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Women's Basketball
vs Countdown to Craziness
Quotes: Tennessee 67, Duke 64
1/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Duke Coach Joanne P. McCallie
Opening Statement:
“It was a great basketball game?I really appreciated the crowd and the support and the volume the crowd provided. I think that was really fun for our team. Obviously we're very disappointed?we expected a different outcome. We played very, very hard... had some situations to deal with on the floor?foul trouble and things of that nature. Adversity definitely showed up for us tonight. I think the most glaring statistic that will bother us a lot from this game is the second-chance points and the boards and what Tennessee created off the boards. The fact that it was a one possession ball game despite that shows the potential opportunity that we have as a team to become a special team. So this one stings and there are some great lessons for us but the basketball gods said ?No, not tonight, not if you're going to rebound like that. Not going to happen for you.'
On how much of the rebounding disparity was because a second frontcourt player was coming over to double Candace Parker:
“That doesn't speak about offensive rebounding. It depends what side of the coin you want to look at. No doubt there's got to be a rotation with box-outs when you throw some people at Candace Parker. Our guards need to pick up the defensive rebounds and be aggressive. Nish [Wanisha Smith] rebounded as a guard but that was really it and Nish is capable of a lot more than what she did because she's just so strong and plays so hard all the time. So I guess to answer your question we only shot 44 percent for the game so there was wide open offense out there for the put-backs that we needed and we need to be able to get.”
On not doubling Candace Parker on her last basket and what the thinking was behind that:
“I think that just happened by accident. We were always trying to double and dig on Parker. I have to look at the film to see where I believe it was Joy [Cheek]?where she went, you know she looking at 55 [Nicky Anosike] there. That was a difficulty for us and that was very unfortunate.”
On Duke's overall defense in the game:
“The players worked hard. It was a very physical game. Our perimeter players gave a lot of pressure. We get a lot of pressure?Nish [Wanisha Smith] really anchors the outside in terms of providing on-ball pressure and savvy type of play. Abby [Waner] and Jas[mine Thomas] are feeding off of that. On the interior Te [Chante Black] and Joy [Cheek] were working hard and I just think that it takes that kind of physical game. I mean it was very physical. We were really working on defense?a lot of good help side, a lot of good anticipation by everybody.”
Senior Center Chante Black
On second chance points:
“The stat sheet doesn't lie. We weren't able to score on our offensive rebounds. I know. When I was out there I felt that I wasn't rebounding as well as I should have.”
On her foul trouble playing into rebounding:
“Foul play wasn't even in my head. There were still some times when I was reaching out there in the second half with those three fouls. Luckily I didn't reach too much to get a fourth foul.”
On how the team defended Candace Parker:
“I thought we did pretty well up until the end. I feel like we should have come out a little bit more aggressive in the second half like we did in the first half. That's when they pulled away and we had to lock down and make a comeback.”
Freshman Guard Jasmine Thomas
On playing in such a big game as a freshman:
“It was just exciting. I was excited to play and the team was excited to play. We've played big games here before; the Rutgers game was a big game. It wasn't anything I wasn't prepared for.”
Senior Guard Wanisha Smith
On how Tennessee compares to other top teams that Duke has played:
“They come out and fight; all the top teams in the nation are going to come out and fight and play you down to the wire like in today's game. When you have players that can shoot and you get a lot of offensive rebounds and put-backs, that makes it a great game. Their team just played really well overall.”
On tonight's outcome:
“I feel like we did let one slip away because of the rebounding. We definitely can control that and I feel like we didn't today, clearly; we were out rebounded by 11. It's something we can control so I definitely feel like we let one slip away.”
On what the team can take away from this game:
“We just have to learn how to keep going after rebounds. I think rebounding is the main thing we will take away from this game. After our missed shots we need to be able to get second-chance shots and we clearly didn't today. I think we'll take these things and learn from them and it will make us a better team.”
Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt
Opening Statement:
“Well obviously, this is a big road win for us. Especially when we had a lot of turnovers and such, but we really stepped up our intensity and did a good job with the high-low game, a better job on the boards, which I thought was going to be a deciding factor if we could keep them off of the offensive boards, and I was really pleased with how we did on the defensive boards. I thought that was probably a key for us, and then just coming up with big plays down the stretch. I'm really proud of this team, because we knew it would be a tough game, a great challenge for us, and I just like the way we answered that challenge in the second half.”
