March 23, 2008

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Postgame Quotes

Maryland

Head Coach Brenda Frese

Opening Statement:
"It was nice to be able to get the first game out of the way. It's been about two weeks since we've played. We were very impressed with Coppin State. They did a tremendous job in their scouting. They were very physical and very aggressive and they did a tremendous job for 40 minutes. They made us work. I am proud of the fact that we were able to battle through, especially in the second half, and we were able to establish a better defensive intensity in terms of what we wanted to do. We started clicking on all cylinders on the offensive end."

On what was the difference in the second half after Coppin took an early 20-15 lead:
"I just really thought it started with our defense. We lost some focus and intensity. Credit Coppin State because they were extremely quick and made some tremendous shots. Defensively, I thought we let up in terms of what we were trying to get done. We had to establish our presence again from a defensive end."

On what opposing teams try to do to test Maryland and how they were able to overcome it:
"I think our toughness. It's no surprise that teams want to get physical with our players especially Kristi (Toliver). That's kind of the game plan; to rough us up and then see how the game is going to be called. We wanted to decide our outcome and we wanted to establish on the offensive end that if teams are going to take something away from us that we can be aggressive. Then on the defensive end, we wanted to be able to get more stops."

On if she was worried when they led 45-41 and what triggered the 10-0 run in the second half:
"I think with this team, I always have great confidence in them. I think you can hear them in the huddles and at halftime; they take great pride in what they're doing. It was just a matter on our end to get stops and a find a better rhythm on the offensive end. We wanted to be more patient on the offensive end with what we were trying to get done."

On Coppin State's physical play:
"I thought Coppin was great. They were extremely quick and physical. They did a great job of doubling our bigs down low and making our players have to work. Credit their tenacity on the defensive end."

On facing Nebraska in Tuesday's second round:
"Nebraska has a great inside post presence. That's where they like to establish; from the inside out. They're smart and they're very patient and they make very good decisions with the basketball. They're not going to turn it over a lot. They are a tremendous team in the Big 12."

On how Maryland limited Shalamar Oakley to 3 points in the second half after she scored 17 points in the first half:
"We really talked about it at halftime and we weren't pleased with how many open looks Coppin was getting on the offensive end and the pride we have as a team. I thought we made it much more difficult for her to score in the second half."

Junior guard Kristi Toliver

On Coppin's physical play:
"They were an extremely physical team. I think it was in their game plan to be physical with us and test our toughness. In the first half they were definitely the aggressor. In the second half, we regained some composure and embraced their aggressive players. We credit them for putting us out of our comfort zone in the first half, but credit to us in the second half for making adjustments and getting tougher in the second half."

On her sickness during the game:
"I was feeling sick during the course of the game and at one point during the second half, I had to dismiss myself and I came back. I'll be alright. I didn't have to fight through (the sickness) too much. I was a step slower than normal. I was just thinking about not getting sick on the floor. Fighting through a little adversity was no big deal."

On being nervous or excited before the game:
"I was extremely excited and I woke up a little nervous. It's the start of a new season and it's one-and-done and everybody knows that. I think it's natural to have little jitters, but we're more excited that the tournament is finally here."

On if having a talented base of players in place help her decision to attend Maryland:
"Obviously having a great basketball team that's already here with great coaches and great players makes the decision for the recruit a lot easier. I think that's why the Connecticut's and Tennessee's and this program continue to recruit. I know coming here, I had two of the best post players waiting for me. I knew Marissa (Coleman) and since we verbally committed together that we would be a good combination. We had a great cast to play with. For recruits having great talent already in place, it's definitely a great recruiting tool to have."

Senior forward Crystal Langhorne

On her decision to select Maryland four years ago and what it would mean to win another national championship:
"It would mean a lot to win another national championship. A lot of people know the reason why I came here was because of my teammates and of course, coach B. I knew she was going to rebuild the program here at Maryland."

On Maryland's rebounding and outrebounding Coppin State, 42-26:
"We feel like we are one of the best rebounding teams in the country and that's what we've been really focusing on, especially our defensive rebounding. Our coaches always stress for us to go to the glass and that's what we tried to do tonight."

