Maryland Athletics - University of Maryland Official Athletic Site - Women's Basketball
|
|
Terps Travel to Virginia, North Carolina
Women's basketball faces two more top-25 opponents.
January 4, 1999
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Atlantic Coast Conference women's basketball schedule continues for Maryland this week as the Terrapins travel to Virginia and North Carolina to continue a string of three straight ACC opponents ranked in the top 25.
Maryland fell to No. 17 Duke last Saturday, 90-61, to begin the string. The No. 22 Cavaliers are up next, Friday in Charlottesville, followed by No. 6 North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Sunday.
Game Facts and Coverage
#13 - Maryland at Virginia
Date: Friday, Jan. 8
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Site: University Hall (8,457)
Radio: WBAL (1090-AM) in Baltimore is the flagship station
for the Maryland/Learfield Radio Network. (John Wagner, play-by-play;
Jody Lavin Patrick, color)
Also airing the Virginia game is WMUC Radio, 650-AM and 88.1-FM, and on the Internet at www.wmuc.umd.edu.(Brett Molina, Adam Gantman, Paul Monusky)
#14 - Maryland at No. Carolina
Date: Sunday, Jan. 10
Time: 4 p.m.
Site: Carmichael Auditorium (10,000)
Radio: None
RECORDS
Maryland is 2-10 overall and 0-3 in the ACC following its
90-61 loss to Duke. Virginia, who plays at Duke on Monday (Jan. 4), is
8-3 overall and 2-0 in the ACC. Virginia stunned No. 10 Clemson on
Saturday night, beating the Tigers 67-66 in overtime at Littlejohn
Coliseum, and handing Clemson its first loss of the season. North
Carolina, 16-1 and 3-0, hosts Clemson on Monday (Jan. 4). The Tar Heels
beat Wake Forest last Saturday, 100-75, and Hampton, 93-50, last
Thursday.
COACHES
Maryland's Chris Weller (Maryland '66) has guided her
alma mater to a national championship game and three Final Four
appearances. Now in her 24th season, she has engineered an unprecedented
eight ACC championships while compiling a 449-231 (.661) overall record.
She is 161-113 (.590) in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In 1995, she
became just the fifth coach in women's college basketball history to
earn at least 400 victories at the same school. Three years earlier, her
Terps were No. 1-ranked for a month which led to her naming as the 1992
Naismith and USBWA national coach of the year.
Weller is 20-29 lifetime against Virginia, and 19-29 overall vs. Debbie Ryan. Weller is 25-19 lifetime against North Carolina, and 15-11 vs. Sylvia Hatchell.
Virginia's Debbie Ryan (Ursinus College '75) is 489-168 in her 22nd season as a college coach, all at UVA. The 1991 Naismith National Coach of the Year, she is 202-73 lifetime in the ACC. North Carolina's Sylvia Hatchell (Carson-Newman '74) is 529-206 overall, in her 24th year of college coaching which include 11 years at Francis Marion and 12 previous seasons at UNC. She is 257-126 with the Tar Heels and 102-83 lifetime in the ACC. Hatchell was the 1994 USA Today National Coach of the Year after guiding the Tar Heels to the national championship.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Virginia was ranked No. 22 by AP and ESPN/USA
Today, in polls released Dec. 28. North Carolina was ranked No. 6 in
both major polls. Maryland is unranked.
The Terps play 10 games this season against teams currently ranked in national top 25 polls. Maryland plays 11 against teams at least receiving votes. Last week's rankings:
AP (Dec. 28) ESPN/USA Today (Dec. 28)
6. North Carolina 6. North Carolina
10. Clemson 10. Clemson
12. Penn State 13. Rutgers
15. Rutgers 15. Penn State
17. Duke 19. Duke
22. Virginia 22. Virginia
Others: Western Michigan
SERIES HISTORY
Maryland is 20-29 against Virginia in a series which dates to Feb.
