Her players, Mike White, Mary Wise and other prominent Gators voiced their support for Finley via social media after Monday’s announcement.
With Florida’s SEC Tournament play beginning Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee, take a look back at some of the crucial moments from the team’s historic run.
The long-awaited announcement is here. Athletic director Scott Stricklin has named Kelly Rae Finley Florida women’s basketball’s permanent head coach, removing the interim tag after an impressive year.
Sophomore Jordyn Merritt dropped 23 points in Florida’s 78-73 loss to Missouri. The final regular-season game for the Gators also saw four seniors receive recognition before game time.
Florida turned the ball over 28 times in a loss to Vanderbilt Thursday night. Kelly Rae Finley was still all smiles after, saying they’ll use the ugly loss for fuel creeping into March.
A tough shooting night from the Gators at the free-throw line resulted in their first road loss in SEC play, as the Tigers captured a 66-61 victory.
Emanuely de Oliveira shined with 15 points as No. 17 Florida survived Arkansas for their 20th win. She’s excited to play a part in Florida’s surprise of a comeback season. “That’s what we looked forward [to] since I got here,” Oliveira said.
“I’ve been asked a few times what’s the difference. Kelly Rae Finley is the difference.” Georgia coaches don’t say that about Florida peers often, but that’s what Joni Taylor said about the Gators’ run through the SEC this year. She’s not alone.
“I was really pleased with our ability to learn throughout this game, to make adjustments and to play on the road in a heated environment,” interim head coach Kelly Rae Finley said.
No. 19 Florida looked a little shaky in their first game as a ranked team in over 5 years.
“We don’t need validation from anybody,” said sophomore Jordyn Merritt. That’s the message as of late around Florida women’s hoops. It’s the mantra that gave the Gators a rout over No. 7 Tennessee, only the fifth win in series history. From @CalebWiegandt
Aliyah Boston's 13 points and 19 rebounds helped South Carolina hand the Gators their third loss in SEC play.
Florida earned its fifth straight SEC win by upsetting No. 11 LSU in Exactech Arena.
At first, Florida’s pregame routine looked unremarkable to the sparse crowd of college basketball fanatics at the O’Connell Center. It’s when 18-year-old freshmen forwards Tatyana and Taliyah Wyche sprinted and elevated to rattle the rim that passing fans took a collective gasp.
Florida captures a statement win against a top-25 team for the second time this season. A near-perfect shooting night from freshman Alberte Rimdal extends the Gators win streak to four.
Freshman Alberte Rimdal put up an electrifying 17 points to push the Gators ahead of the Crimson Tide 85-77.
Lavender Briggs is moving on from Florida basketball. The junior was the Gators’ leading scorer and rebounder through her first 14 games.
Standout performances from Kiki Smith and Zippy Broughton helped Florida erase a 19-point deficit and claim their first SEC victory of the season at Texas A&M.
The Gators committed 25 turnovers and allowed 42 points in the interior, failing to capitalize on a poor shooting night from Ole Miss and dropping their second-straight SEC game 74-56 at the O’Connell Center Thursday night.
Florida beat Murray State 67-51 on Tuesday to move to 6-0 at home on the season.
Solutions by The State News
