SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

March 6, 2024

Kelly Rae Finley

Aliyah Matharu

Leilani Correa

Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Florida Gators

Postgame Press Conference

Florida 66, Missouri 60

THE MODERATOR: We're now joined by the University of Florida.

We'll start with questions for the student-athletes.

Q. Aliyah and Leilani, you have been a high-scoring, high-powered backcourt duo throughout the season. Coming into today's game, what were you two looking to accomplish?

ALIYAH MATHARU: Always look to set the pace just by defense, trying to get as many stops as I can. My offense just comes. I don't know. I get fired up.

But just defense, try to take charges, get stops, try to be of help wherever I can be, because I'm small. That was really my personal focus.

LEILANI CORREA: I think my role with that is keeping our heads leveled and keeping us calm. They sped us up a little bit and they started hitting shots, but I think we punched back. We didn't fall over and die. I think that shows our maturity throughout the season.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, ladies, and we'll continue with questions for the head coach.

Q. Coach, there were a lot of runs in this game from both squads, a lot of highs, lows out there. How do you keep your squad levelheaded and power them to the finish line?

KELLY RAE FINLEY: Basketball is a game of runs, right? So all of our student-athletes have played for a long time. We've all coached for a long time. So that's something you understand.

We've talked a lot about it as a team, just limiting their runs and extending ours. The team that can get to stopping the opponent's run a little bit quicker is usually the team that comes out on top.

Today I was really proud of our defensive effort. Playing in a big arena on this stage for the first time for some of our student-athletes, offense is going to come and go. I thought we were really good when we played with pace, when we got downhill, when we got to the paint.

It was our defense that really propelled us today.

Q. You mentioned the crowd today. This is arguably one of the biggest crowds you have played in front of. The attendance was 8,000-something. Only going to get bigger for tomorrow's game. How are you looking to prepare mentally, also in terms of game planning?

KELLY RAE FINLEY: It's been a long time since we played Vanderbilt. We thought it was a great game last time, didn't come out our way. They have tremendous players. Obviously we have the utmost respect for Shea and her staff.

Having an early game today gets us a little bit of time to prepare, rest our bodies, get a little recovery.

It was nice to get in the arena today in preparation for tomorrow.

THE MODERATOR: Coach, thank you.

KELLY RAE FINLEY: Thank you, guys.