11, 1977. The Cavaliers have won 14 straight games in the series,
sweeping the Terps in every meeting since a 70-66 win at Cole Field
House on Jan. 20, 1993. Maryland has not won in Charlottesville since
the No. 3 Terps downed No. 1 Virginia, 67-65, on Jan. 15, 1992. That
game catapulted Maryland to a No. 1 ranking and a rematch at Cole Field
House later in the same season which saw a soldout crowd watch No. 2
Virginia defeat top-ranked Maryland. It is still the largest crowd ever
to witness an ACC women's basketball game.
The Terps and Tar Heels split last year's two meetings. Maryland downed UNC 84-62 before an ESPN2 national television audience on Jan. 18 at Cole Field House. The Heels beat UM 71-52 in Chapel Hill on Feb. 20. North Carolina has won eight of 10 in the series which dates to Feb. 7, 1976.
NEXT GAMES
After this weekend's road games, Maryland returns to Cole Field
House to host NC State on Thursday, Jan. 14, and Florida State on
Sunday, Jan. 17.
RADIO/TV SCHEDULE
Seventeen Maryland women's basketball games are carried on live radio
this season between the Maryland/Learfield Network with WBAL (1090-AM)
in Baltimore as the flagship station, and campus radio station WMUC
(650-AM and 88.1-FM).
The Terps appear on four regionally televised games during the ACC season beginning with a Jan. 21 date at Georgia Tech. Subsequent dates include Maryland at Duke on Feb. 1, Virginia at Maryland on Feb. 8, and Maryland at NC State on Feb. 15.
Remaining games on the Terrapin radio/TV broadcast schedule:
FOXSS-TV denotes FOX Sports South
RSN-TV denotes Home Team Sports, FOX Sports South and
Sunshine Network.
Jan. 8 at Virginia Learfield/WMUC
Jan. 14 NC State WMUC
Jan. 17 Florida State WMUC
Jan. 21 at Georgia Tech FOXSS-TV
Jan. 28 Clemson WMUC
Feb. 1 at Duke RSN-TV
Feb. 3 Morgan State WMUC
Feb. 8 Virginia WMUC/RSN-TV
Feb. 11 North Carolina WMUC
Feb. 15 at NC State RSN-TV
Feb. 21 Georgia Tech WMUC
TERP TICKETS
Tickets for Terrapin women's basketball games are available by
calling the Terp ticket office at 301-314-7070 or 800-462-TERP. Tickets
for all home games are $5 for adults and $3 for youth 18 and under.
TERRAPIN FANPHONE
Information on Maryland athletics and a recap of every Maryland
men's and women's basketball game can be obtained by calling the
Terrapin Fanphone at 301-314-TERP.
1998-99 ACC Standings
ACC Overall
Teams W L Pct. W L Pct.
