University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Quotes
1/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Minnesota Head Coach Marlene Stollings
Opening Statement:
"For us, it was a flat first half. It wasn't our best energy showing and we did not rebound the ball well, and that really got us in a hole. I think it kind of carried over to the offensive end as well, and we talked a lot at halftime about just raising our energy and effort. The reason that we're in the position we're in is because we rebound the ball at a very high level and we lock into the defensive game plan. I couldn't be more proud of our team for the resiliency they showed and the heart that they showed in the second half, coming back from as deep as an 18-point deficit to get the win. I'm just really proud of them."
On the way Rachel Banham took over the game with 18 points in the fourth quarter:
"For me, it's my first time experiencing her doing that since I've been here, and it was fun to watch. Putting up 25 points in a half is amazing and a lot of those came in one particular quarter. We just kept going back to her, pretty much the same play. She was in the zone. You could see it, I could see it in her eyes. She was making great reads and it was like [Illinois] wasn't going to stop us at that moment. It was very much just a phenomenal performance by her."
Joanna Hedstrom
On the mood at halftime among the players:
"We knew we needed to step it up. Especially knowing that the mood at halftime at their place was completely different, it was definitely that we needed to step it up. I felt, personally, and as a team, we knew that we were going to win the game, it was just that we needed to get there. I felt like we were in control if we just did the things we needed to do."
On how much Rachel Banham's play energized the team:
"It's awesome playing with Rachel. We don't like to put her in that position, and we don't like to put pressure on her or expect her to do that, but it just kind of happens sometimes. We're really focusing on having a great start so that doesn't have to happen, but like I said, it's awesome to play with her. It just energizes the rest of us. Getting stops on 'D' and Rachel scoring that much in the fourth quarter really did it for us."
Rachel Banham
On how it felt to help her team in the second half after struggling in the first half:
"I've been starting off really soft, not being aggressive enough in the first half these last two games. At halftime, I was just kind of talking to myself and saying, 'I really need to step up and help my team.' I wasn't really doing anything for anybody. I just have to keep telling myself that I have to step up and do what I do."
On the team's struggle in the first half:
"It was a lot of the heart and effort stuff. We were just really flat and I think us seniors need to help step up a little more and bring the energy, and we didn't do that at all [at first]. I think that's why we got down by so much, and I think that's something we started to bring more of later on in the second half. I think that's what helped us win. We stepped up on the defensive end - getting more rebounds - as well."
On the improvement in defense in the second half:
"Coach [Nikita Lowry-Dawkins], our defensive coach, really talked about using a lot of hands. When they're shooters you have to get your hands up. You can't be down here. She tells us that all the time and we continue to keep doing that, so we were really working on it in the second half. Keeping our hands up and making it tough for them to see the basket and just getting in down low. It was just a lot more pressure on the ball and active hands."
Illinois Head Coach Matt Bollant
Opening Statement:
"Obviously it was a battle. They made a run to start the second half and we answered and got it back up to 14. Then Banham made a lot of plays. Give Rachel a lot of credit. I'm not sure there's a better shooter in the country or a kid who can take over the game any better than she did. So proud of Alex [Wittinger] here. Twenty-seven points and 15 rebounds and four blocks. I thought Chatrice [White] did a good job establishing herself on the block and our guards did a good job passing. Kyley [Simmons] and Sarah [Hartwell] with 15 assists and no turnovers. So proud of our team. It hurts though. I feel like they've battled so many times. This is the fourth straight game we could've won all four, so to go 1-3 hurts. I just feel like they deserve to get rewarded. guess in life that doesn't happen, but they battled and they fought, but Banham stepped up and made too many plays down the stretch."
On what led to the loss:
"I think today just the immaturity on the court a little bit, we were supposed to be trapping the last ball screens. We had four or five ball screens where Banham came off and we're asking you to do this in a timeout and then to go and do it on the court. There's just a little bit of immaturity. We only had two players play last year, Chatrice and Kyley, so to execute and get it done at a high level, our immaturity is hurting us at times and just breaking out in different ways. Today it was the ability to stay up on Banham and trap her and get the ball out of her hands."
On Alex Wittinger:
"I think that's the best she's played, but she's had some great games. She was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week in the fall, and she's had games where she's really rebounded, but today to get 18 shots and make 12 of them-I think she did a good job of flashing and getting touches and then to have nine offensive rebounds is pretty amazing. I'll give her credit. When she stepped on campus, she was one of our hardest workers from day one. I thought when she stepped out in the weight room she did not look like a freshman the way she goes after it. She's right up there as good as anybody day in and day out and just goes and is really intense. Because of that's she's gotten so much better and her skills have gotten better. She goes extremely hard all the time which is a huge credit to her."
Illinois Freshman Alex Wittinger
On playing at home in Minnesota:
"I was really pumped. I knew a lot of people were coming from school, old friends, and I was just glad to be back here."
On if she felt nervous:
"More energized. Not nervous, just ready to go."
