Post-game Quotes
11/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 28, 2008
MILWAUKEE -
Gonzaga Head Coach Kelly Graves' Opening Statement...
"First of all, I want to congratulate Marquette. They're a great team, we knew they were a good team, and they obviously made the plays down the stretch. I thought we had that game under control, but it got away from us a little bit. That's what good teams do-they take advantage of that- and Marquette is a good team. They are very well coached. You can tell that got good veteran guards, and they could make the plays down the stretch. I give them credit. I think I made a mistake tonight as a coach. I put too much on Courtney's shoulders. Courtney had a great game. She is a gamer, no question about that, and she did everything she could to help us win the game, but it's probably my fault. I put too much on her shoulders. We needed somebody else to step up as well to go with her and we didn't tonight."
Graves on Courtney's outstanding play...
"Courtney is terrific, there is no question. She is a great player and had a great game. Down the stretch, though, it was too much Courtney all the time and we needed someone else to step up and do it."
Courtney Vandersloot on her coach's high expectations of her...
"I do like that coach wants the ball in my hands and that he's comfortable with it. That gives us a good relationship, and it wasn't that he put too much on me, it's that when it came down to it, we just didn't make the plays. And there's definitely some plays I wish I could take back, but that's how the game goes."
Vandersloot on her career high scoring... "No, it doesn't mean anything."
Vandersloot on Marquette's improvement in defense...
"Early, I was getting those little pull ups, then they made an adjustment and it was tough to get a look at the hoop. You got to credit the defense, I guess."
Coach Graves on game faults...
"I think the key tonight was that we got outrebounded. We are normally a very good rebounding team - that's been one of our staples - and we got outrebounded and outworked down the stretch especially. Then, let's face it, they shot 35 free throws. If you get outrebounded by eight and give up 35 free throws, you're not going to win on the road. You may not win anywhere."
Paige Fiedorowicz and Georgie Jones on "a game of runs"...
Fiedorowicz: "We are a faced-paced team. We like to transition, but I think we did a good job on slowing it down when we needed to. We just didn't stay their pace-up and down, up and down- all the time. One of our main focuses was rebounding because they were averaging around 20 offensive boards per game. That was a big key to our game, and I think we did a good job with it."
Jones on Marquette's comeback at end of game...
"I was confident that we could do it. I felt that if we could get more rebounds that was going to win it. It changed the pace a lot-that's what changed the game." Fiedorowicz and Jones on importance of `clutch' free throws... Fiedorowicz: "I think a big thing was just at the end of the game. We were down, and we just had to keep our composure. Last year, we probably would've struggled at the end of the stretch, and this year I think it shows how we've matured a lot together as a team. No one ever gave up, and we all fought hard until the end." Jones: "We also knew that we could take it too them, and they would foul us. Defensively, they were different from us. We stay back a little, and we could take it to them and get to the line."
Fiedorowicz on the high quality competition of this tournament...
"I think this is a great opportunity to get us ready for BIG EAST Play. These are all very good teams and this is such good experience for us to get ready for our conference. We played Gonzaga last year and I think we were a lot more prepared than we were last year."
Head Coach Terri Mitchell's Opening Statement...
"Certainly, this was an incredible game to be a part of. It was a game of runs, and it just seemed like whoever was going to have the final run was going to win. Fortunately for us, we had the final run. I can't say enough about Gonzaga and their coaching and the work ethic of their players. We had to overcome adversity when Jocelyn (Mellen) went down. We already had our starting post out, so we were immediately minus two of our starters in the first two minutes of the game. I just kept talking to our players about character and showing your character when it's tough. I thought for a lot of the game we were kind of in a fog and then we kicked it up in the second half."
Mitchell on how Mellen's injury affects team...
"It dampens my spirit because I love the kid. I love the fact that we win. I think Erin Monfre changed the game when changed our defense into zone. She directed and she did things. I thought she did fantastic. We were saying in the locker room that now, we all fight for Jocelyn and for Jess in her recovery. That's what team is about. I love the character that we have, but we never want a teammate hurt."
Mitchell on higher quality competition...
"This is our first challenge, and I said to them that we probably would've lost this game at this point last year. I know how our team was playing last year at this time. We lost the close games, so this is definitely a step forward. Courtney Vandersloot was tremendous. Down the stretch we could neutralize her. But she was just amazing, and that's just a character check: can we step up-can we stop- the great scorer. I thought we did a great job on Bowman. She deserved all the attention we gave her. It's only the fifth game of the year. I would take that victory, though, knowing that we can move forward. We picked this tournament for a reason. We brought in three winning teams with awesome coaches, with great tradition, so we could get ready for the BIG EAST. I feel like today we found out a little bit about ourselves, and we are going to find a whole lot more about ourselves tomorrow and on Sunday."
Mitchell on team's maturity from last year to this year...
"I could definitely see the mindset and the focus they had. Last year, I felt like I had to get into them to wake them up. They would have that look on their face like, "I can't believe this is happening." They didn't have that look. We just kept missing shots. We got into the paint, we missed. I just said to stay with the same game plan. I've learned to coach them better. That has been reflected on me. I am trying to be a teacher at all times."
Mitchell on Ellis' leadership...
"Krystal wasn't having the best game early. You expect that if a senior is in a game and on the line, that her kind of experience will step up, and that is exactly what she did. But she didn't play well early. Other people stepped in for her. Down the stretch, it's a good thing to have the ball in Krystal's hands, and she proved it. Georgie Jones got baptized by fire tonight. She used to only play 15 minutes and subbing, and now she is going to be in the starting line-up. She's pulling down some great rebounds and playing some great defense. She grew up a lot today."
