Gator Holiday Classic Begins Wednesday

Wednesday, December 20

Gainesville, FL

12 PM

Florida Gators

Chattanooga

Tickets

Coach Cam Newbauer and the team play host to the two-day Gator Holiday Classic.

Gator Holiday Classic Begins Wednesday

Tuesday, December 19, 2017 | Women's Basketball

Florida welcomes Chattanooga, Princeton and Saint Joseph’s to Exactech Arena

By: Kathy Cafazzo

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida returns to action for the first time since defeating Marshall, 74-69, on December 10, taking an 11-day break from competition to focus on final exams. The team plays host to its 26th annual Gator Holiday Classic, Dec. 20-21, with Chattanooga, Princeton and Saint Joseph's competing.

It's a predetermined schedule, with the Florida playing Chattanooga on Dec. 20 at noon, before Princeton and Saint Joseph's meet at 2:30 p.m.

On Dec. 21, the Gators play Saint Joseph's at noon, while Chattanooga and Princeton square off at 2:30 p.m.

The Gator Holiday Classic will mark the third and fourth games during Florida's five-game homestand, capping the friendly run on December 27 against Delaware State.

Gator Holiday Classic Game Schedule:

Dec. 20, Noon: Florida vs. Chattanooga
Dec. 20, 2:30 p.m.: Saint Joseph's vs. Princeton
Dec. 21, Noon: Florida vs. Saint Joseph's
Dec. 21, 2:30 p.m. UTC vs. Princeton

Gators vs. Chattanooga: The Series

4-Game Series: tied 2-2 (UF Home: 0-0; Away: 1-0; Neutral: 1-2)
Florida has won the last two meetings in the four-game series against UTC, including last year's 72-61 thriller in Chattanooga, where it was a two-point game, 63-61, with 4:38 remaining, before the Gators closed it out with a 9-0 run that included a big three-pointer from Dyandria Anderson and four points from Haley Lorenzen.

A Glance at The Mocs

Women's Basketball Hall of Famer Jim Foster guides UTC for a fifth consecutive year. He has guided the Mocs to the NCAA Tournament every year and is approaching the 900-win plateau, entering the Gator Holiday Classic with 893 wins in 40 years on the sidelines.
Gator Assistant Coach John McCray was a member of Coach Foster's UTC staff for the last four years before joining the UF staff.
On the court, sisters Aryanna and Keiana Gilbert lead the Mocs in scoring, combining for 44 percent of the team's offense.

"Chuck it from the Cheap Seats!"

The Gators are listening to Coach Cameron Newbauer's approach to shooting and has told every member of the team to "chuck it from the cheap seats!"
The Gators reset the program record for threes in a game in two of their last three outings. The new standard stands at 17 after the Nov. 23 performance against Savannah State.
The team canned 15 three-pointers vs. Richmond (11/21/17) to first break the program record for threes in a game, which was 13 at Arkansas, Feb. 1, 2009.

Gators for THREEEEEE!

Entering Wednesday's game, the Gators are averaging 10.6 three-pointers per game and converting at a 37.1 percent clip.
Thru games played Dec. 18 UF ranks SIXTH in the country in threes per game! (and No. 10 in total three-pointers made)
TEN of the 11 players on the scholarship roster have hit at least one trey this season. Only freshman guard Tameria Johnson has yet to have one fall from deep.
Check out the chart on this page to see the individual three-point shooting improvements by each the Gators!

What Else do the Gators do well?

Aside from hitting the three at an SEC-leading rate, Florida doesn't get fouled. The Gators rank No. 2 in the country in staying out of foul trouble, being whistled for just 12.2 fouls per game.
Through the first 10 games, not one Gator has fouled out this season.

