University of Minnesota Athletics
Post Game Quotes
11/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Head Coach Marlene Stollings
Opening Statement...
"Well first of all I would like to say that I thought that we performed very well against a solid team out of the American East, won 23 games last year, they went to the tournament, and I think it's a team that could contend for the championship again this year. A tough team that we knew we were going to have to battle a majority of the night to pull it out or pull away from them and I thought our young ladies did a good job of staying poised and solid. We had to fight through some things. They threw some new stuff at us. We had to adjust throughout the game, but all in all pleased with our offensive execution. We had four players in double figures and Jessie (Edwards) with a double-double and Rachel (Banham) was very efficient with her scoring as well."
On the team's 3-point shooting percentage…
"Fifty percent is outstanding for any team at this level. When you shoot 50 percent from the 3-point line that's tough to go against. Our young ladies are very capable shooters and we're going to put the 3-ball up all year long. When we have a 50-percent night, most often times we'll come out on top."
On Jessie Edwards's double-double...
"Well we really challenged Jessie this past week. She's adjusting to the physicality of basketball here in the States and we don't have a lot of time to allow her to adjust so we've been pushing her very hard and what an outstanding performance from her. Getting 16 boards, those are numbers we were accustomed to last year from Amanda Zahui B. and to have a newcomer come in and be adjusting to the physicality so quickly I think is a credit to her and her desire to get better and to help her team."
Senior Guard Rachel Banham
On what the team is focusing on…
"Offensively I think that we are great. Our biggest focus right now is defensive and rebounding, just the little things. We just need to get better at it and we have time to do that because it is early, but we just need to focus and get better."
On the new four-quarter system…
"The breaks are great. I like those. I like that it breaks up the game a little bit and we can gather up and go piece by piece and set goals for every quarter and I think that is what we do a lot, so I like that."
On the team's new four-guard line up…
"I think it is really hard to guard. I think it is sneaky. I mean, coach has good plays where I kind of just sneak behind and I love it."
Sophomore Guard Carlie Wagner
On the new four-quarter system…
"I like the four quarters. It just breaks the game up a little bit. It gives us more rest time. Overall, I like the four quarters. It gives us more time to focus and come back together and figure things out that we need to do on defense or offense and go back out and apply it."
On playing with four guards…
"I think we are more comfortable with the four-guard line up, especially with the way we have been shooting the ball, I think we are more comfortable with it. When we four are on and shooting it is pretty dangerous out there with the people that are shooting the ball well. I really like that."
