Women’s Basketball SEC Tournament Preview: Alabama vs. Florida

GREENVILLE, S.C.- After receiving a first-round bye, Alabama women's basketball will look to continue their postseason run as the Crimson Tide will face the Florida Gators Thursday night in the Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinals. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. CT inside Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

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The Crimson Tide (23-7) enters the contest having swept the regular-season series against the Gators (15-16), securing victories both at home and on the road. The Crimson Tide took down the Gators 76-69 in Tuscaloosa on Jan.2 79-69 and then earned an 84-66 win in Gainesville on Feb. 6.

In those two matchups, the Crimson Tide showcased an all-around strong performance, led by their aggressive defense and efficient scoring. However, head coach Kristy Curry emphasized that the Gators bring more to the table than their record shows.

"We've played Florida twice, and there's that old adage that it's hard to beat somebody three times in one year. So as a coach, you're sitting here going, "Oh my goodness, we've got to play them a third time," because they can put some points up, and they're incredibly talented. They've got an inside game, they've got an outside game, they've got depth in numbers, they're physical on the boards, they can shoot the three, they've got one of the best freshman in the league, so I think their record's a little bit confusing because they're very talented," said Curry in a pregame press conference on Tuesday.

For the Crimson Tide, a strong showing in Thursday's matchup would not only extend their SEC Tournament run but also boost their chances for a favorable position in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide are coming off a strong regular season and will look to keep their momentum rolling against a Gators team that has shown flashes of brilliance.

The winner will face LSU in the quarterfinals on Friday.