No. Carolina 3 0 1.000 16 1 .941
Virginia 2 0 1.000 8 3 .727
Duke 2 0 1.000 10 4 .714
Clemson 2 1 .667 11 1 .917
Georgia Tech 2 1 .667 9 3 .750
Wake Forest 1 2 .333 5 8 .385
NC State 0 2 .000 6 5 .545
Florida St. 0 3 .000 5 7 .417
Maryland 0 3 .000 2 10 .167
MONDAY, JAN. 4
THURSDAY, JAN. 7
FRIDAY, JAN. 8
SUNDAY, JAN. 10
MONDAY, JAN. 11
THURSDAY, JAN. 14
SUNDAY, JAN. 17
MONDAY, JAN. 18
THURSDAY, JAN. 21
FRIDAY, JAN. 22
SUNDAY, JAN. 24
MONDAY, JAN. 25
THURSDAY, JAN. 28
SUNDAY, JAN. 31
MONDAY, FEB. 1
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3
THURSDAY, FEB. 4
SATURDAY, FEB. 6
SUNDAY, FEB. 7
MARYLAND TERRAPINS PROBABLE LINEUP
PROBABLE STARTERS Ht. Yr. Hometown PPG RPG APG Notes
F 34 Deedee Warley (12/8) 6-2 Fr. Fort Washington, Md. 11.5 5.2 1.5 20.3 points in last three games
F 45 Kelley Gibson (4/3) 5-11 Sr. Easton, Md. 13.3 4.0 3.8 36 points in last two games
C 55 Branka Bogunovic (12/11) 6-8 Jr. Zemun, Serbia 11.1 6.7 0.1 Four double-doubles this season
G 3 Tiffany Brown (4/4) 5-6 Jr. Clinton, Md. 10.8 1.8 8.5 22 pts, 19 assists, 7 steals in Classic
G 20 March Strickland (12/12) 5-9 Fr. Kingston, Mass. 11.1 3.3 3.5 Only Terp to start all 12 games
TOP RESERVES Ht. Yr. Hometown PPG RPG APG Notes
G 25 Ginji Perry (11/1) 5-11 Fr. Hyattsville, Md. 2.8 2.4 1.9 19 minutes per game
F 32 Antonieta Gabriel (11/6) 6-0 Jr. Virginia Beach, Va. 1.7 5.9 2.9 Among UM leaders in rebounds, assists
F 33 Cara Ferris (11/7) 6-1 Jr. Pensacola, Fla. 2.7 5.0 1.5 Among UM leaders in FG% and steals
F 42 Rosita Melbourne (12/7) 6-3 Fr. Washington, D.C. 5.6 4.9 0.7 4th in ACC in blocked shots (1.0)
TERRAPIN NOTEBOOK
RETURN TO THE ACC
But for a Feb. 3 bout with state rival
Morgan State, Maryland turns its attention to the Atlantic Coast
Conference. Beginning with last Saturday's bout with Duke, the Terps
embark on a January schedule that consists of seven straight ACC
affairs. A return date at Duke awaits the Terrapins on Feb. 1 before
breaking for the final non-conference bout with Morgan State. Fourteen
of Maryland's 15 regular season games are against ACC opponents.
TERPS IN THE CLASSIC
Winning its third straight Terrapin Classic and its
sixth in nine tournaments, Maryland is now 15-3 all-time in its holiday
tournament. The Terps' losses in the tournament have been to Southern
California, Washington and Penn State in its only championship game
defeats. The Terps have never lost a first round game.
A DOUBLY GOOD CLASSIC
While winning its own tournament for the third straight time last
week, Maryland won its first games of the season - and did so in Classic
fashion.
Not only did the Terps break out of a nine-game losing skid, Maryland placed four players on the all-tournament team including MVP Deedee Warley, and recorded season-best efforts in virtually every offensive category. In the opening round win over Coppin State, two individuals - and nearly four - recorded double-doubles.
HOW CLASSIC?
The Terps set offensive bests for the season in three consecutive
games since the return starters Tiffany Brown and Kelley Gibson.
Maryland had its best second half (36) and final score (61) in its loss to No. 15 Rutgers. All previous bests were blown out the window in the win over Coppin State, and more still against Richmond. A look:
Points, Game - 82 vs. Coppin State
Points, 1st Half - 34 vs. Coppin State
Points, 2nd Half - 48 vs. Coppin State
Scoring Margin - +19 vs. Coppin State
Field Goals Made - 33 vs. Coppin State
Field Goals Attempted - 63 vs. Coppin State
Field Goal Percentage - .524 (33-63) vs. Coppin State
3-Pt. Field Goals Made - 4 vs. Rutgers
3-Pt. Field Goals Attempted - 13 vs. Rutgers
3-Pt. Field Goal Percentage - .308 (4-13) vs. Rutgers
Free Throws Made - 22 vs. Richmond
Free Throws Attempted - 34 vs. Richmond
Assists - 21 vs. Coppin State
Blocked Shots - 7 vs. Coppin State
Steals - 13 vs. Richmond/Coppin State
ALMOST LIKE NIGHT AND DAY
Though the Terps have still averaged nearly 26 turnovers in each of
their last three games, the return to the Maryland lineup of Tiffany
Brown and Kelley Gibson has provided a near "night and day" contrast to
the season's first eight games.
