Gators draw No. 5 seed in Midwest and will open against a virtual home team, the Lobos.
By BRIAN SHAFFER
Published March 15, 2004
GAINESVILLE - The Florida women had hoped to make the quick trip west on I-10 to Tallahassee, but the NCAA Tournament selection committee has forced them to make more extensive travel arrangements.
Florida (18-10) is the No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region and plays Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M. And if playing more than 1,700 miles from Gainesville isn't tough enough, the Gators' first-round opponent is No. 12 seed New Mexico, 23-7 and champion of the Mountain West, and the meeting takes place in one of the most hostile venues in women's basketball.
Still, the Gators, who last reached the NCAA Tournament in 2002 when they also opened against a Mountain West champion, Brigham Young, are saying all the right things despite the apparent seeding slight.
"There is not much you can say to describe the excitement when you are announced in the whole pool of 64," said coach Carolyn Peck, whose team was 9-19 last season. "I think that this team has worked extremely hard to position itself for this great opportunity."
Despite the distance between Gainesville and Albuquerque, Peck said she is familiar with the Lobos.
"I watched them play in their conference tournament in the championship game," she said. "They know each other very well, and it shows in the way that they play. They find each other in spots, they execute very well and they play a solid team defense."
The Gators lost in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference tournament 76-72 on March 5 to No. 16 Georgia, whom they beat twice during the regular season.
The Gators have used the loss as motivation during the past week of practice in preparation for the NCAA Tournament.
"Beating a team as good as Georgia three times is hard to do, but I don't think that's an excuse," guard Sarah Lowe said. "We had a lot to learn, and as a result it has just made us tougher. Playing in the SEC has prepared us for the NCAA Tournament in a way that I don't think many other conferences can."
The Gators are in a bracket with two other SEC teams, No. 1 seed Tennessee and No. 2 seed Vanderbilt.
TICKETS: A limited number are available beginning at 8:30 a.m. today. Call (352) 375-4683, ext. 6800, or toll-free at 1-800-344-2867, ext. 6800. Tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for ages 18 and under. They are for one session Saturday (two games) and one Monday (one game). In the West Region in Baton Rouge, La., No. 5 seed Miami (22-6) got an at-large bid and plays No. 12 Maryland (17-12), also an at-large team, on Sunday.
