March 17, 2012
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COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Postgame quotes following Maryland's 59-44 win over Navy.
Maryland Quotes
Opening Statement:
"I thought Navy just did a tremendous job. They really made us have to work; they made us compete for the 40 minutes which we expected would happen. I thought from our end we came out really anxious and excited to play. We looked a little rusty obviously from our break because of the ACC Tournament, but I was happy to see us settle down before halftime and get it together before the second half. I thought the second half was more indicative on how we play, just letting the game come to us. You know the smiles on the court sharing the basketball. We're just very excited to just advance and move on"
On the 20 to 6 run in the second half:
"It was big obviously, Lauren and A.T. were tremendous with their ability to get to the rim and be aggressive and put the team on their back. Kim's back-to-back threes were critical were important in the first half. And a lot of it I believe was the transition and the execution in the half court.
On the ability to wear them down with length and get out of the break:
"I remember last year when they played DePaul it was really close in the first half. There was really no reason to panic and I did feel that our depth could wear them down. I thought in the second half they still got some open looks from the three, just their [shots] were short. We're fortunate to have such great depth and utilize so many players
Compared to this time last year, the difference for this team:
"Last year was a painful lesson for us and our goal is fight to finish this year. This team takes great pride, and I think there is even more pride when you have three seniors and you want to send them out the right way; they have done so much for this team and this program. So in order for us to do that, we've got to come out and play how we did in the second half and play loose and play together when we get ready on Monday."
On the early start:
" At 11:15 we had to have a mindset that we were tipping at 7:00. And I thought walking into pregame breakfast, this team if anything was ready to play. Because they are such great kids and teammates, I just think that we were too excited. And that's just their personalities. They just love this game and they love their teammates. And that's the biggest thing. It is different obviously, but I think we were anxious and ready to play."
On Alyssa Thomas:
" We spent a lot of time together. I knew at breakfast when I asked her how she slept last night, and she said not good that she was too amped up. Early when she is missing easy plays that is not her. It is just she is so ready to play and so excited. What is great about coaching Alyssa is that you can motivate her and you can challenge her in so many different ways... When you have that kind of relationship you can just slow her down and we needed her to play slower. What a great thing for a coach to say slow down."
On 3-pointers shifting the game:
"I think being able to come in and just provide a spark off the bench, which is what Brene and I did, I think it really helps to get things going if there is a lull in the game."
On the difference from first and second half:
"Coach Frese challenged me at halftime and told me that I needed to calm down and make plays. So I just slowed myself down and focused out there and tried to make plays."
On changing the pregame preparation for an 11:15 a.m. tip:
"We did have to take the game as if we were playing at 7 and, take it from my teammates and I, we were all excited to play. So maybe that was shown in how we came out. But we changed the pace of the game in the second half, we came out strong."
On attacking the rim in the second half:
"Attacking the rim was really important. Coach B told us that they like to play the sagging man and although they do like to play that we should still attack the rim. I knew when were attacking in transition as well as off the dribble that it was going to be tough for them to stop us."
Navy Quotes
Head Coach Stefanie Pemper
Opening Statement:
"I'm proud of our team's effort for sure. Just the heart they showed. Maryland was good, really good. I know they didn't shoot the ball the way they typically do and neither did we so a lot of respect for them [Maryland] but just so proud of our team. I liked how we rebounded, liked how we took care of the ball. We took more shots than they did which is not typical for us. So we did a lot of things well we just couldn't get some shots to fall and obviously I think that was the difference in the game. We would have loved to gotten it down close to the end and had it still be tight and see how things would have been gone there. Just a tough end to the season."
On Maryland's 20-6 second-half run:
"They got some transition shots obviously they came right out at the second half and took a full run. It felt like there was a time we had a hard time guarding [Alyssa Thomas] and just inside they did a nice job of reading their screens and finding the opening so if we switch they do a nice struggle and kind of throwing it up to them nice and high or they can just catch in finish, they just got some layups. Transitioning coupled with us not hitting. Who knows if we had gotten to Jade a little bit more, a little bit earlier. I was just really pleased with what she was able to do inside and we shoot for three and its part of why we've had a successful season and we certainly tried tonight we just didn't connect well enough."
On the possibility of playing zone in the second half:
"When we were 4-for-6 from 3 [point range] and [Kim Rodgers] was hitting. I know people zone [Maryland] all the time and lose some and give up tons of rebounds. I just thought there was maybe a couple lineups she went to where we maybe could have gotten to her but it just seemed like we had to score to kind of build our zone. I don't look at 59 points to the ACC champs and think that's why we lost but we spent all week working on offense."
Sophomore Forward Jade Geif
On her team's play in the paint:
"We knew coming in that [Maryland] was going to be bigger and more athletic overall - even on the guards obviously. So, getting into the paint was going to be a lot harder. They wouldn't need to bring the double because they did have bigger girls. But I'm proud of our rebounding. In the first half we did give up eight [offensive rebounds], but the total was only 12 [for Maryland] so I think that's good for such a size difference. Offensively, the second half was a lot better as far as getting into the paint. We didn't go into them or get to the line as much either so that was pretty tough. We played hard against them, but they were a lot bigger and more athletic."
Senior Guard Erin Edwards
On Maryland's height advantage:
"I think that played a big part in why a few of us were hesitant to shoot shots that were definitely open and probably played a part in our shooting percentage. We're just not used to such size on the perimeter. But I think we were more than capable of getting those shots off and hitting them, they just didn't fall."
On Navy's future:
"I'm jealous of where this team's headed and what they're capable of. I know the sophomore class in particular has been winners since day one and their will to win and their love for the game and each other is just unbelievable. I think it's going to carry them places that Navy basketball has never been and so far it's been that way since they've been here. I think the team has built that same attitude amongst itself which has just been great and I look forward to seeing where they'll go and I'll be envious the whole time."
