Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida returns to action on Wednesday after taking a short break for the holiday and plays host to Delaware State beginning at 2 p.m. PLEASE NOTE THE EARLY WEEKDAY START TIME!
 
The Gators last played six days ago, defeating Saint Joseph's, 71-51.
 
Wednesday's game is the team's final non-league outing of the season before turning its attention squarely to Southeastern Conference foes.
 
The game will mark Florida's final outing of a five-game homestand.
 
 
Gators vs. Lady Hornets: The Series

• UF leads DSU, 1-0, in the all-time series.
• The last meeting between the two teams was on Dec. 6, 2004, when the Gators got the best of the Hornets, 71-47.

 
Quick Glance at the Hornets

• Injuries are the early story for Delaware State, with the most notable a knee injury to junior forward NaJai Pollard, who was selected as the 2017-18 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Preseason Player of the Year.

 
Gators for THREEEEEE!

• Entering Wednesday's game, the Gators are averaging 9.8 three-pointers per game and converting at a 34.9 percent clip.
• Thru games played Dec. 23, UF ranks No. 13 in the country in threes per game; and No. 12 in total three-pointers made
• TEN of the 11 players on the scholarship roster have hit at least one trey this season.

 
What Else do the Gators do well?

• Aside from hitting the three at an SEC-leading rate, Florida does not get fouled. The Gators rank No. 2 in the country in staying out of foul trouble, being whistled for just 12.3 fouls per game.
• Through the first 12 games, not one Gator has fouled out this season.

 
What Just Happened

• Haley Lorenzen posted her second double-double in as many days and helped lead Florida to a 71-51 win against Saint Joseph's.
• Lorenzen, who was named to the Gator Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team, finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
• All five starters recorded a double-figure scoring effort against Saint Joseph's, with Paulina Hersler logging a game and career-high 19 points along with eight rebounds.
• It was a five-point game with just under eight minutes remaining in the third quarter before Florida staged a 15-4 run over a 4:47 span and the Gators jumped out to a 49-33 lead with 3:04 left in the third.
• Delicia Washington sparked the run and Hersler followed with a three, as Dyandria Anderson and Funda Nakkasoglu both added treys of their own for a 14-point swell. After a bucket from the Hawks, Lorenzen converted back-to-back inside buckets with feeds from Elif Portakal and Nakkasoglu.
• Florida maintained a double-figure lead for the remainder of the game, using a 18-4 march early in the fourth quarter to put the game away, as the Gator lead grew to as many as 24 points.

 
Gator Watch

• Through 12 games, Florida is averaging a respectable 73.7 points per game, with all five starters averaging double-figure scoring.
• Top two Gator scorers: Funda Nakkasoglu (16.2 ppg) and Haley Lorenzen (12.3 ppg)
• Top two rebounders: Haley Lorenzen (9.4 pg) and Delicia Washington (8.6 pg)
• Assists leaders Delicia Washington (44 total, 3.7 pg) and Dyandria Anderson 41 total, 3.4 pg)

 
Who's Hot!

• During the last three games, five Gators are each averaging a double-figure scoring effort, with Funda Nakkasoglu atop the chart with 16.0 points per game.
• Haley Lorenzen is averaging a double-double during the three-game span, recording 10.7 points and 10.3 rebounds.

 
Game Day at a Glance

• Who: Florida (7-5) hosts Delaware State (1-9)
• Where: Exactech Arena (10,151) * Gainesville, Florida
• When: Wed., December 27 * 2 pm ET

 
Game Notes (PDF)

• Florida – http://bit.ly/2CbY6rm
• Delaware State – dsuhornets.com

 
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)
• Internet Scoring: LIVE through FloridaGators.com
• Gates Open: 1 pm

 
 
Gator Pronunciations for this Release:

• DYANDRIA Anderson: dee-ANN-dree-uh
• FUNDA NAKKASOGLU: FOON-da knock-a-SO-glue
• ELIF PORTAKAL: ee-LEAF POOR-ta-call
• Sydney SEARCY: SIR-see
• DELICIA Washington: duh-LEE-shuh