On containing Chante Black in the second half:
“Well we really challenged Candace (Parker) to step up her defense. I didn't think she played her as tough in the first half, so she got a lot of touches. And Chante, she's a great post player; when she gets position inside she's going to get a lot of touches. But I thought the difference was when we really stepped it up in the second half defending the high-low action and also taking away direct action on the low-block.”
On playing in a tough environment:
“I was very pleased with how they played; I thought Vicki (Baugh) came in and really did a lot for us in the first half. Angie (Bjorklund) had a couple of huge shots in the second half. She's done a better job of really being aggressive off the dribble. In this game she created a lot of shots; she was really looking to score especially in the second half. I think that speaks to her maturity; she can be very inconsistent, especially in the second half. But she's learning that she has to take shots and she has to make shots.”
On Candace Parker's position on final shot:
“Well, Candace demands the ball, and she usually gets it. Lexi (Hornbuckle) hit her with the pass. We do want to go inside to her. When she's in the paint and demands the ball, she usually gets in good position. But she's also been more aggressive going to the rim and in putting the ball of the floor. She's really establishing herself as a go-to player. She didn't settle for face-up shots, and I think that's important because people have a hard time defending her one-on-one in the paint.”
On junior and senior leadership:
“Well, I think leadership with Alexis (Hornbuckle) and Candace (Parker) tonight was good. Alexis wasn't shooting the ball well, but she did other things. She did not let her offense affect her game, and I think that's because of her maturity and responsibility as a leader. Candace is the same way. Obviously, they've been in big games and they understand their roles. We also have younger players, and they've been great in helping them, in huddles, on the bench, and positive talk.”
On overcoming 23 turnovers and 40% shooting:
“That we find a way to win. And that's what great teams do, and what our team needs to understand. Just knowing that this team has played a tough schedule and has still been able to open up a lot of games. We're going to be in some tough games, and we're going to have to fight hard. This was a great example of that. I like their toughness and their togetherness.”
On rebounding effort:
“Well, I think that very few women's team shoots over 50%. So what you have to do is make defensive rebounding a priority. And that's where you get the edge. Take Duke, they're a great rebounding team. And it just felt like we had to take away a lot of their second chance opportunities. We were more focused and concentrated against the defensive boards.”
On Alexis Hornbuckle's performance:
“With her as a senior, I think she knew what to expect. It wasn't so much about the fans, it was about our team and what she had to bring to her team, and she played tough. I told her she had to get to the paint, and she responded and got to the free-throw line and stepped up and made some big defensive plays for us as well.”
Senior Guard Alexis Hornbuckle
On beating Duke for the first time in her career:
“It was definitely a big win for us. Going 0-3 against Duke the past three years was no fun so we wanted to come out our senior year and make a difference.”
On Duke's defense:
“It was definitely one of the best defenses we've played against. They're so active and they're long and big. You're going in for a shot and you have Chante Black there, which alters your shot a little bit. They recover well. They, along with North Carolina, are the toughest defenses we've played against.”
On rebounding:
“Coach made it a point of emphasis in the pre-game speech when we got here. She said they're not shooting the ball very well but they're rebounding and they're getting second-chance points on teams and we can't allow that. We needed to own the defensive boards so we made that a mission.”
Junior Forward Candace Parker
On Duke's ability to force turnovers:
“They're a very athletic team; they're tall and big. So, when they send the double team it's hard to throw over that and I learned that in the first half and again in the second half. Obviously I'm not proud of my turnovers but I think once we understood how they were going to guard us, we moved the ball and it didn't get stuck in anybody's hands.”
On the freshmen:
“Vicki [Baugh] came in and just played her butt off. She did what we needed to her to do whether it is getting a bucket or keeping a ball alive or grabbing a rebound or making a defensive stop; she really helped us. Angie [Bjorklund] is that steady player who is going to come in and hit a shot when the defense is off her or make a nice one, two pull-up. She had a tough defensive assignment tonight and she did a great job. I'm really proud of my freshmen.”
Freshman Forward Angie Bjorklund
On playing at Cameron Indoor Stadium:
“I enjoyed it. The upperclassmen gave us a hint of what it was going to be like and they said you just have to go out and play. I liked it. At times it was tough, but we had tight huddles and were on the same page a lot of the time so that helped a lot. It was a fun environment.”
Players Mentioned
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