Florida (13-6, 2-3 SEC) vs. Thu., Jan. 24, 2013 * 7 ... - GatorZone.com

Florida take an 87-80 lead and make it a threepossessiongame.George is the first Gator to reach the scoringmilestone was Marshae Dotson (2005-09),who scored her 1,000th career point on Feb.10, 2008 vs. Mississippi State and finished hercareer with 1,529 points.Tough Shooting StretchDuring the Gator’s back-to-back losses, theteam converted a mere 15.6 percent (5-32) of itsthree-point attempts.News from the Training RoomFreshman guard Chandler Cooper playedin the first three games of the year but has beensidelined since with a foot injury. Her return datehas not been determined.Redshirt-freshman Viktorija Dimaite torethe ACL in her left knee during practice on Nov.3 and will miss the 2012-13 season.Injuries to Cooper and Dimaite, plus thenews that redshirt-freshman Cassie Peopleswould not be granted immediate eligibility thisyear by the NCAA, has left the Gators with nomore than nine players suiting up for the everygame since the third one of the year.Fans Get their Money’s Worth!Florida has played 64 games over the lastthree-plus seasons with outcomes decidedby 10 points or less - that’s an AVERAGE of18.3 games per season of thrillers! Florida is34-30 record in those tight ballgames, including5-4 this year and five SEC games (2-3)Seventeen games fit into that category duringthe 2011-12 season, when UF posted a 7-10record.10 of UF’s 16 SEC regular-season gamesin 2011-12 were decided by six points or less,with 11 of 16 by decided by single digits.Twenty-three of UF’s program-record 35games during the 2010-11 season were decidedby 10 points or fewer, with 16 being six-point differences- including the final two of the season.The Gators were 14-9 in games decided by 10points or less in 2010-11.During the 2009-10 season, the Gatorsplayed 15 games decided by fewer than 10points and posted an 8-7 in those outings.Non-SEC Home GamesThe Gators boast an impressive 48-5home record against non-conference teamsunder head coach Amanda Butler.Non-ConfYear Home Record2007-08 11-12008-09 8-02009-10 6-32010-11 8-02011-12 7-12012-13 8-0Impressive Stats from Opening WeekendFlorida scored 71 points off turnovers inits first two games, forcing opponents into 52turnovers. The Gators also totaled 33 steals intheir first two games.Coach Butler Earns 100th Win at UFFlorida’s 84-65 win against Georgia Stateon Nov. 11 was Amanda Butler’s 100th coachingvictory with the Gators.Butler joins Carol Ross as the only twocoaches in Gator history to guide Florida to 100wins. Ross finished with 247 wins in 12 years.The 98 wins Butler accumulated during herfirst five seasons with the Gators are the mostby any coach in program history through theirfirst five years at UF.Let’s Get it StartedIn Florida’s season-opener, Jaterra Bondsstarted her team-leading 34th consecutivegame, while redshirt-junior Lily Svete earnedher first collegiate start.Freshman Sydney Moss became thefirst rookie to start her Gator debut since KaylaLewis was on the floor for the season-openingtip for the 2010-11 campaign. Lewis started onFriday for her eighth career start, while juniornewcomer Vicky McIntyre jumped centeragainst Fairfield.Moss was BossFreshman Sydney Moss had quite theimpressive collegiate debut, just missing a tripledouble,as she recorded 9 points, 10 reboundsand 9 assists against Fairfield.The nine assists set the record for a Gatordebut, breaking the previous mark of six set bySarah Lowe (2002-03), Brandi McCain (1998-99) and Amanda Butler (1990-91).She became just the seventh Gator - andthird freshman - to collect at least 10 reboundsin a debut. The other two freshmen wereOlympian Tammy Jackson (1981-82) and 2004WNBA first-round draft pick Vanessa Hayden(2000-01).Get Your Roster Card Ready!Eight of the 12 players on the 2012-13roster have never suited up as a Gator! Yes,EIGHT!There are two freshmen (Viktorija Dimaiteand Carlie Needles) who redshirted last yearand never played a minute.There are four true freshmen (ChandlerCooper, Christin Mercer, January Miller andSydney Moss), who comprise the nation’s 20thrankedrecruiting class, per ESPN-HoopGurlz.And there are two transfers: Vicky Mc-Intyre, a junior from Oklahoma State who iseligible to play this year and Cassie Peoples,a redshirt freshman who will have to sit out the2012-13 season per NCAA rules for transfers.And They Aren’t the Only Newcomers!Also new to the Gators this season is assistantcoach Angela Crosby, who spent the2011-12 season at Charlotte and the three previousyears at Virginia Tech.Early SEC AccoladesJennifer George was named preseasonFirst Team All-SEC by a panel of SEC andnational sports media.The SEC media and College Sports Madnesspoll have the same five players selected totheir respective First Team. George was joinedon the first team by Kentucky’s A’dia Mathies,Vanderbilt’s Christina Foggie, Georgia’s AnneMarie Armstrong and Texas A&M’s Kelsey Bone.Jennifer George WATCH-ingtonPreseason All-America Candidate2012-13 Honors*Gator Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team*Naismith Player of the Year Early SeasonWatch List (1 of 50)*Senior CLASS Award candidate (1 of 30)*Preseason First Team All-SEC (Media, 1 of5)*Preseason First Team All-SEC CollegeSports Madness (1 of 5)*Scored 1,000th career point (Dec. 7, 2012vs. Pacific; her 109th career game; 21stGator to reach scoring milestone)*topped 900-career point plateau (at FloridaState, Nov. 15, 2012)Additional Notes & HighlightsTEAM*extended overall home winning streak to15 games, the fourth-longest streak inprogram history*won the Gator Holiday Classic (17th time in21 years a team champion has beencrowned)*allowed Savannah State (Dec. 20) just 13first half points, tied for the fifth-fewestby an opponent in program history andfewest points since Southern Universityscored 13 in the second half on Dec.20, 2009* advanced to the championship game of theGator Holiday Classic for the 23rd time,every year of the event* the 50-point win vs. Savannah State (Dec.20) was the second-largest margin ofvictory for Florida under Coach Butler,behind the 57-point win vs. AlabamaState (95-38) on Dec. 20, 2010Amanda Butler*Recorded her 150th career coaching at(Jan. 6 vs. LSU, 77-72)*Recorded 100th coaching win at UF (Nov. 11vs. Georgia State, 84-65)Jaterra Bonds*tied UF record by hitting 11-of-11 free throwsat Kentucky (Jan. 3)*made 12 free throws vs. Pacific (Dec. 7),tied for fourth-most in a game in programhistory*attempted 15 free throws vs. Pacific (Dec.7), tied for ninth most in a game inprogram historyCarlie Needles*South Point Thanksgiving Shootout All-Tournament Team (Las Vegas)*Set UF record with 9 three-pointers in agame (vs. North Florida, Nov. 19; broke20-year-old record of 8 set by BridgetPettis vs. Georgia, 1/20/93)*Tied for second-most three-pointers ina game in SEC history (9 vs. NorthFlorida, Nov. 19)Sydney Moss*Gator Holiday Classic MVP*SEC Freshman of Week, Dec. 10*Dished Gator-debut record 9 assistsGAME 20: GATORS host the Lady Rebels // Thursday, January 24