GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The six writers who cover Southeastern Conference women’s basketball for USA Today Sports Network have named Kelly Rae Finley their SEC Coach of the Year.
Finley spent the 2021-22 season acting as the interim head coach for the Gators, leading UF to a 20-win season for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign and the 16th time in the history of the program. Under her command, the Orange & Blue also won 10 Southeastern Conference games for just the fourth time in program history.
Securing the fifth-seed in the SEC Tournament, the Gators defeated five ranked opponents for the first time since the 2005-06 season, including five nationally ranked opponent in the SEC for the first time since 2004. A victory of note, Florida earned their largest margin of victory over a top-10 team when they defeated No. 7 Tennessee, 84-59, handing the Lady Vols their worst loss against an unranked squad since the AP Poll debuted in 1976.
Under her continued tutelage, graduate Kiara Smith continued to improve, leading the team this season with 14.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 2.4 steals per game. In SEC play, the District Heights, Md., native averaged 17.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game, helping her to earn First Team All-SEC honors and All-Defensive Team honors. In addition to Smith, freshman Alberte Rimdal was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.
The Gators begin postseason play on Thursday when they take-on the winner of Vanderbilt-Texas A&M at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET.
– #GoGators –
