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Quotes: Duke 85, Southern California 51
3/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Duke Coach Gail Goestenkors
Opening Statement
“I'm very proud of my team. I thought we came out very focused and with great energy. I thought we set the tone early with our defensive intensity. USC is an exceptional team and we knew they would never give up. They are extremely talented and I thought we were able to take away some of the things they like to do. I really just think we set the tone with our defense. We turned the ball a little much in the second half, and I thought we lost our focus a little on that end. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with our team effort.”
On being pleased with Duke's performance
“I am very pleased. Rebounds are something we have really focused on in practice, and I'm really pleased that what we are working on in practice is showing up in games.”
On Duke's depth
“In really tight games I don't go as deep as I did tonight. We had a little cushion and I knew we wanted to play as many players as I could to wear them down. We talked about the last five minutes of both halves that it would be tough for them to have much energy to stay with us, so we wanted to push the ball from the tip and we wanted to play pressure defense to try and wear them down a bit. It was fortunate I was able to play everybody, everybody always doesn't get to play.”
On winning in consecutive blowouts
“It definitely restores our confidence. I think losing to Carolina and then to Maryland, those were tough losses. But I think we played them at the right time, because it gave the team a lot of motivation to come into the tournament. Everything happens for a reason I think, it was just our time for those losses, and we learned from it. We're positive with one another and its showing in the tournament.”
On winning in consecutive blowouts
“On the stat sheet it looked like I did pretty well, but I think those first two shots set the mood and opened up the lanes so much. We had a couple high low shots and inside moves.”
On how team continued to push ball up court all game
“From the beginning of the season, that's always been one of our strengths because we are so deep and we all have fresh legs coming in. So especially against a team like USC who we know are down a few players, we're trying to push the ball as much as we can to wear them down, and it paid off for us towards the end of the game.”
USC Coach Mark Trakh
Opening Statement
“I just felt that Duke was outstanding. They are an outstanding team. They have size, they're athletic, they have speed and quickness, they have kids that can shoot the ball, obviously they have a great inside game. I was very impressed with that team, and I am pulling for them to win the national championship, so we can say we played the national champion in the second round. I think the game was good for our kids to see a team like that, and what they have to aspire to be and to play at that level. We're going to make this a learning experience. I said that I am more proud of this team than any team I've coached in 25 years after a win, and I'll say it after a loss. We finished 19-12, finished in the second round of the NCAA tournament, overcame a lot of obstacles and injuries, and the kids never gave up. I thought they played really really hard, and that's all I can ask. I said if you give 100 percent and you lose the game at whatever score, so be it. At least we can fly back home and know that we gave 100 percent. I think they fought very hard, it's just like I said. Duke is an outstanding team and I think they will go pretty far in the tournament.”
“They were bringing in waves of players, and one kid made a play. I don't know who it was, but I was like 'man, a reserve in the game makes a play like that.' My assistant coach looked at me and said that was a McDonalds All-American. So that kind of tells you the kind of wave they bring in. They just have so much depth. The big guards can handle the ball, so what do you take away? They have a great inside game, and play around the perimeter real well. Three-pointers is what kept us in a lot of games, and we couldn't get a lot of shots off. It's like every couple of minutes you saw fresh bodies out there. They are built for this tournament right now. That's why I think they can go pretty deep.”
Meghan Gnekow
On shortage of players due to injuries
“They are an outstanding basketball team, and I know all of us left everything out on the court. We really didn't have anything left in us at the end.”
On being undermanned
“We've had eight players for some weeks now. That's what we've been practicing with. We knew they had a lot of subs. Everyone team does really. I think that we had the most injuries of any team in the country. We just worked on our conditioning, and we knew they were just going to keep fresh bodies in because that's what every team does.”
Chloe Kerr
On playing against Alison Bales
“I actually played against her in high school, so I knew what works against her and what didnt. I just tried my best to go around her. She is tall so you can't shoot over her. I got my shot blocked three times. She is a great player so I just worked with what I had.”
Players Mentioned
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