Starting guards from a year ago, Brown and Gibson saw game action against Rutgers for the first time since last season, and immediately provided the Terps with improved ball movement, penetration and offensive execution.
Maryland shot 44 percent from the floor, registered 19 assists and scored a season-high 61 points in the loss to Rutgers. Against Coppin State, the Terps shot 52 percent, collected 21 assists and scored 82 points. Against the Spiders, the Terps shot 47 percent, collected 18 assists and scored 72 points.
"It was the best game we've played all year," said Chris Weller following the Rutgers game. "We have a whole new substitution pattern now, and a whole new lineup." Similar comments have followed each of the next two games.
Commented Rutgers coach Vivian Stringer, "Maryland will be successful when they get some rhythm and timing. When you are struggling without a point guard, that makes all the difference in the world. Maryland will definitely hurt somebody in January, and before the season is over. We were just lucky enough to come in here and play well enough to leave with a win."
Added Duke coach Gail Goestenkors, "With [Kelley] Gibson and [Tiffany] Brown back, Maryland is much better than they were. And they'll be much better than they are now."
3-STREAK SNAPPED
Buoyed by Tiffany Brown's three 3-pointers on nine attempts,
Maryland scored its first 3-pointer in five games against Rutgers.
Entering the Rutgers game, Maryland had gone four games without a trey,
and had hit just one in six games.
Maryland's four 3-pointers against Rutgers fell just one shy of the team's total through its first eight games. Ironically, Brown missed Maryland's only 3-point attempt against Coppin State.
B.B.G. - THE DEAL ABOUT THE "RETURN"
The Rutgers game on Dec. 22 marked the return of a pair of longtime
Terrapin starters, Tiffany Brown and Kelley Gibson. Brown, out for
academic reasons during the first semester, was cleared to play just a
day earlier. Gibson, still rehabilitating from an ACL tear in September,
played 27 minutes in a surprisingly early return to action. She was not
expected to return until January.
Before Brown & Gibson (B.B.G.), the Terps were 0-8 and boasted an RPI rating of 252 out of 304 women's Division I teams. Maryland averaged 48 points per game while allowing 68.9. They had turned the ball over 213 times, compared to just 111 assists. At least twice, opponents scored 30 or more points off turnovers, and only one game had been determined by less than 18 points. And included in those were first-time losses to Howard and Hampton.
Since the return, Maryland has averaged 69.0 points and scored over 60 in all four games. Maryland's previous high was 57 in a loss to Western Michigan. Though turnovers still exceed assists, the ratio is much more pleasant: 92 turnovers to 78 assists. Against Duke, in fact, Maryland posted more assists (20) than turnovers (18) for the first time this season.
RPI MEASURING STICK
If national RPI ratings can be an indicator of how far the Terrapins had fallen B.B.G., they also may be used to measure the Terps' rise since Brown & Gibson's return. The Terps have risen 45 spots since the return of Brown and Gibson.
Dec. 13 244 Jan. 1 210
Dec. 20 252
Dec. 27 232
Dec. 31 207
STARTING GUARD TANDEM
Combined, the Brown (35) and Gibson (44) tandem have started 79
games over the last two-plus seasons. Gibson has started 60 games during
a five-year career that has been marked by three knee injuries.
ALL-AROUND BROWN
In two tournament games, Tiffany Brown was an all-around contributor
for the Terps. In two games, she averaged 11.0 points, 9.5 assists and
3.5 steals. She even contributed 2.5 rebounds, shot 6 of 10 from the
floor, and 9 of 15 from the free throw line.
NATIONALLY-RANKED BROWN
In four games since her return, Brown has averaged 8.5 assists which
would lead the ACC and rank third nationally, given she had played
enough games to qualify.
