The Gator women’s basketball team will play their first game of the regular season against Temple this Friday.
Florida will be looking to make the most of their fresh start after a disappointing 2014-15 campaign in which they finished the season with a 13-17 record. The Gators were 5-11 against the SEC and were mediocre at home (8-9) and on the road (5-7).
Florida will have five returning seniors on its roster as they look to beat the Owls in Philadelphia. Among the team’s returning players is forward Ronni Williams who lead the team in scoring with an average of ten points per game.
Because of the team’s veteran presence, Gator head coach Amanda Butler says she expects to see better results on the road this season.
The Gators will also have two new additions joining Williams in the junior class to start the season. Guard Simone Westbrook and center Tyshara Fleming, who both transferred from Northwest Florida State College after leading their team to two quarterfinals appearances in NJCAA national championship, will look to contribute immediately on both sides of the ball.
Although Temple finished their season with a loss against East Carolina in the 2015 American Athletic Conference Championships, Butler says the Owls will pose a good early season challenge for Florida.
Because of the kind of personnel Temple has been able to recruit, Butler also says she expects them to run the same kind of up tempo offense they had last year.
The big key for the Gators will ultimately be to control the pace of the game and impose their style of play onto Temple at both ends of the floor.
Tip-off is set for 7pm.