On the two week layoff versus Coppin State's one week layoff:
"I know we were sitting around for a long time, but a week off wouldn't be that bad. We're used to it. I've been doing this for four years so it just gives us more preparation for whoever we play."

Junior forward Marissa Coleman

On matching-up with Coppin guards Rashida Suber and Shalamar Oakley:
"We knew that the guard play was going to be a key. They had two really good guards that took the majority of their shots. Obviously during the year, our perimeter defense was something we struggled with. Coming in to this game, we wanted to buckle down on defense. We knew they were really good."

On whether she felt Maryland was in any danger of being upset by a No. 16 seed since the score was 40-35 at intermission:
"I am not sure what contributed to the slow start. I think we came out with some energy and they went on their run. We fell off a little bit. Coming into halftime, we didn't want this to be our last game. We knew if it continued to be close towards the end then it would be a battle. We buckled down at the beginning of the second half and got some key stops. We were never worried about being in danger. We know we're going to get our opponents best games, no matter who we are playing against because it's the NCAA tournament. Everybody knows it's one-and-done and everybody wants to advance. We were never worried because we've been in this position before and we knew we had another 20 minutes to play to make up for our mistakes in the first half."

Coppin State

Head Coach Derek Brown

Opening Statement:
"Number one, I think our team played very well today. We had a good week of practice ... They (Maryland) don't do a lot of things and they're going to wear you down with talent. I felt we did a very good job defensively. Most of the game, in the second half, they really started to get the ball down low ... As you know, we don't have that many people and were in foul trouble, so there were things there that we just couldn't do. I probably should have double teamed more, but I didn't ... I thought about that after the game. Overall, these two young ladies here (Shalamar Oakley and Rashida Suber), I'll put them up against anybody in the country. I think they proved themselves again today as they do game in and game out, they know how to play."

On going away from three-guard offense after the injury to Danielle Anders:
"I don't think I went away from it ... Danielle Anders is our three and she handles the ball outside. She's had a heel problem for a couple of weeks. We used Sesalie Johnson ... When you say three guard that's because she's real small and with Shalamar being small and Rashida, but Danielle being 5-10, 5-11, she's very quick, so that was three guards. We did play three guards. Now when Cunningham went out of the game as a big person, we went to a spread offense. All game long we were trying to get Cunningham into the game offensively and it was pretty tough, but in the second half she started scoring a little bit. When she went out with her fourth foul early in the second half, then we spread the floor a little bit and we able to stay with them."

On what Suber and Oakley have meant to the program and how hard it will be to replace them:
"Everything and they won't be! They're two young ladies that put their heart into every practice and every game. Rashida was a little tough to teach defense to, but as of last year, she became a very good defender. Since they arrived here (Coppin State) they've been nothing but winners. We talked about it in the locker room a few minutes ago that their leadership will be gone and I don't know who's going to step up and be the leader or leaders ... They'll be very had to replace."

Senior guard Shalamar Oakley

On what point did they believe they could play with Maryland:
"Coming into the game, of course we practiced hard all week and Coach Brown prepared us very well, so we were confident they we could play with them. We knew we were going to go out and play our hardest and give them a good game. They got off to a quick start but we maintained our focus and we stayed confident with each other and we felt we could keep the game close."

On what Maryland may have done differently defensively that was frustrating her:
"I don't really feel that they were doing anything different. They were very physical in the first half, just as much as they were in the second half. The second half they went to a zone, I feel like I really didn't need to score that much for my team ... it was more about getting everybody else involved in the game and to try and take the shots that were open for me."

Senior guard Rashida Suber

On #1 Seed vs. #16 Seed and when she felt Coppin State got Maryland's attention:
"Obviously we got there attention right from the start. Once the game started, we never backed down. We prepared very well and never backed down."

On Coppin State's physical play against Maryland in the first half:
"I don't think it affected them. They just turned the intensity up as well. We tried to match them but the calls just didn't seem to go our way ... but it seemed they weren't getting the calls either ... We were both playing physical!"