Florida Gators

NORMAN, Okla. – Florida makes just its second trip to the state of Oklahoma and its first since December of 1983, as the Gators face Oklahoma on Sunday in the Big 12-SEC Challenge. Tip-off from Lloyd Noble Center is set for 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT.
 
Sunday's game is Florida's only true non-conference away game this season. The reason: the Gators played their first 12 games last year on the road due to the $64.5 million renovation to Exactech Arena. This year's slate became a near reversal of that schedule.
 
Florida did play three neutral site games already, posting a 2-1 record at the Savannah Invitational, playing three games in three days, Nov. 21-23.
 
Oklahoma has been busy on the road during the early part of the season, playing four of its six games away from Norman.
 
Sunday's game will be the Sooner's first at home following a three-game road trip.
 
The Big 12/SEC Challenge

• The fun and challenging event features every team from the Big 12 against 10 squads from the SEC.
• This is the second season in which 10 games will be played.
• Florida did not participate in last year's challenge.
• The format consists of five home games on campus sites for each conference.
• Half of the contests feature at least one team that was ranked in the final 2016-17 USA Today coaches' poll.
• In 2016, the SEC edged the Big 12, 6-4, in the first 10-game slate.

 
Gators vs. Sooners: The Series & More

• Sunday is the first meeting between the two programs.
• The only other time the Gators played a game in the Sooner State was on Dec. 2, 1983, when Florida won at Tulsa, 70-52.

 
First-Time Florida Foes

• There are two teams on UF's schedule that the Gators will play for the first time: Oklahoma (Dec. 3 in Norman) and Marshall (Dec. 10 in Gainesville).

 
Florida vs. Big 12 Conference Teams

• The last time the Gators played a team from the Big 12 Conference was on March 19, 2012. UF lost to Baylor, 76-57, in the second round of the NCAA Championship.
• The last time Florida played a regular-season game against a Big 12 team was on Dec. 16, 2007, versus TCU, however, the Horned Frogs were still a member of the Mountain West Conference at that time.
• The last time the Gators played a regular-season game against an ACTIVE member of the Big 12 was on Nov. 17, 2007, when Florida lost a 90-63 decision at Nebraska, which is now a member of the Big Ten Conference.

 
Either way, Coach Cam Would Have Played Here

• Florida coach Cameron Newbauer is in his first season with the Gators.
• He spent the previous four years at the helm of Belmont University, the team Oklahoma opened its 2017-18 season against. The Sooners topped the Bruins, 96-73, in Norman.

 
"Chuck it from the Cheap Seats!"

• The Gators are listening to Coach Cam Newbauer's approach to shooting and has told every member of the team to "chuck it from the cheap seats!" (Coach is a HUGE movie guy and the quote is from "Hoosiers")
• 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 Sunday's game, the Gators are averaging 10.3 three-pointers per game and converting at a 36.9 percent clip.
• Thru games played Nov. 29, UF ranks tied for No. 9 in the country in threes per game! (and No. 7 in total three-pointers made)
• TEN of the 11 players on the roster have hit at least one trey this season. Only freshman guard Tameria Johnson has yet to have one fall from deep.

 
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. 3 in the country in staying out of foul trouble, being whistled for just 12.4 fouls per game.
• Through the first seven games, not one Gator has fouled out this season.

 
What Just Happened

• Led by Haley Lorenzen's third double-double of the season, Florida earned its second straight victory after defeating Jacksonville, 69-59, at home on Tuesday.
• Lorenzen tied her career-best of 20 points on 9-of-15 shooting and collected 11 rebounds.
• It was the first time this season the Gators have won consecutive games.
• Three Gators scored in double figures: Lorenzen (20), Dyandria Anderson (16) and Delicia Washington (12).
• The Gators shot 46 percent from the field and 33 percent (6-18) from behind the arc

 
Gator Watch

• Through seven games, Florida is averaging a respectable 74.6 points per game.
• Top two Gator scorers: Funda Nakkasoglu (14.8 ppg) and Haley Lorenzen (13.0 ppg)
• Top two rebounders: Haley Lorenzen (8.6 pg) and Delicia Washington (8.0 pg)
• Assists leaders Delicia Washington (29 total, 4.1 pg) and Dyandria Anderson (27 total, 3.9 pg)

 
Who's Hot!

• Senior Haley Lorenzen is averaging a team-best of 19.0 points along with 9.5 rebounds over the last two games.
• Lorenzen converted 64.0 percent of her shots overall during the two-game span, including 3-of-5 from the three-point arc.

 
Game Day at a Glance

• What: The Big 12-SEC Challenge
• Who: Florida (4-3) at Oklahoma (3-3)
• Where: Lloyd Noble Center (11,562) * Norman, Oklahoma
• When: Sun., Dec. 3 * 3 pm ET/2 pm CT

 
Game Notes (PDF)

• Florida – http://bit.ly/2zSvrr0
• Oklahoma – http://bit.ly/2ibzIKS

 
VIDEO PREVIEW:

• UF Coach Cameron Newbauer - https://youtu.be/OC6iyFEjUVE

 
Game Coverage & More!

• Radio: ESPN Gainesville 98.1FM & 850AM WRUF in Gainesville with Kyle Crooks & Brittany Davis
• Internet Audio: link thru FloridaGators.com (FREE)
  • http://bit.ly/2Am7pBC
• Television: FOX Sports Sun (in Florida); check local FOX affiliates for a broadcast in your area
• Streaming Video: www.foxsportsgo.com
• Internet Scoring: link through FloridaGators.com
  • http://bit.ly/2009fMI

 
Opening Tip

• This week is the Big 12/SEC Challenge and it features every team from the Big 12 against 10 squads from the SEC.
• Sunday's game will be the first meeting between the two programs.
• This also marks just the second time in the 44-year history of the program that the Gators will play a game in the state of Oklahoma.
• The game will be UF's first true away game of the year and the only non-conference away contest.
• UF is averaging 10.3 three-pointers per game, the ninth-most in the nation, thru games Nov. 29, and one of 14 schools averaging double-digit treys per game.

 
 
Gator Pronunciations for this Release:

• DYANDRIA Anderson: dee-ANN-dree-uh
• TAMERIA Johnson: tah-MEIR-ee-uh
• FUNDA NAKKASOGLU: FOON-da knock-ah-SO-glue
• DELICIA Washington: duh-LEE-shuh

 
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