What Just Happened

The Gators may have tried to start their 11-day break from games about 15 minutes too early, as Florida was forced to withstand a furious Marshall rally to earn a 74-69 win.
The Gators (6-4) slowly built a 54-34 lead with 4:48 remaining in the third quarter, before Marshall (3-6) ripped off a 33-14 run that had the Herd within one, 68-67, with 1:06 to go in the game.
Late in that span, Funda Nakkasoglu's three-pointer with 2:48 remaining put the Gators back up 10, 67-57, however, that would be Florida's final field goal of the game. The Herd rattled off an ensuring 10-1 run and cut UF's lead to one.
Marshall finished by hitting six of its final eight field goal attempts
The Herd outscored UF 25-14 in the fourth quarter, when the Gators shot 18.2 percent (2-11) and Marshall 55.6 percent (10-18) from the floor.
Florida had 18 assists on 22 field goals.

Gator Watch

Through 10 games, Florida is averaging a respectable 75.3 points per game.
Top two Gator scorers: Funda Nakkasoglu (16.4 ppg) and Dyandria Anderson (13.1 ppg)
Top two rebounders: Haley Lorenzen (9.1 pg) and Delicia Washington (8.3 pg)
Assists leaders Delicia Washington (41 total, 4.1 pg) and Dyandria Anderson (36 total, 3.6 pg)

Who's Hot!

During the last three games, the Gators five primary starters are each averaging a double-figure scoring effort, with Funda Nakkasoglu atop the chart with 19.0 points per game. Nakkasoglu is swishing three-pointers at a 41.7 percent (10-24) clip.
Haley Lorenzen is averaging a double-double during the three-game span, recording 10.0 points and 10.3 rebounds.

What's Next for the Gators

Following the Gator Holiday Classic, Florida will not compete again until Wed., Dec. 17, when the team plays host to Delaware State, with tip-off scheduled for 2 p.m.
PLEASE NOTE THE EARLY WEEKDAY START TIME!

Game Day at a Glance

What: 26th Gator Holiday Classic, Day 1
Who: Florida (6-4) hosts Chattanooga (7-4)
Where: Exactech Arena (10,151) * Gainesville, Florida
When: Wed., December 20 * 12 pm ET
Also: Princeton vs. Saint Joseph's at 2:30 p.m.

Game Notes (PDF):

Florida – http://bit.ly/2BBcw1c
Chattanooga – http://bit.ly/2BLkyHr

Gator Game Coverage & More!

Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1FM & 850AM WRUF with Kyle Crooks & Brittany Davis
Internet Audio: link thru FloridaGators.com (FREE)
Television: none
Streaming Video: SEC Network + (WatchESPN) - http://es.pn/2kO65QB
Internet Scoring: LIVE through FloridaGators.com - http://bit.ly/1YdNeuV
Gates Open: 11 am

Opening Tip

Florida returns to the court for the first time since an 11-day break for final exams and plays host to the 26th Gator Holiday Classic.
This year's Gator Holiday Classic has a prearranged schedule so there will not be a team tournament champion - only an individual All-Tournament Team.
Florida has won the event 20 times in the 24 years there has been a team champion declared. There were only three teams in 2005 and no team title was awarded.
Saint Joseph's is making its second appearance at the GHC, placing third in 2012. UTC and Princeton are first-time competitors.

Additional Hoopla for Wednesday
Sponsored by Honda of Gainesville

Holiday Classic Shirt Giveaway - The first 100 fans to the game receive a special Holiday Classic T shirt! [Location-Main Atrium]
Holiday Joy - Fans will be filled with holiday spirit as the Exactech Arena turns into a winter wonderland! Visit the Practice Court and take a journey through the North Pole, play games and enjoy a special visit from Santa himself!
Balloon artist Magic Mike will be on hand making all sorts of items for kids!
$1 Day - All general admission tickets are $1. Hot dogs are available for just $1 as well.
Kids Club - Kids Club members and their families receive FREE admission to the game

Additional Hoopla for Thursday
Sponsored by Honda of Gainesville

Holiday Joy - Fans will be filled with holiday spirit as the Exactech Arena turns into a winter wonderland! Visit the Practice Court and take a journey through the North Pole, play games and enjoy a special visit from Santa himself!
$1 Day - All general admission tickets are $1. Popcorn is available for just $1, as well.
Kids Club - Kids Club members and their families receive FREE admission to the game

Gator Pronunciations for this Release: