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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Fresh off its fifth consecutive regular-season Southeastern Conference Championship, No. 7 Florida enters the SEC Tournament tonight as a confident team hungry for the taste of another title.

Despite their recent regular-season successes, the Gators haven’t won a conference tournament since 2007. Tonight’s tilt against Vanderbilt is Florida’s first chance to erase the two-year drought.

“Our team is taking a lot of pride in winning [the tournament] because they realize this is a really good setting to practice for next week’s [NCAA Tournament] one-and-done scenario,” coach Becky Burleigh said.

The Gators (15-2-2, 9-1-1 SEC) kick off the tournament tonight in Orange Beach, Ala., at 6 against the Commodores (8-9-2, 4-5-2 SEC) sporting multiple five-game winning streaks. Florida has won its last five regular-season games, and it has won all five meetings against Vanderbilt in the conference tournament’s history.  Florida has outscored Vanderbilt 16-3 in those contests.

Earlier this season, the Gators dominated the Commodores in a 2-0 victory in Nashville,Tenn., but Burleigh expects a different team this time.

“They didn’t have their leading scorer,” she said. “Playing a team for the second time is really hard. Teams make adjustments and it becomes a sort of cat-and-mouse game the second time around.”

Although Vanderbilt enters the tournament as the lowest seed, Florida isn’t taking any chances and is approaching the match with the mindset of just one game at a time, senior Kat Williamson said.

While the Gators eyes are honed in on the ultimate goal, they know that the Commodores need to win the tournament just to qualify for the NCAAs.

“Teams are willing to throw different looks,” Burleigh said. “I expect them to come our firing. Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

Williamson named 2010 SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Quietly, the Gators’ most consistent player this season has been the rock on the back line. Williamson was rewarded for her solid play Tuesday.

The SEC announced its 2010 All-Conference teams and individual award winners, and despite several Gators players receiving recognition, Williamson received the highest praise: being named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

Often overlooked because of Florida’s high-powered offense, Williamson, a sophomore, has started every game the past two seasons and has filled in valiantly for last year’s SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Lauren Hyde.

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“She’s done an amazing job,” keeper Katie Fraine said. “She’s such an intense player and is one that shows that heart is more important than size.”

Despite being 5-foot-6, Williamson is described as a warrior by teammates, and a player the Gators rely on to win games.

“She’s the most physical and aggressive player on our team,” Fraine said. “She refuses to lose. Her competitiveness is what makes her so good.”

Williamson was the only returning starter from the back line a year ago, but the first team All-SEC player led the way meshing the group into a fearsome foursome.

“It’s something we’ve had to work on throughout the year,” Williamson said. “But I think we’ve kind of figured it out.”

“She’s done a terrific job,” Burleigh said. “She’s super competitive, and she really makes up for a lot of our mistakes.”

Burleigh, others also honored: While Williamson was named the Defensive Player of the Year, several other Gators, including Burleigh, picked up accolades Tuesday.

Burleigh was named the 2010 SEC Coach of the Year, the fourth time she’s been honored with the award. Florida’s coach has led the team since its inaugural season in 1995, guiding the Gators to 11 SEC titles and one national championship.

Five Gators were named to the 2010 All-SEC teams including forward Taylor Travis, who picked up several awards, most notably being named 2010 SEC Freshman of the Year.

The North Carolina native is second in the SEC with 10 assists, and was also named to the All-SEC Freshman team and to the All-SEC second team. Also on the second team was forward Tahnai Annis, who is second in the SEC in points and goals.

Ashlee Elliott, Erika Tymrak and Williamson were all named to the All-SEC first team. It was the third time Elliott has received such an award, the first since her transition to center back.

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