#6/5 Maryland 106, Mount St. Mary's 42
Head Coach Brenda Frese
Opening Statement:
"I thought it took us a little bit with the early start, to wake up. I thought we had a very sluggish start. You could see that in our shot selection, our shots weren't falling. We did a much better job of settling in in the second quarter, of getting the ball to Bri (Jones). We really picked up our defensive intensity after halftime. The second half was a much better indicator of how we want to play for forty minutes. It's a challenge when we start this early and prepares us for tournament games that might start this early. Good lesson for us to be able to learn through with getting a win. It was another opportunity for us to learn and get better."
On if her bench gave the team a spark:
"They did. We talk about all year being ready when your number is called. Ieshia (Small) and Bri Fraser really sparked us, just like Sarah (Myers) the other night. That's going to be the luxury of our team. When they're mentally prepared, when someone's struggling, just being ready when your number is called."
On Field Trip Day:
"It's one of my favorite games. I was really happy. I knew if we hit 100 they would go crazy in the arena. It's contagious. It's an opportunity to be role models and give back to all these kids who grow up and dream of playing at Maryland or somewhere else. We love it and always want to continue playing this game."
On the improvements made for the second half:
"We were much more focused. We talked about it at halftime, we were disappointed in our first half of play. When we put our mind to it and lock in, this team is very talented. Our thing is not to take possessions off and just playing as hard as we can every possession."
On the offense:
"I thought it was really good, we stopped turning the ball over. I thought we made really easy reads, we took great shots and we took what the defense gave us. We were really sharp."
On the defense today compared to last game:
"We definitely improved. It was a different style of team. Obviously their five out was a different way to defend but I do think we kind of started to understand after halftime in terms of as many threes as they were taking and how we wanted to defend."
On the past three games and how the team has come together:
"We're able to evaluate the things we're growing and improving in with the repetition of a lot of games really early. Obviously now leaving for Niagara, it's going to be our first road game with our team, so we're excited about that opportunity. Every game, we understand the mindset and the preparation that we need to have to get ready to play 40 great minutes. This game keeps you humble and hungry. Every game out, you're trying to play perfectly. You're not going to get there, but just trying to do as many things well as you can."
On improvements moving on to Niagara:
"We have to have a quicker start on the road. You can't go into someone else's arena, especially with six freshmen and not be ready to play. It's a different environment for them and I know they'll handle it great because they have, in terms of all their elements, we've been to Italy, we had that experience. You just have to come in with a better mindset in terms of being ready to start the game. I know our seniors took it to heart at halftime. They came out, set the tone and the upperclassmen will get our kids ready to go."
On whether early time had an effect on the game:
“We have to prepare for it come tournament time, but I think it was a wake up call that we need to wake up and get ready for games like this. I think the kids really did help us out in waking us up.”
On putting the last game behind her:
“I think I had to learn that you can't keep harping on the past. She has talked to me about this all the time that you have to let it go and move on to the next play. I knew she forgot about it and I knew I had to forget about it."
Senior Center Brionna Jones
On whether the explosiveness of the offense was expected:
“I think it is something that we kind of expected. We have a lot of weapons on this team and everyone can come off the bench and score. We need to keep being confident and keep playing our brand of basketball.”
On going back to their old style of play:
“After the first half and the way we came out on defense, everything starts with defense so if we aren't getting stops we can't get out in transition. I think that getting back to our old habits and being disciplined will help us get back to ourselves.
On leading team in today's game:
“I think that just coming back and focusing and knowing that my team had my back. Coming in and doing everything I need to to help them.”
On whether she needed to put the team on her back in the second half:
“I would say not at all. Coach always tells us to be prepared when your number is called and I feel like that is what I did. It is a team game and nobody can do it alone and I feel like that is what we did today."
