University of Minnesota Athletics
quotes
12/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Marlene Stollings
Opening statement…
I'm really proud of our kids. Something that has continued to happen here a few times in our nonconference slate is that we get tested down the stretch and we've found a way to win each of those games. Every close game we've been in, even in overtime, we've found a way to win and I think it speaks to the resiliency of this group, and really stepping up. Central Michigan is a really talented team, Crystal Bradford is going to be a top-ten WNBA draft pick. It was just a real solid performance by our ladies, especially during the second half, to finish off the game and hold them to 26 points - a team that has a great shot at winning the Mid-American Conference - so another quality win in that non-conference slate for us.
What she's learned about the team without Banham…
This is a very unselfish group, who also cares a lot about Rachel. They want to honor her by doing well. I think they've really been committed here and what they've shown in these past couple of games is that they are going to step up. They've really bought in to stepping up a couple areas of their game to really account for Rachel's absence."
On room for improvement…
We have to become better passers. I think that defensively, we will continue to get better and better their at just our movement and our intensity. We are constantly looking to improve and advance everyday in practice, at both ends of the floor, we hope that we're getting better into March."
Amanda Zahui
On scoring the last ten points of the game…
Coach and the team trusts me to take care of the ball under the basket, and I just had to change my mindset and go hard at it and finish and try and draw fouls.
When shots weren't falling…
That's something I've been talking to coach about and just trying to focus on the maturity level, if I miss, I have to let go and think about the next possession, I think I showed that a little bit today.
On fitting in a guard-oriented system…
I've been working hard during the summer and offseason, in practice. I feel we play all around. It's not just guards. Coach tells people to look inside, they find me and Shae and me and Shae find guards. We just play as a team out there. It's not just guards or just posts. We play team basketball.
On Rachel's absence…
It just means that we all have to step it up big time, get more rebounds, fill in three point spaces for her. We have to look more inside because a lot of teams have mismatches, when you have Shae and Amanda down low, it's a pretty big powerhouse down there and it's hard to get around.
When shots were'n
I just had to keep a good mindset and look around for my teammates when shots weren't falling, and just be strong, I know I had some turnovers, but you have to fight through adversity.
On B1G play…
The step-around pass, I've got to get down. But we just have to take that extra step, extra second to make sure the passes are open because when we get in B1G play, obviously girls are going to be bigger, faster, stronger, and we just have to be more safe with our passes.
