Maryland Coach Brenda Frese
Opening statement:
"I thought we started slow defensively. We looked sluggish from the games and practices we've had, but I thought we settled in the second quarter and really got a lot more people involved on both ends of the floor. Obviously we played through Bri[onna Jones]. I think it's really hard. I don't think they had an answer for her and I thought we were able to take advantage of it. I thought our sophomores, Bri and Kiah [Gillespie] did a phenomenal job. They really gave us a great push. I thought our bench depth played with a lot of enegy. Ieshia [Small] came in really focused and played one of her best games up to this point. A lot of things to be encouraged about."
On playing five games in 12 days and having to rotate the players:
"Our depth continues to come in and maintain and expand the lead to what we're doing, and I think we did that tonight. That's been something we've really stressed. We haven't been as focused with it but I think our depth was a major difference in this stretch that we were involved with."
On being satisfied with ball security:
"I thought we definitely had really good ball security from our guards and our posts. We're being patient and really reading what the defense was giving us."
On the low numbers of turnovers:
"It's something we've continued to talk about. We don't want to miss the opportunities that we have when we waste possessions away, especially we know moving forward that it's something we have to take better care of. It's something we continue to preach on during practice but moving forward it tells us what we're capable of. This team is extremely unselfish, so being able to get great possessions and not turning the ball over."
“For me it is just racking up my assists. It is funny because I will get her the ball, she will miss the lay-up, get the rebound and the and-1. And she will apologize for messing up my assist. I just tell her, 'Bri come on.' But it is great, as guards we do not have to force anything. We will just look inside for her to finish the play all the time.”
Sophomore Forward Brianna FraserOn the difference between this year and last year:
“I have just been more focused on bringing more energy off the bench, and helping the team. I have been getting on the glass more and I think that is what is helping bring my game out.”
“I just took what was given to me, and my teammates were finding me when I was open. Just working around every possession.”
On the fact that there was little coverage on her during the game:
“I was really surprised that there was not a double-team coming, because on the first couple of possessions I was catching everything over my shoulder, waiting for it. I just had to take advantage of that setting.”
On scoring a career-high 30 points:
“I did not know during the time, but when I shot the last free-throw [Kiah] Gillespie told me, 'Just make this last free-throw'. I did not know why at the time, but she told me when I came out.”
