Dec. 29, 2008

December 29, 2008 Maryland 90, UNC Asheville 57

Head Coach Brenda Frese

Opening Statement:
"It was a lot of fun how we played. I was really proud of our energy and our intensity coming back here after Christmas. We've had two great practices leading up to this, just the unselfishness that we played with, I think as we've seen from Old Dominion to this game, we're really playing with a lot of confidence and playing unselfishly. When you look at our assist to turnover ratio, and we have five players scoring in double figures, really everything we challenge this team with. Today it was really exciting because I thought they responded and I thought they did a tremendous job."

On what she said to the team after falling 21 to 20:
"I was disappointed because I thought at that point that Ashville was really being more scrappier, getting the loose balls, we weren't blocking out, so I just wanted to refocus in terms of our concentration and get back to playing Maryland basketball"

On seeing alumni Crystal Langhorne, Laura Harper, and Jade Perry:
"It's special to have our alumni come back. I'm so proud of all three of them. They have all graduated and are doing extremely well overseas. This is our family and our extended family - that's what a family does and it was great to see all of them."

On coming back after a holiday break
"I think you have to get yourself in a rhythm, and I think that's the biggest thing we just needed to settle down and get into a rhythm, but I think the break is actually great for all of us. You're tired, you're coming off of finals, you mentally and physically need a break. I really think the last five minutes of the first half, and in the final twenty I thought we were back to our old selves and we did some great things."

Sophomore Guard Marah Strickland

On playing without Kristi Toliver:
"I just think we brought a lot of intensity to the court today. We fought through the missed shots and the missed layups and we played team basketball. We found everybody and it worked out well for us today."

UNC Asheville Head Coach Betsy Blose

Opening Statement:
"We knew this game would be a tremendous challenge for our young team. This year we are trying to figure out who we are but I feel that you really need to play the best to become the best. I thought tonight that we competed and played hard. We are still trying to find ourselves defensively. I think Maryland did a great job of adjusting in the second half and looking to skip pass it out of the trap. We just didn't adjust to that as well as they did. We gave up too many three-pointers but I feel like we got better today. I know the score didn't represent that but I was proud of our team."

On Maryland breaking away midway through the first half:
"That's the game of basketball, it is a game of runs. I felt like we did a good job of closing it out."

On the talent of Maryland:
"Maryland has so many different weapons and so many people who can step up and hit shots."

On the strengths of Maryland during the game:
"I felt that they were beating us on the boards and their second shots really hurt us. They shot the ball well from the arc today as well."

On Maryland's advantages:
"Maryland is so much bigger, more physical, stronger, more athletic and has All-American players. I have players who may not have been recruited by anybody. I love our kids and they played hard."