Nov. 12, 2006
Recap |
Box Score |
Photo Gallery 
Brenda Frese
On today's game:
"Obviously just a very special day for us in terms of being able to unveil the banner and what that means to our team and our program, being able to share that special moment with our family and our friends and our supporters. It was exciting to be able to see with the quick turnaround coming back from Middle Tennessee State to this game how we came out and dominated the game. I think the most encouraging thing was how unselfish we were with the ball offensively and then really focused on defensively what we wanted to get done. Just very proud of the team and how they executed today."
Did the game against Middle Tennessee affect your attitude coming into today's game?
"I enjoy environments like we played in Middle Tennessee State. It was a tremendous college atmosphere for a game. I was excited today because I really thought we took it to another level and really got better in terms of how our style of play was. I thought it was great to be able to come back home and play in front of our fans."
On the first-half run:
"We did a tremendous job executing a few plays. Our run was caused due to our unselfishness; we started to push the tempo even more with our transitions and we really started to get up and down the floor. We're fun to watch when we push the tempo like that and we play unselfishly."
On players that stepped up:
"I thought Jade Perry did a tremendous job stepping up. We need someone to be automatic from the free throw line and she's really playing with a lot of confidence and getting herself in better shape, which is going to help this team. Christie Marrone stepped up and hit some big shots for us."
On defensive play during the first-half run:
"I thought we did a much better job of really getting out in the passing lanes. It started with Shay giving us a big boost of energy. I thought we got a lot more aggressive, really picking up the ball and really putting a lot of heat on them defensively."
On today's unveiling of the National Championship banner:
"I told the team in the pre-game speech to really reflect on that moment. We all understood what the banner meant but really the symbolism behind it in terms of that we won that as a team and as a family. That banner means so much; the hard work that these players put into it. They were so unselfish and they always cared about each other. I think that's the kind of team we want to be this year and have those kinds of goals. We have to continue in that mode."
On six players scoring double figures:
"We always talk about how we can spread the ball around because we have so many great shooters. The way we've been shooting the ball it makes us that much more difficult to be able to defend."
Kristi Toliver
On rebounding after the close game at Middle Tennessee State:
"It was tough to play down at Middle Tennessee and they're a very good team. We knew that going in and I think that definitely prepared us and motivated us to come out and play in front of our home crowd today. Obviously, there are a lot of things we need to improve on from the first game and I think we got better today. That's definitely our goal throughout the course of this season; just to get better everyday and I think we did that."
On comfort level playing with Shay Doron and Crystal Langhorne:
"We're definitely comfortable playing with each other after last year. Our chemistry is great. I just love playing with these two. We kind of just know where we're going to be."
On her first thought on a fast break:
"That's what our coaches preach to us: get the ball and go. The more possessions we play the better. We're such a great offensive team. Obviously if it's not there we want to reduce our turnovers that are another thing we have to work on. Definitely our mentality is get it and run."
Crystal Langhorne
On whether the unveiling of the National Championship banner put a closure on last year:
"I think so, this is the last ceremony, so now we're just focusing on this year and the past is the past. We just need to focus on our future."
Shay Doron
On today's unveiling of the National Championship banner:
"It felt good, I mean we definitely got excited before the game. We're not just satisfied with one; we want another one. It's really good motivation for us to continue to work hard and to achieve something as great as that again."
On sparking today's first-half run:
"I try to play like that all the time, not just because we need a run. We're really stressing going hard at all times and really playing at a different level than other teams and I was just trying to bring that today."
George Mason Head Coach Debbie Taneyhill
On today's game:
"Obviously Maryland was the national champion last year for a reason. I think anytime you can come out and shoot 65 percent from the field, 50 percent from the three. That's a pretty good team. They have four Wade trophy candidates in their lineup and I think they're probably going to win a lot of games this year."
On her team's play:
"We obviously have some things to work on defensively and offensively. But we knew what we were getting into when we came up here and we're going to try to take a lot of things from this game. We play in the CAA, which is a very difficult conference and after playing a team like Maryland, I think that will help us get ready for Old Dominion and James Madison who are going to be the top teams in our conference this year."
On the end of the first half:
"They didn't miss in that stretch. Even when it seemed like we did play pretty good defense, they would hit shots. We know that we need to do a better job offensively. We're not going to beat many people shooting 25 percent from the field. It doesn't matter who you play. Some of it was their defense, but some of it was our shot selection."
On playing the number one team in the country:
"We tried to come into this situation and compete. I thought for the first twelve minutes we were right there with them. We did some good things at both ends of the court. But this is a great crowd, a great atmosphere and a great building. So anytime you can bring your team to play in front of an atmosphere like this, I think you have to look at the big picture and not just what are we getting out of it today. It's a long season. It's November 12 and we still have a lot of games to play."
On team's next game against Liberty:
"When you play people like Crystal Langhorne and Marissa Coleman, whoever you're going to face next defensively will probably not be quite as good as them. It's a quick turnaround and we just hope we can be ready for Liberty on Tuesday."
Patriots guard Lateisha Wade
On her play:
"I was actually pretty nervous before the game, but after getting in the groove, I just started hitting my shots."