1. Dalma Ivanyi, Florida Int'l Sr 9 94 10.4
2. Erica Gomez, UCLA Jr 8 74 9.3
Tiffany Brown, Maryland Jr 4 34 8.5
3. Nikki Kremer, Xavier Sr 8 66 8.3
4. Lisa Witherspoon, Va. Tech Sr 8 63 7.9
5. Ashley Smith, Vanderbilt So 7 54 7.7
6. Brandi McCain, Florida Fr 11 84 7.6
7. Kara Wile, St. Louis Jr 8 60 7.5
CHECKING THE CHARTS
As Brown and Gibson return to the lineup this season, here's a look
at where they rank among Maryland career leaders.
CAREER 3-POINT FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS Atts.
1. Tiffany Brown, 1997-present 286
2. Carla Holmes, 1988-91 199
3. Kelley Gibson, 1994-present 168
4. Lillian Purvis, 1994-97 130
CAREER 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PCT. Pct.
1. Limor Mizrachi, 1991-92 32-77 .416
2. Terri Bradley, 1989-90 21-53 .396
3. Kim Bretz, 1995-97 26-66 .394
6. Aluma Goren, 1990-91 28-82 .341
7. Estelle Christy, 1989-92 21-63 .333
8. Tiffany Brown, 1997-present 90-286 .315
9. Lillian Purvis, 1994-97 39-130 .300
12. Stephanie Cross, 1995-98 18-65 .277
13. Kelley Gibson, 1995-present 39-168 .232
CAREER ASSISTS Assists
1. Debbie Lytle, 1980-83 583
2. Tara Heiss, 1975-78 504
3. Deanna Tate, 1986, 88-89 500
10. Karon Ferguson, 1992-95 294
11. Dafne Lee, 1989-92 251
12. Kelley Gibson, 1995-present 244
13. Katrina Colleton, 1990-93 243
14. Bonnie Rimkus, 1991-94 234
15. Myra Waters, 1979-82 220
--- Tiffany Brown, 1997-present 173
CAREER STEALS Steals
1. Debbie Lytle, 1980-83 315
2. Sonia Chase, 1995-98 309
12. Jessie Hicks, 1990-93 139
14. Kelley Gibson, 1995-present 125
Carla Holmes, 1988-91 125
CAREER BLOCKED SHOTS Blocks
1. Kris Kirchner, 1977-80 186
2. Vicky Bullett, 1985-89 170
12. Stephanie Cross, 1995-98 46
13. Lydia McAiley, 1979-82 43
14. Belinda Pearman, 1981-84 36
15. Kelley Gibson, 1995-present 35
Debbie Jones, 1976-78 35
CAREER 3-POINT FIELD GOALS FGs
1. Tiffany Brown, 1997-present 90
2. Carla Holmes, 1988-91 75
3. Kelley Gibson, 1995-present 39
Lillian Purvis, 1994-97 39
5. Limor Mizrachi, 1991-92 32
TELLING STATS AND SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT
Missing easily their most athletic returning starters, and the top
returning scorers and assist makers from a year ago in Tiffany Brown and
Kelley Gibson, Terrapin deficiencies have been obvious most of this
season.
Shooting Woes
Early evidence of their absence was poor shooting (55-152, .362,
through three games) and ballhandling by a team comprised mostly of
freshmen and almost exclusively by newcomers.
However - Maryland has rallied to shoot 40 percent or better in five
of its last seven games.
Turnovers
On the season, the Terps have collected 189 assists and recorded 305
turnovers (more than 1.6 turnovers per assist) in 12 games. That is in
contrast to Maryland opponents' more respectable 203 to 213 ratio.
But despite continuing turnovers - and considering a season-low 13 turnovers vs. Wake Forest - the Terps have become more proficient with their offense. Maryland players distributed just 31 assists, barely 10 per game, through its first three games. The Terps have averaged 17.5 (158) assists in their last nine games.
