Postgame Press Conference Quotes: DePaul
3/20/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 20, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
DePaul Postgame Quotes vs. Virginia Tech
Head Coach Doug Bruno
On the game:
Obviously we had a great level of energy to start the game, our players played a lot of excellent ball the first half. We went into halftime and knew we had 50 percent of a game to complete against a very formidable opponent from the ACC, tried to caution our players about the fact that these are real live human beings that play on the other side of the ball and they're not going to go away easily. We gave Virginia Tech momentum, we found ourselves chasing very quickly. We're sitting here today because of the fortitude of our two seniors, Jenni Dant and Khara Smith. The people who refuse to lose are the seniors. I don't think it's ever been more evident than today as we came down the stretch in this basketball game and the chaos of a close game, with Khara fouling out and Jenni just really putting us on her back and doing what she needed to do. I'm obviously thrilled about it because our freshmen were able to get their first NCAA game experience, and that's huge. I think our freshmen are going to be a lot better than they were today, and they weren't shabby today.
On Jenni Dant making the play at the end: We told Jenni it was up to her to make the play and make the call. If you got Allie (Quigley) open, give it to her, if you don't, you make the play, and she obviously did. It was all Jenni's decision making at that point in time. She did a good job of managing when to get things going. Jenni is a refuse to lose player. You can replace her position, but you can't replace Jenni Dant. That combativeness and inner strength just doesn't come down the pike. I felt that she was able to show the world what Jenni Dant is all about.
Senior guard Jenni Dant
On the final 30 seconds of the game:
We had practiced clock management at the end of game situations. All week, just in case, fortunately we utilized it today. Actually, we had a couple of things we could do. Allie was not open, I didn't feel that she was open and didn't want to turn it over, and took it upon myself with about 3-4 seconds left on the shot clock to just go in and get the bucket and try not to get the foul called. I was going strong with my left, I kinda knew I had to get it up and I had to focus on finishing and try not to get the foul called, and if I did that would just be icing on the cake, but I just really wanted to finish.
On the younger players stepping up at the end: The younger players have been playing like that year round, it's no surprise to me. By this time at the end of the year, they've learned through this whole season. I kept talking to Allie and kept preaching to her, you know how to play, you shoot shots all the time, keep playing offense, keep playing defense, don't let what's happening right now get you down, and I think they did a good job keeping their heads up and believing in what Khara and I were saying, and keeping it in perspective.
Junior Forward Khara Smith
On fouling out:
I really wanted to stay in to help my team come back and win. I have faith in my team that without me they can win. I just had a lot of faith in my team, and Jenni, she's a senior, and she didn't want to go home, and we're not going home. I'm just proud of my team to be able to pull out the victory.
On Virginia Tech coming back to take the lead: I don't think that we panicked, we always have to stay together in a close situation and I think we did a good job of that, they came on very hard in the second half, but I think we were able to accept that, stay together, and pull out the victory.
