Jan. 25, 2009

Maryland 77, North Carolina 71
January 25, 2009

Maryland Head Coach Brenda Frese
On tonight's win:
"Well, I hope you guys had as much fun as we did. It's just a special win to be led by our two seniors. We even said that as coaches at halftime. Our seniors were going to win us this game and it's just a tremendous team win. I thought we were so unselfish with the ball looking for each other and just enjoying the moment. I thought it was a game of runs. I thought Carolina did a tremendous job coming in here wanting to battle, but collectively, when we were able to get stops on defense and be able to convert it to our offense and then obviously dominate the glass, it allowed us to have a lot of success tonight. I told these guys before we played that you always seize the opportunity and it's just a tremendous way for us to win this game."

On the performances of seniors Kristi Toliver and Marissa Coleman:
"They're always going to stay in the game. They're going to stay competitive. They're winners through and through and they're just clicking on all cylinders, together. When they click like that, our team just follows their lead. I just can't say enough of them staying in the game. [Kristi] didn't shoot it well in the first half and then comes out and did a tremendous job for us."

On Comcast's atmosphere tonight:
"This place was rocking. We have some of the greatest fans in the country. I know it gave us an extra boost of energy. When we were able to clamp down the defensive end, and being able to go after loose balls and rebounds, it just made a huge difference for us."

On the passing of N.C. State head coach Kay Yow:
"Everyone in women's basketball has been impacted by Coach Yow. Every single person she met and touched, we all loved Coach Yow. I don't think you see too often in life where [someone] didn't have an enemy. Personally, she's mentored the young coaches coming into the league from day one. She's always embraced us and it didn't matter who you were with or who you were competing against. She always did a tremendous job embracing us. Our hearts go out to the entire Yow family."

Senior Marissa Coleman
On scoring 18 points in the first half:
"It felt great. When you hit your first one, it just gives you a lot of confidence going into the rest of the game. Credit to my teammates because I think that's what you're seeing a lot from us now. Whoever has the hot hand, we're finding them. In the first half, it was me. In the second half, we were finding Kristi in the open spots. It's just credit to us and how we're coming together as a team."