Last Sunday's game with Duke was Maryland's first of the season with a positive assist (20) to turnover (18) ratio.
Shooting Assists-Turnovers
First 3 games 55-152, .362 31-82 (1.0-2.6)
Next 5 games 109-263, .414 80-131 (1.0-1.6)
Last 3 games 106-231, .459 78-92 (1.0-1.2)
LINEUP SHUFFLE
With the return of Brown and Gibson , Maryland initiated its sixth,
seventh and eighth different starting lineups. The Duke game marked just
the third time this season that a lineup has been used in consecutive
games. No starting lineup has been used in more than two games.
IN THE PAINT
Certainly a strength of the young Terrapin club has been its inside game with the play of Branka Bogunovic and newcomers Deedee Warley, Rosita Melbourne (Washington, D.C.) and Cara Ferris (Pensacola, Fla.) - all of whom average over 4.9 rebounds per game. Returning junior Antonieta Gabriel (Virginia Beach, Va.) averages 5.9 rebounds including a career-high 13 against Wake Forest.
FERRIS & THE FRESHMEN
Boasting six freshmen on the roster and missing returning starters
Tiffany Brown and Kelley Gibson, the Terps obviously counted heavily on
those half-dozen freshmen during the early season. Maryland newcomers,
including JC transfer Cara Ferris, accounted for 74 percent of total
minutes played during its first eight games. Some opening eight games
numbers:
Cara Ferris (JC Transfer) 245 25 46
Newcomer Totals 1180 273 184
Percent of Team Total 74% 71% 58%
MARYLAND TOTALS 1600 386 318
Player Minutes Points Rebounds
March Strickland 301 80 23
Deedee Warley 210 69 36
Ginji Perry 164 27 18
Rosita Melbourne 193 57 47
Ije Agba 53 15 11
Marija Ilic 14 0 3
Freshmen Totals 935 248 138
Percent of Team Total 58% 64% 43%
HOW INEXPERIENCED?
Before the return of Brown and Gibson against Rutgers, Maryland was
playing with just one of its top eight scorers from last season. Branka
Bogunovic was the ONLY player that averaged 2.0 points or better or
played even 10 minutes per game last season.
Counting Antonieta Gabriel as a "virtual" newcomer after a 1.4 point average in 8.1 minutes last season, "newcomers" averaged 87.5% of Maryland's minutes, 73.3% of scoring and 82.1% of rebounds during Maryland's first eight games.
FROM THE STRIPE
Through its first eight games, Maryland shot just over 12 free
throws per game, and made only 55 percent of those. Opponents have made
90 free throws compared to Maryland's 53.
In the Terps' last four games, however, Maryland has made 54 free throws including a 22 of 34 effort vs. Richmond.
BEST CLASS SINCE '85-86?
Not since the freshman campaign of current pros Deanna Tate and
Olympian Vicky Bullett has Maryland welcomed a freshman class with as
much promise. The Terps boasted seven freshmen out of 15 players in
1985-86, compared to six of 12 on this season's roster.
The '98-99 freshman class has been regarded as one of the top 20 classes in the country, and includes the 40th-rated prospect in Rosita Melbourne.
The '85-86 team finished 17-13 overall and just 6-8 in the ACC, but rebounded to win the sixth of Chris Weller's eight ACC tournament titles. Maryland fell to Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Different from the '85-86 team is this season's total dependence on those freshmen. Freshmen on the 1985-86 club totaled 46 starts through a 30-game season. So far after just 12 games this year, Maryland freshmen have registered 29 starting assignments.
NOT JUST FRESHMEN, (VERY) LOCAL TOO
Maryland's bumper crop of freshmen includes a quartet of local stars
that come widely regarded by local and national publications. Ije Agba,
Rosita Melbourne, Ginji Perry and Deedee Warley all prepped at D.C.-area
high schools and received All-Met honors by the Washington Post.
