Tennessee forward Cierra Burdick tries to keep the ball from Florida guard Carlie Needles (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 8, 2013, in Duluth, Ga. AP Photo/John Amis)
Tennessee forward Cierra Burdick tries to keep the ball from Florida guard Carlie Needles (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 8, 2013, in Duluth, Ga. AP Photo/John Amis)
Tennessee head coach Holly Warlick reacts during the second half of their NCAA college basketball game against Florida in the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 8, 2013, in Duluth, Ga. Tennessee won 82-73. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Tennessee guard/forward Taber Spani (13) goes up for a shot as Florida guard/forward Sydney Moss defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 8, 2013, in Duluth, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Florida coach Amanda Butler directs her team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 8, 2013, in Duluth, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Florida forward Jennifer Georgesits on the bench in the final moments of their 83-72 loss to Tennessee in an NCAA college basketball game at the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 8, 2013, in Duluth, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
DULUTH, Ga. (AP) ? A late rally from Florida left Tennessee coach Holly Warlick thinking the Lady Vols haven't learned how to put a team away.
Meighan Simmons scored 20 points and Tennessee turned back Florida's late run to beat the Gators 82-73 Friday in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament.
No. 9 Tennessee (24-6), the three-time defending champion, has won 10 straight games in the tournament since its loss to Auburn in the 2009 semifinals. Warlick, previously the longtime assistant to Pat Summitt, wasn't satisfied with her first postseason win as coach.
"I think the first 10 minutes we set the tone and then we just get comfortable," Warlick said. "We get a lead and we get comfortable. We've got to have that killer instinct in us and finish the game the way we start the game."
The Lady Vols will face the South Carolina-Texas A&M winner in Saturday's first semifinal.
Tennessee took its biggest lead of 13 points at 17-4, but couldn't put the game away.
"I think on the offensive end we're just talented," said Cierra Burdick, who had 14 points and eight rebounds. "We've got a bunch of people that can score the basketball. ... We've got to continue to pick it up on defense, because offense is not our problem. It's the defensive end."
Sydney Moss led Florida (18-14) with a career-high 22 points. Moss had a steal and basket with 49 seconds remaining to cut Tennessee's lead to 75-69 ? the Lady Vols' smallest of the half.
Ariel Massengale and Simmons each made two free throws in the final 43 seconds to help seal the win. Taber Spani missed a one-and-one free throw with 30 seconds remaining, but Jaterra Bonds missed a layup for Florida.
Spani, who had 13 points, made three free throws in the final 16 seconds.
Bonds had 18 points and Carlie Needles scored 12 on four 3-pointers for Florida.
Tennessee edged Florida 78-75 in overtime in Gainesville on Jan. 13, giving the Gators confidence they could win the rematch.
"We didn't come here to play close or make it respectable or with any other expectation except to win," said Florida coach Amanda Butler.
After Moss opened the game with a driving basket for Florida, Tennessee scored the next 12 points and never lost the lead.
The Lady Vols ran on every opportunity, sometimes forcing Florida to foul. Tennessee outscored Florida 23-6 on free throws.
"Tennessee did a great job of getting themselves to the free-throw line and really capitalized on those opportunities," Butler said.
Warlick said she wanted her players to force the tempo with a "make or miss" mentality.
"We wanted a fast-tempo game," Warlick said. "I thought we set the tone early. I thought Florida did a great job of adjusting."
Tennessee closed the regular-season with a loss at Kentucky. Simmons said the renewed emphasis on pushing the tempo was "a major difference" against the Gators.
"We came out a lot more hungry this game," Simmons said. "We had a lot of high energy from the coaches on down."
Moss scored the Gators' first eight points. Florida cut into the Lady Vols' lead when it found more help for Moss ? especially from long-range shots. Florida had six 3-pointers in the first half, including three by Needles. A 3-pointer by Lily Svete cut the Lady Vols' lead to 24-22.
Tennessee stretched its advantage to 47-36 at halftime.
Florida got within seven points midway through the second half. Tennessee led 63-56 with 7:23 remaining when Simmons drew her fourth foul on a charge and left the game. The Lady Vols produced an 8-2 run that included two baskets by Burdick, pushing the lead to 71-58.
Simmons returned for the final 2:39 and had a layup with 1:05 remaining after Florida pulled within eight points.
Tennessee won 16 SEC tournaments and eight national championships in 38 seasons with Summitt, who stepped down last April after announcing in 2011 she has early onset dementia. She did not attend the game.
Associated Press
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