Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Countdown to Craziness on October 3, 2025 at 7 p.m.
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Women's Basketball
vs Countdown to Craziness
Quotes: Duke 79, Virginia 58
3/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Duke Coach Gail Goestenkors
General:
We are happy to come away with the win. Virginia played us very well when we played up there this year. And Littles had just an incredible game against us, so we knew we were in for a great challenge, and I thought overall we did a great job.
We wanted to really focus on Littles and do a much better than we did the first game, and I thought it was a great team effort on her in particular. And I thought our defense was once again the difference in the game and, you know, we were shooting well from the outside so that was nice as well. Abby hit some huge shots for us throughout the game, but in particular in the first half, and I think that really set the tone for us on that end of the floor.
On Expectations:
It's been a great team effort. Everybody had a new roll this year, and they embraced their roles. Ali and Lindsey and Abby had to become go to players as opposed to complimentary players. Remmi had to become a great defensive player for us and go from not playing much in big games to being a starter and a star. So everybody has really stepped up. And every single player has improved and embraced their new role. Together we make it work.
The great thing is we have tremendous balance so if one person is not hitting we don't panic, we don't worry, we know we've got other players that are ready and willing to step up.
On N.C. State:
I think it's going to be just an incredible game, you don't see too many 6-7 post players in this game, much less seeing two go against each other. It was a real good game when we played in Raleigh and both Gillian and Ali had good games against one another. That's going to be a terrific matchup and a lot of fun to watch.
I think the game of basketball is very emotional and we play best when we play with great emotion and most teams do. N.C. State is playing excellent basketball right now, they are an inspired basketball team right now. I think we are as well. There are probably two feel good stories out there this year. One is definitely Kay Yow, and her team, and the other one is probably our team because we've done a lot more than people expected. We still know we've got along way to go. We love Kay Yow and that will never change. But when we get on the court we are here to compete and we are here to win, just as they are. So it will be a battle on the floor as it should be.
On Player's Stepping Up:
That's what makes this team great is that everybody can step up and everybody has stepped up at different times in the season. So it feels really good. And I think the players gives us so much confidence, as coaching staff and for all of the players to know that everybody on this team, whether they're starter or sub can lead us in scoring at some point in time if we needed them to.
On Lindsey Harding:
We always see what teams are going to give us, and we take what they give us. And I thought they did a pretty good job on Lindsey. I give Virginia credit so she was finding her teammates, Abby was open on the outside. She hit Abby as well, and some of players stepped up. So I think that feels really good for Lindsey to know that she doesn't have to bear the burden of being a great scorer for us every single night.
Duke Guard Abby Waner
On Her Mentality When Shooting Threes:
Well, I don't know if Coach G wants to hear this. Most of the time I don't really think about where I am. I guess it's a mentality that I have at times when my legs get tired I know that I need to take a step in.
On Her And Emily's Games Of Horse Growing Up:
I guess for the games we were able to finish, it was pretty equal most of the time. We would fight too much and a ball would be thrown or somebody would walk out. But it was pretty equal though.
On Her Quick Shot
I think most of it is when I grew up I played against boys a lot. When you play against boys they are a lot more athletic and quicker and can jump higher, so that forced me to get my shot off quicker or otherwise I would get blocked.
Duke Center Alison Bales
On Lyndra Littles
The last game she gave us a lot of problems. I think she changed the game plan a little bit. We had a guard on her for some of the game, and we also had post players on her. We were working a double team every once in awhile. I think she had a good strategy for her, and we executed and it worked out well.
On N.C. State
The first time we played them we both had pretty good offensive nights. I'm looking to step up my defense. She is very strong, once she gets position in the low post there is not much you can do about. I'm I'm going to try to get around a little bit more than I did last game.
Players Mentioned
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