The UF women’s basketball team is on the road for their season-opener tonight. The Gators take on the Temple University Owls starting at 7 o’clock.
Last season, coached by Amanda Butler, The Gators had a record of 13 wins and 17 losses. The team’s leading scorers were guards, Ronnie Williams and Cassie Peoples. Williams averaged 10.3 points per game and Peoples averaged a total of 9.3 points per game. The team overall averaged a total of 61.9 points a game.
This season, with a total of five seniors, four new faces, including the freshman from Greece, Eleanna Christinaki, and a pair of new assistant coaches, the Gators have high expectations for this season.
Head coach Amanda Butler, who played college basketball at UF, is entering her ninth season as the Gators’ coach. Butler is really looking forward to season, but right now she’s focused on traveling to Temple and getting a win.
The Temple Owls are coached by Tanya Cardoza, who is entering her eighth season as coach of the Owls.
Last season, Cardoza lead the Owls to their first post-season final four in program history. The team advanced to the WNIT semifinals before falling in overtime to West Virginia. The team’s leading scorers were Alliya Butts and Erica Covile. Butts averaged a total of 12.3 points per game and Covile averaged a total of 11.4 points per game. The team overall averaged a total of 66.4 points per game.
This season, the Owls only have one returning senior, which is Erica Covile. However, the Owls have a total of five returning seniors.
Both teams are prepared for this Friday the 13th match up.