounds. She has three double-doubles this year; 16 in her career.

 
 
 
Game Day Information

• Who: #23/25 Florida (6-2, 0-0 SEC) at #7 Florida State (8-1)
• Where: Donald L. Tucker Center (12,100) * Tallahassee, Florida
• When: Thu., Dec. 8 * 6 pm ET

 
Game Notes

• Florida [direct link]
• Florida State [direct link]

 
Game Coverage & More!

• Radio: LIVE on ESPN Gainesville 98.1 with Adam Schick & Brittany Davis
• Internet Audio: LIVE thru FloridaGators.com (FREE) with Adam Schick & Brittany Davis [direct link]
• Television: none
• Streaming Video: ACC Network Extra with Tom Block & Melissa Bruner [direct link]
• Internet Scoring: LIVE link posted FloridaGators.com [direct link]

 
Opening Tip

• In the 72-game series history between Florida and Florida State, Thursday's game will be the first time that both teams enter with a national top-25 ranking.
• The 72 games played against the Seminoles are the most versus a single opponent in Gator history.
• Florida enters the game coming off its second loss of the season. FSU sports a seven-game win streak following its only loss of the year (78-76 vs. UConn on Nov. 14).
• Thursday's game is Florida's ninth on the road this season, as the Gators are nearing the end of its 12-game season-opening road trip due to the $64.5 million renovations to its home arena.

 
 
Gator Pronunciations for this release:

• ELEANNA CHRISTINAKI: L-ee-on-uh chris-tin-OCK-ee

 
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