Florida Gators

OCALA, Fla. – The Gators ripped out of their huddle between the third and fourth quarters and opened the final period with an 18-2 run that flipped a seven-point deficit into a nine-point lead as Florida topped Temple, 83-76, on Saturday afternoon at Patriot Gym on the campus of the College of Central Florida.

Haley Lorenzen and Eleanna Christinaki both scored six points during that crucial run, with Ronni Williams, Dyandria Anderson and Delicia Washington also chipping in offensively.
 
Temple led for more than 27 minutes of the game and by as many as eight points midway through the second quarter. Florida fought back from that deficit with a 12-0 run and held a three-point lead which was short-lived, as the Owls countered with a 10-2 run in the third quarter.
 
The teams traded buckets, but TU found more success from deep and would drop nine three-pointers during the game, compared with the Gator's three.
 
Washington, a freshman, began fueling the Gators at the end of third when she scored UF's final six points. Temple, however, netted the final four points of the period for the 56-49 lead.
 
Washington, who finished with 10 points and a team-best nine rebounds, opened the fourth quarter with a steal and a layup that ignited the game-changing run.
 
Temple closed to within five points, 79-74, with 1:14 remaining, however, the Gators worked their next offensive possession perfectly, as Christinaki waited until four on the shot clock before hitting an eight-footer in the lane with 45 seconds left. She tacked on a free throw 20 seconds later and gave UF an 82-74 lead that helped seal the win.
 
 
Final Fourth

• Florida outscored Temple, 34-20, during the fourth quarter.
• The Gators hit 78.9 percent (15-19) from the floor, while Temple connected on 35.3 percent (6-17).
• Christinaki scored 13 points in the fourth quarter (6-8 FG), while Lorenzen tallied 10 points (4-5 FG).
• The Gators had eight of their 18 assists during the final period and committed just one turnover. Temple had six miscues that UF converted into 10 points.

 
 
Double-Digit Gators

• Christinaki finished with a game-high 21 points, scoring 18 of those in the second half. The Gator sophomore also collected seven rebounds and four assists. This was her second straight 20-point game, as well as the 20th double-figure scoring game of her career.
• Lorenzen stepped up throughout the game, as her primary fellow frontcourt colleagues found themselves in first half foul troubles. Lorenzen, who led UF with nine points in the first half, ended with 19 points on 8-15 shooting from the floor.
• Williams, who was whistled for three fouls in the first half, scored 12 of her 18 points in the second half for her 54th career double-figure scoring game.
• Washington netted the second double-figure scoring game of her career, with eight of her 10 points coming during a crucial point late in the third quarter and into the fourth.

 
 
The UPDATED Series: Florida vs. Temple

• 8-game Series: UF leads 6-2 (UF Home: 1-1; Away: 3-1; Neutral: 2-0)

 
 
Updated Overall Records:

• Florida: 3-0
• Temple: 2-1

 
 
Quoting Florida Head Coach Amanda Butler:
On the deciding fourth quarter:
"I think our upperclassmen composure is something that's really important. We had different people at different times step up and give us a spark so we had that true balance. We really are a mentally tougher team right now than we were this time a month ago and I think we were mentally tougher in the fourth quarter today than we were in the first and second quarter. That was important for us – that we continue to grow and push forward. We have to give Tyler Stuart (strength and conditioning coordinator) credit because we have enough gas in the tank in the fourth quarter to do whatever we need to do – run, press, trap, whatever the situation calls for."
 
On the difference of freshman Delicia Washington's play from the first to the second half:
"When the game momentum shifted, it was the type of game that really is a good fit for her. In the first quarter in particular, I thought she got out of the gate slow defensively. All of our team, when we play great defense, seem to follow. I'm really proud of her bouncing back and coming out in the second half and giving her team what it needed."
 
 
Gator Pronunciations:

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

 
What's Next for the Gators:

• Who: #19/23 Florida (3-0) at Arkansas State (0-3)
• When: Tue., Nov. 22 * 6:30 pm ET/5:30 pm CT
• Where: Convocation Center (10,563) * Jonesboro, Arkansas
• Radio: LIVE on ESPN Gainesville 95.3 with Adam Schick & Brittany Davis
• Internet Audio: LIVE thru FloridaGators.com (FREE)
• Television: none
• Streaming Video: LIVE thru astateredwolves.com
• Internet Scoring: LIVE link through FloridaGators.com

 
 
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