University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota-Ohio State Postgame Quotes
2/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Postgame Quotes
Ohio State (15-9, 6-6) 83, Minnesota (11-14, 3-9) 76
February 13, 2011
Minneapolis, Minn.
Minnesota Head Coach Pam Borton
Opening statement:
"I was very proud of our kids' fight and their effort. We played to the very bitter end against a very good team with a three-time All-American on the team. I think our team is progressive. We've gotten so much better throughout the course of the year, and I'm very proud of where team's at. Unfortunately, it's not showing in the win column. I think we scored enough points to win a basketball game. We out-rebounded them. "
On the reasons Ohio State won:
"Our number one focus was to close the paint down and limit points in the paint, and obviously that's what beat us. Jantel Lavendar is all anybody can handle. That's why she's an All-American. Obviously, the last three minutes of the game did not have an answer for Tayler Hill, just penetrating to the basket. I think those two players had a major difference in the outcome of the game. And three minutes it's tied and you've got to be able to get stops. "
On her feelings about the season at this point:
"This is our fifth game in a row where I feel like we've got great chemistry on the court. I think we have figured out as coaches the ingredients we need to win basketball games. Our kids are playing extremely hard. They have stayed together as a team. This has been an absolutely unbelievable group of young women to work with. It's been a fun year. It hasn't been fun in the win and loss column, but these players have gotten so much better. Our team has gotten so much better."
Minnesota Player Quotes
Katie Loberg (So./F)
On her effectiveness inside:
"They were playing behind us, and we saw that as an advantage for us. The guards got it in and we really just took it to the rim and got some fouls on them."
Kiara Buford (Jr./G)
On driving more to the left side of the basket:
"I don't think there's really a difference in how I prepared for it. We do everything both sides in practice. I just think it's a little more concentration and taking what they're going to give me and playing off momentum."
On making ten straight free throws after missing her first four:
"I promised myself after that fourth one that I wasn't going to miss anymore."
Ohio State Head Coach Jim Foster
On if he was surprised by Minnesota’s strong play:
“No, not at all. They've got some guard play that is reliable and they've got some good contributions from their post play. It is a young team. They had in (Brittany) McCoy and (Emily) Fox strong players that played a lot of minutes. Replacing those players is going to take some time.”
On what the team needs to work on:
“ Stops and ball reversals. Stops bring your rebounding into play because a good defensive team can only become a great team when they rebound.”
Ohio State Player Quotes
Jantel Lavender (Sr./F)
On setting the career scoring record for Ohio State University:
“It is a really big thing that I will never forget. It shows my dedication to the game and my teammates. The reason I am so good of a player is because of my teammates and coaches having faith in me to be a go-to player.”
Tayler Hill (So./G)
On playing hard at the end of the game back home in Minnesota:
“My teammates stay together. A lot of people say that we are heartless on the road and when we get down we don’t play as hard, but today we showed heart. We were down, we were up, and we fought through. I think we are one of the only teams that practices free throws, so it was just like practice.”