Melbourne arrives as potentially the best post athlete during Weller's tenure and was a highly regarded recruit nationally.
Perry was the All-Met Player of the Year in 1996-97. All played their high school ball within 20 minutes of the Maryland campus.
TERPS BY THE NUMBERS
1
Terp seniors that have played this season.
3
Only three classes of players under Chris Weller have failed to participate in at least one Sweet Sixteen appearance.
6
Six freshmen on the Maryland roster are the most since seven in 1985-86.
8
Terrapin starting lineups in 1998-99.
8
The Terps have captured an unprecedented eight ACC championships.
9
Teams on the 1998-99 Terrapin schedule that qualified for last year's NCAA Tournament.
12
Freshman March Strickland is the only Terrapin to start all 12 games this season.
13
Maryland's 13 turnovers against Wake Forest shattered the club's previous season-low of 21 vs. Western Michigan.
16.5
Scoring average by Terp freshman Deedee Warley in her last six games. She posted a career-high 23 points vs. Coppin State and followed with 19 against Richmond and Duke. Her previous top scoring outputs came in consecutive games - 18 at Penn State and 12 vs. Wake Forest - to earn ACC Rookie of the Week honors on Dec. 14.
34
Assists by point guard Tiffany Brown in her first four games this season. She had a career-high 10 vs. Coppin State. Her previous career average was 2.7. She averaged 3.0 last season.
25.4
Chris Weller's young Terrapins, lacking experienced leadership and a true point guard through their first eight games, average 25.4 turnovers per game.
32
Points by Branka Bogunovic vs. WMU, ties the seventh-best effort in Terrapin history, and the most since 1990.
QUOTING COACH WELLER
On the Duke game: "We didn't have a very good game. Duke played very well and shot very well. I'm just disappointed in our defense. To let them have 90 points is not getting the job done. Duke is very good. I can see why they're ranked. I'm sure they're going to move up given their win over UCLA. They're very good. They were fired up. I'm not sure what fired them up, but they looked very good. I was a little disappointed in our reaction when they made their first run. I thought we gave them too much, and gave-in a little. When they got on a roll, we looked disappointed and frustrated. We have to learn to show more poise. They scored 48 points in the paint to our 14. That was something we talked about going into the game. We're going to have to do something about that."
On Deedee Warley in foul trouble: "That hurt us big time. We can't have her getting into foul trouble because we're just not deep enough to play much without her right now. Deedee's going to be a great player. But she's a freshman. She's going to get better by leaps and bounds. That's not a surprise to us. We knew when we signed her that we had signed one of the top players in the country."
On Duke's effectiveness on perimeter: "No, we weren't surprised by it at all. They're known for that. That's why you can't play them in a zone. If you do play them in a zone, you might as well 'pack up your bags.' They're very good shooters. That's why they're ranked."
On Tiffany Brown: "This wasn't one of Tiff's best games. She knows that. I'm sure she'll think about it, and she'll come back with a lot of fire."
What to draw from the Duke game: "It's the first ACC game with Kelley and Tiffany back. The freshmen can see how high the intensity level is. And it's going to stay that way. We just have be prepared not to make foolish mistakes. Foolish fouls hurt us early on. [Duke] was in the bonus, I think, with 11 minutes to go in the first half, and it dictated our substitution pattern. That was tough. I had to bring back people that I would not want to normally bring back into the game with two fouls. The foul situation really hurt."
Biggest difference with Kelley and Tiffany in the lineup: "Everything. The defense is better, we're attacking more offensively."
On a glimmer of hope: "I've had great hope all year long, and I'm not letting anybody take that away from me or my team because I know we're going to be very good. We've had some highly unusual circumstances. People got the advantage of some early gifts. [Having Kelley and Tiffany return] is huge, even just in practice. The whole level of practice can come up ten notches. Our freshman class is one of the top 20 freshmen classes in the country, however, our freshman class has been thrown to the wolves with no experience on the court and having to play without a point guard."
