With the regular season now in the books, the SEC has released its yearly accolades. The SEC Player of the Year went to Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes, Freshman of the Year to Vanderbilt’s Aubrey Galvan, Newcomer of the Year to Ole Miss’ Cotie McMahon, Defensive Player of the Year to South Carolina’s Raven Johnson, Sixth-Women of the Year to LSU’s MiLaysia Fulwiley and Coach of the Year to Vanderbilt’s Shea Ralph.
While Lady Vols basketball didn’t earn any of those nods, two players were recognized. Talaysia Cooper was named to the All-SEC Second-Team and Mia Pauldo got an SEC All-Freshman Team nod.
Cooper has earned a spot on an All-SEC team for two-straight seasons under Kim Caldwell. This year, Cooper posted averages of 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Both her points and assists led the team.
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Pauldo battled through injury in her freshman year, but still proved to be extremely effective. The former McDonald’s All-American and five-star recruit posted 10.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. However, her scoring numbers in SEC play went up as she started to get her footing at the college level.
Now, Tennessee turns the page to the SEC Tournament. The Lady Vols are in desperate need of a win in the event, losing six-straight games and nine of their last 11 heading into the postseason. As far as NCAA Tournament seeding goes, UT is projected as a 7-seed by ESPN and should be comfortably in the field no matter what happens in Greenville.
Tennessee opens on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. ET. The 6-seed Lady Vols will play the winner between 11-seed Alabama and 14-seed Missouri. UT beat both teams in the regular season.
