University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Quotes
11/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 20, 2011
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Minnesota Head Coach Pam Borton
Opening Statement
"It was a great effort by our team. I was very pleased with our intensity level and our work ethic from start to finish. We played a great 40 minutes of defensive pressure together. I was very proud of the team for showing up and being ready to play. We were able to keep our intensity up with nine people playing big minutes for us. We are getting a little better each game and I think that is what is expected from our team."
On Rachel Banham's progression
"She is getting used to a lot of different things, but she still needs to work through some of those things. She is doing a great job. She is getting a feel for everything and playing a lot of minutes, but she is really pushing our tempo and keeping our team playing fast, and that is what we want her to do."
On Leah Cotton's spark
"She keeps the motor running. Kiara is our engine and she starts the intensity of our team. When Leah comes in off the bench she takes it to a whole new level. She is doing a great job and I really like how our team is coming together."
On Being happy where the team is at this point of the season
"I am really happy with where we are at, but we are not settling. As long as we can continue to get a little bit better each game and we continue to win basketball games, that is all we can ask for."
Senior guard Kiara Buford
On The rhythm of the game
"Like Coach (Borton) said, everybody coming off the bench really kept our rhythm going. We played fast tempo and we got to get the ball up. Inside out, there was pretty balanced scoring as well, and I think that everybody contributed."
On Cotton's role as a spark plug
"That's one of Leah's roles. She always comes in and is the spark we need. If you ask her what her role is, she'll say `I want to be that spark for the team.' I think that's something she takes pride in. When she plays great, I think everything just gels together."
On Showing her versatility on the court
"I go into every game defensive-minded. Especially with some of the players that I'm guarding. I start with handling a great shooter and try to get into the passing lanes. I think that's something important - to know where the pass is going and trying to get into the passing lanes."
Sophomore guard Sari Noga
On Carrying over her success from Saturday's game to today
"I think I just carried over my confidence from that game into tonight's game. I did what I know I could do and brought it."
NDSU Head Coach Carolyn DeHoff
Opening Statement
"I give credit to Minnesota. We made a run on them early and then they picked up their defensive pressure, which forced some turnovers. They also pounded us on the glass, so give all the credit to Minnesota."
On Future of the team
"You always have expectations to compete much better, especially at the free-throw line. Offensively, we have to get better. If you look at our non-conference schedule it is very difficult, but we are at this level to prepare us for our conference. It doesn't help that we lost (Katie Birkel), but that happened quite some time ago. We lost Jamie Van Kirk in the second half as well. We are not sure how long she will be out."
On Team's journey with freshmen
"Credit Minnesota with the pressure they put on us. The reality is when you play freshmen off the bench you are going to get pressed. You have a freshman point guard that is trying to figure out the flow of the game. Do I keep pushing it or do I slow it down? We are in a big learning curve right now with that type of style."
