Feb. 8, 2008

Recap |  Box Score |  Notes |  Photo Gallery 1  |  Photo Gallery 2 

Maryland Head Coach Brenda Frese
On Maryland's performance this evening
"I thought we showed tremendous toughness along the stretch, especially in the second half. I am extremely proud of the poise and the confidence we played with and how we stuck to the game plan. I thought we did a much better job in the second half defensively and rebounding the ball. We were much smarter and more aggressive through the end of the game."

On Marissa Coleman's performance this evening
"She gave us a huge boost of energy right at a critical time and was aggressive going to the rim. We needed a catalyst and I think she did a tremendous job."

On the strength of the other ACC teams and the threat that they pose
"I think it speaks to how good the ACC is. Every time you go out on the road you know it's going to be a battle. When you are playing a team like Virginia, they are red hot. They are eager to jump ahead of us, so you can't take anything for granted. You have to understand the dynamics and what teams are playing for, but at the end of the day you are playing against yourself."

Senior forward/center Laura Harper
On first half play versus second half play
"I think we are a very methodical team. We are structured and disciplined, so I think we always play the whole forty minutes with effort. We are going to play the first minute like the fortieth minute. We have that kind of experience and we try to bring that to every game."

Maryland Alum Shay Doron (2004-07)
On seeing her banner unveiled
"Finding out was nothing like seeing it happen. It was one of the most special moments I had in terms of my career. It's the highest personal honor for an individual player."

On her inspiration for the Maryland players
"Whatever their motivation for winning is, I don't care. I just want to see them win again and they did tonight. "

On keeping in touch with the Maryland team while in Israel
"It's difficult because of the time difference, but I listen to them on the radio whenever I can. Every morning, the first thing I do is check the website. I e-mail the team and try to stay as up on them as I can."

On who has filled her shoes since her graduation
"I think they've done a great job working as a team. I see leaders in Langhorne, Harper, Coleman, and Toliver. They each step it up when the time comes and it's great to witness."

On the recognition of the University of Maryland in Israel
"Maryland's on the map. It doesn't stop at the borders for Maryland. That's for sure."

On her legacy
"I'm just happy to be part of the tradition. If I can do anything to motivate the players and help them, I will. I plan on continuing to be a part of Maryland. The sky is the limit for this team."

Virginia head coach Debbie Ryan
Opening Statement
"I'm very proud of my team. I feel like we played a very good game under very adverse conditions. We were definitely on the losing end of the personal foul area, not getting to the free-throw line, but we still stayed in the game and we didn't let it bother us. I felt like my bench played very well tonight, with all the foul trouble that we had, and we were still in position to win the game almost right down to the end, so I can't ask any more of my players and I can't ask any more of my staff in terms of their preparation. Maryland played very well at the end, their size got to us toward the end of the game because we had to go small, but I still was very proud of our effort and the way we played this game."

On aggressively attacking Maryland
"That's the way we played in Charlottesville. We're an attack team, that's what were about, and that's how we play every game. I was very, very proud of the way my bench played this game. Players like Britnee Millner and Enongé Stovall responded to both Aisha [Mohammed] and Monica [Wright] both being out of the game. They just did a tremendous job and I feel like it was a physical game at both ends of the court."

On Maryland junior Marissa Coleman
"I think she really presents a challenge because of her size and her skill level, she's a very skilled player and she's on the wing and she's just so big. I can't remember the sequence of those six points...she just spear-headed the attack at that point and we just didn't handle it very well."

Sophomore guard Paulisha Kellum
On wanting to prove something to Maryland
"I felt like I owed them something because in the last game, I didn't play as well. I had about four points in the last minutes of the game, and I just feel like I owed them something. I kept attacking them, and that was the game plan. Lyndra [Littles] and Monica Wright were out and we needed some scoring and I was that option and I just took it to the basket."