University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Quotes
11/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2011
Postgame Quotes
Minnesota (2-2) 65, Binghamton (2-1) 40
Williams Arena
November 19, 2011
Minnesota Head Coach Pam Borton
Opening statement:
"It's always nice to get a win. I was very pleased with our defense once we got started after the first four or five minutes of the game. I thought our defense really held the fort down for a majority of the game. Our offense has a long way to go. It usually does this time a year. I was very pleased with the effort from Sari (Noga) today and Kiara's (Buford) leadership. She kept our team mentally tough."
On her expectations for Sari Noga:
"I think Sari is still a very young player, and just some consistency from Sari. Her game is continuing to evolve. The biggest thing is for Sari to bring toughness to our team. She is a tough player, not afraid to get dirty and on the floor and I think that gets contagious with the rest of the team."
On toughness on defense:
"If you have a great defense and you can rebound the basketball, you can always be in the position to win...It really creates some transition opportunities for us. We have a lot of work to do on our half court execution but that will come. We have to continue to work hard on it."
Minnesota Players
Sari Noga (So., G)
On turning a corner:
"I think I brought some toughness, in terms of getting to the basket. I didn't make all my points off of threes. Getting to the basket was something the team needed today. I just had a better game. ...We just want to now keep going from where I got today. I don't want to settle at this."
On if she was more agressive today than in previous games:
"I think as compared to last weekend, yes, I was more aggressive, taking the ball to the basket, and learning to finish a little bit better. I do think I was more aggressive today."
On changing things up a little bit:
"Getting easier shots, a lay-up is the better percentage shot than a three point shot, so getting my confidence up by getting some shots in the lane and then hopefully extending it out a little bit more, and becoming some consistent out there I think that helped me out a lot out there."
Kiara Buford (Sr., G)
On being a better ball handler than last year:
"I am a senior so I think people know I am going to look to score. So when a lot of people close in on me, a lot of other people are open. So for me, I just try to hit other people when they are open and they are doing a great job of finishing, and I do not even notice it but I think it just comes naturally when we play we win the ball."
On Sari Noga's play:
"I think Sari did great. I know what she can do. I see her practice all the time and I think that if she can bring her toughness all the time to the game and just be consistent, she is a great piece to our game. And it's the little things. She can not only shoot, but she can also get to the basket. She has great distance, so I think she really came out and displayed that today and it really helped us out a lot."
Binghamton Bearcats Head Coach Nicole Scholl
On what Binghamton knew coming into the game:
"We knew that they were going to be bigger than us in every position."
On starting out strong:
"We had some good looks at the basket in the first half. They capitalized on that by pressuring us. We didn't adjust to this which gave us problems."
On the game:
"It was great coming out here and getting an opportunity to play a Big Ten school. It gave our players a challenge and a chance to grow."
On the challenges her team faced:
"Our biggest challenge was being pressured."
On Minnesota's performance:
"Everything we saw on film was what they gave us here tonight. To beat them we needed to have near perfect game. "
