Florida women earn 2nd straight national title

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -- Lauren Embree and Alex Cercone won their singles matches to help Florida take its second straight national title with a 4-0 victory over UCLA on Tuesday.

The Gators (27-1) were up 3-0 when Embree sealed the championship with a backhand that McCall Jones had no chance to reach. Embree, selected the tournament's most outstanding player, beat Jones 6-4, 6-0.

Cercone knocked off Chanelle Van Nguyen 6-2, 6-0.

UCLA won a program-best 26 matches this season. The Bruins lost 4-0 to Florida in last year's national semifinals at Stanford.

The Gators' only loss this season came Feb. 12 at Stanford.

Florida earned the doubles point when Sofie Oyen and Allie Will beat Robin Anderson and Skylar Morton 8-4 and Cercone and Caroline Hitimana beat Jones and Carling Seguso 8-5.

Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.