University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Excited to Play in the Big Dance
3/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Golden Gopher women’s basketball met with the Twin Cities media on Wednesday to talk about their upcoming NCAA Tournament experience at Notre Dame. We took the chance to chat with each of the Gopher players to find out what their thoughts were on heading to the Big Dance.
Brittany McCoy (So., Lincolnwood, Ill.)
Playing in the NCAA Tournament is something I grew up dreaming about playing in. Last year (NCAA vs. Texas) was a dream come true. We are fortunate to get back. Just because you make it one year, you may not make it back any other time in your career. It’s special to make it two times.
Ashley Ellis-Milan (Jr., St. Paul, Minn.)
We got to go last year and the whole experience, the band, the cheerleaders, the atmosphere...it’s just fun. Everything is just fun. It’s the Big Dance. The hype around it’s different. You know you’re playing for something big.
Kiara Buford (Fr., St. Paul, Minn.)
It’s going to be a great experience to go in our first year. It should be fun. We’ve been working for this all year. I’m excited to see what it’s all about.
Tanisha Smith (So., Whitby, Ontario)
I was very fortunate to go last year and I’m so happy we get to go again. It’s always a crazy environment to play in. It’s awesome. It also means a lot for our program, for our school to be one of the top 64 teams. We’re privileged to still be playing and in the NCAA Tournament so I’m happy.
Kristen Dockery (R-Fr., Granger, Ind.)
I’m very excited. Obviously I redshirted last year but I still got to have a little feel of how big a deal it is to go to the NCAA Tournament. They treat you like royalty. It’s an experience of a lifetime. Growing up watching the NCAA and March Madness, it’s unbelievable to be a part of it. I’m excited to play against some people I played with in high school and AAU at kind of my home court. It will be fun.
Nicole Mastey (Fr., Becker, Minn.)
Being a freshman, I feel it’s an extremely exciting thing. It’s everybody’s goal to get to the NCAA Tournament. To start off your freshman year knowing you get to experience the joy and excitement of the Tournament is unbelievable. Pam told us freshmen that might we not understand what we’re getting ourselves into since we haven’t been there yet. So I’m excited to see what the NCAA Tournament is like and share it with my team.
Kay Sylva (Sr., Salem, Ore.)
It means a lot to go to the NCAA Tournament in my senior year. You never know if you’ll get to experience it and I get to experience it in both my years at Minnesota. I’m blessed. I’m going to make the most of it and play my heart out and leave it all out on the court.
Jackie Voigt (Fr., Cottage Grove, Minn.)
I’m really excited and I think it’s a great opportunity for this team. Watching this team last year in the NCAAs versus Texas was huge for me. Now I get to be a part of it. It was so exciting to see our name when it came up (on Selection Monday).
Zoe Harper (Jr., Perth, Western Australia)
It’s a chance for us to show that we are one of the top 64 teams in the country. We need to go out there and show what Minnesota basketball is all about.
Katie Ohm (Jr., Elgin, Minn.)
Going to the NCAA Tournament means a lot. This is huge step for our team. It’s my third year going with Emmy and Ashley (Katie and Ashley redshirted in 2006 but traveled with the team) and getting back in is always fun. We’re going to go out and play hard.
Brianna Mastey (Fr., Becker, Minn.)
For me it’s really exciting to go to the NCAA Tournament as a freshman. I’m pumped. Like Jackie said, watching last year was a great experience. I’m excited to get down there and see what it’s all about.
Emily Fox (Sr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
As a senior, going to the NCAA Tournament is so special. It’s what I strive for, what this team strives for, every year. It’s so special to me too because I get to show these young players what it’s all about. Hopefully they will be back many times down the road.
Minnesota will depart for Notre Dame on Friday afternoon. Saturday’s schedule includes open practice and press conferences. Sunday’s game versus Notre Dame is scheduled to tip off at approximately 1:30 p.m. CT.
Brittany McCoy (So., Lincolnwood, Ill.)
Playing in the NCAA Tournament is something I grew up dreaming about playing in. Last year (NCAA vs. Texas) was a dream come true. We are fortunate to get back. Just because you make it one year, you may not make it back any other time in your career. It’s special to make it two times.
Ashley Ellis-Milan (Jr., St. Paul, Minn.)
We got to go last year and the whole experience, the band, the cheerleaders, the atmosphere...it’s just fun. Everything is just fun. It’s the Big Dance. The hype around it’s different. You know you’re playing for something big.
Kiara Buford (Fr., St. Paul, Minn.)
It’s going to be a great experience to go in our first year. It should be fun. We’ve been working for this all year. I’m excited to see what it’s all about.
Tanisha Smith (So., Whitby, Ontario)
I was very fortunate to go last year and I’m so happy we get to go again. It’s always a crazy environment to play in. It’s awesome. It also means a lot for our program, for our school to be one of the top 64 teams. We’re privileged to still be playing and in the NCAA Tournament so I’m happy.
Kristen Dockery (R-Fr., Granger, Ind.)
I’m very excited. Obviously I redshirted last year but I still got to have a little feel of how big a deal it is to go to the NCAA Tournament. They treat you like royalty. It’s an experience of a lifetime. Growing up watching the NCAA and March Madness, it’s unbelievable to be a part of it. I’m excited to play against some people I played with in high school and AAU at kind of my home court. It will be fun.
Nicole Mastey (Fr., Becker, Minn.)
Being a freshman, I feel it’s an extremely exciting thing. It’s everybody’s goal to get to the NCAA Tournament. To start off your freshman year knowing you get to experience the joy and excitement of the Tournament is unbelievable. Pam told us freshmen that might we not understand what we’re getting ourselves into since we haven’t been there yet. So I’m excited to see what the NCAA Tournament is like and share it with my team.
Kay Sylva (Sr., Salem, Ore.)
It means a lot to go to the NCAA Tournament in my senior year. You never know if you’ll get to experience it and I get to experience it in both my years at Minnesota. I’m blessed. I’m going to make the most of it and play my heart out and leave it all out on the court.
Jackie Voigt (Fr., Cottage Grove, Minn.)
I’m really excited and I think it’s a great opportunity for this team. Watching this team last year in the NCAAs versus Texas was huge for me. Now I get to be a part of it. It was so exciting to see our name when it came up (on Selection Monday).
Zoe Harper (Jr., Perth, Western Australia)
It’s a chance for us to show that we are one of the top 64 teams in the country. We need to go out there and show what Minnesota basketball is all about.
Katie Ohm (Jr., Elgin, Minn.)
Going to the NCAA Tournament means a lot. This is huge step for our team. It’s my third year going with Emmy and Ashley (Katie and Ashley redshirted in 2006 but traveled with the team) and getting back in is always fun. We’re going to go out and play hard.
Brianna Mastey (Fr., Becker, Minn.)
For me it’s really exciting to go to the NCAA Tournament as a freshman. I’m pumped. Like Jackie said, watching last year was a great experience. I’m excited to get down there and see what it’s all about.
Emily Fox (Sr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
As a senior, going to the NCAA Tournament is so special. It’s what I strive for, what this team strives for, every year. It’s so special to me too because I get to show these young players what it’s all about. Hopefully they will be back many times down the road.
Minnesota will depart for Notre Dame on Friday afternoon. Saturday’s schedule includes open practice and press conferences. Sunday’s game versus Notre Dame is scheduled to tip off at approximately 1:30 p.m. CT.
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