GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida women's basketball team opens its 2018-19 season when it welcomes Gardner-Webb on Tuesday, Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. ET to Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Tuesday's contest marks the first-ever Field Trip Day game for the program and a large crowd of local Gainesville elementary students is expected.
The season lidlifter will air live on SEC Network+ with Bernie Guenther & Brittany Davis on the call and Kyle Crooks and Jennifer George will handle the radio broadcast on ESPN 98.1FM/850 AM.
UF Game Notes |
Gardner-Webb Game Notes
"There's been a lot of growth in the last two weeks and a lot of comradery building in terms of celebrating small things on and off the court. A lot of times in these really early games it's more about being focused on what you do and just being prepared for what may be thrown at you. We are constantly talking to the team about us making adjustments, making the next play and just trusting that our coaching staff will give them what they should change and what they should fix," said Gators Head Coach Cameron Newbauer.
This will very much be a new-look Florida team as the roster features six newcomers and three redshirts from a season ago who will be making their Gator debut. But while one should expect to see many new players at the O'Dome on Tuesday, UF does return two familiar faces and two starters from last season's team in junior guard
Delicia Washington and redshirt-senior guard
Funda Nakkasoglu. Nakkasoglu, the Utah State transfer, led the Gators in scoring a season ago at 14.9 points per game while Washington accounted for 10.2 points per game to go with 8.7 rebounds. Sophomore
Stephanie Brower also returns for her second season with the Gators and her first on full scholarship after beginning as a walk-on player in 2017-18.
"Delicia and Funda have both done a tremendous job in continuing to grow in our system and understand what their roles are, but also understanding the leadership value they bring to our team. Whether that be how hard they play, coaching teammates or showing them the way or just being a consummate leader off the court," added Newbauer.
The Gators welcome a trio of talented freshmen to Gainesville in
Ariel Johnson,
Emanuely de Oliveira and
Kristina Moore to go with five transfers,
Kiara Smith,
Danielle Rainey,
Zada Williams,
Corey Staples and
Paige Robinson. Rainey, Staples and Williams all joined the Gators in 2017-18 but Rainey and Williams were forced to sit out due to NCAA transfer rules and Staples missed the season due to injury. Rainey, who began her collegiate career at TCU, will be eligible in the second semester for the Gators.
Gardner-Webb returns three players from last season's team which finished with a 19-13 overall record. Ky'Asia Stanford leads all returning Runnin' Bulldogs with a 9.2 points per game average in 2017-18 and twins, Carley Plentovich and Savannah Plentovich, each averaged over 7.5 points per game a season ago. GWU is under the direction of first year Head Coach Alex Simmons who assumed the post after Rick Reeves announced his retirement after 14 years at the helm in Boiler Springs, N.C. Simmons comes to Gardner-Webb after serving as an assistant coach at Ole Miss (2013-2018) and Middle Tennessee State (2010-2013). The Runnin' Bulldogs welcome the services of five newcomers, including University of Miami graduate transfer Neydja Petithomme, who was a teammate of
Zada Williams with the Hurricanes. Gardner-Webb is a member of the Big South conference and made its lone appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2001, falling to Miami, 62-80.
Following Tuesday's matchup, UF hits the road for consecutive away contests as it travels to Tallahassee Sunday, Nov. 11 for a showdown with the Seminoles and to Mercer Thursday, Nov. 15 for a matchup in Macon, Ga.
Florida vs. Gardner-Webb Broadcast Info
Time & Date: Tuesday, Nov. 6 | 11 a.m. ET
Live Stream: SEC Network +
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Radio: ESPN 98.1FM/850 AM WRUF
Series History
- Tuesday marks the first meeting between Florida and Gardner-Webb.
Tipoff Tip-ins
- This is the 45th year of Florida Gators women's basketball.
- The Gators have posted a 26-18 mark all time in season openers including a 17-6 record at home, where they have posted four-straight victories.
- In his five seasons as a head coach, Coach Newbauer has led his teams to a 3-2 record in season openers including a perfect 3-0 mark in those played at home.
- Under Newbauer, the Gators are 1-0 in season openers as they defeated Georgia State, 82-66, in his debut season in Gainesville.
- Tuesday will be the season opener for both squads as neither played in an exhibition game.
- In his first season in Gainesville Coach Newbauer implemented a new offensive philosophy which placed an emphasis on shooting and spacing the floor. The new system was quite impactful as the Gators set the program record with 249 (8.4 pg) made three-pointers. UF set the record in its 26th game, passing the 221 three-pointers (6.9 pg) set by the 2008-09 squad in 32 games.
- Florida also set a new program record for most three-pointers made in a single game, when it converted 17 three-pointers vs. Savannah State (11/23/17).
- UF needed just needed 11 games to pass the previous season's entire 31-game total of 3-pointers (109).
- Funda Nakkasoglu has hit at least one three-pointer in 23-consecutive games, which ties her for the second-longest streak in program history.
- The coaching staff helped instill a sense of unselfishness a season ago as the Gators were one of two SEC teams to feature two players in the league's top 15 in terms of assists per game (Washington 3.6 apg, Anderson 3.1 apg). UF was one of two teams to have more than one player average over three assists per game as well. The Gators were one of seven SEC teams to average north of 14 assists per game (14.2).
Promotions - Field Trip Day
- Students and staff will enter through Gate 3
- Each school is given a dedicated seating area and will be escorted by Marketing to their section once they arrive.
- There will be an Educational Fair and Kids Korner on Practice Court
- Activities include: Balloon Animals by Magic Mike, Coloring Station, Snack Station Cornhole, Pop A Shot, Connect 4, Jenga and an Educational Fair with Butterfly Museum & UF Campus Recreation
- Students can bring bag lunches
- Free giveaway for all students:
- 500 Rally Towels - distributed at Gates 1 and 3
- 1,000 Commemorative Field Trip Day Wristbands (Students only) – Gate 3
- Kids can sign up to take part in a Gators tunnel as team takes the floor. – Interested parties should meet behind section 07 at 20:00 on clock
- All fans are invited to check out the brand new court projection intros and a new addition for the 2018-19 season, a live D.J.!
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