University of Minnesota Athletics
Postgame Quotes
2/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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Head Coach Marlene Stollings
Opening Statement:
"Tonight was [tied for] the most points [Nebraska] has ever allowed in their program's history. So credit to our young ladies for being so efficient offensively. I'm just really pleased with how we're playing right now, with great confidence. We're moving the ball very well. The pace of the game was exactly the way we wanted it. It was part of our plan coming in to go, go, go, and if you needed a sub, we would get you out. I thought that our execution of the game plan, especially from the second quarter on, defensively, was very solid for us."
On the key focuses for this game:
"In addition to the pace it was for us, offensively, to attack them off the bounce. We felt like we had superior foot speed at every position, and we thought that could be very conducive for us in terms of rebounding. As you can see we out-rebounded them by 22. We just wanted to really go get the ball and turn hard offensively, and force them to have to bring a second or third defender to us. If they do that, then we kick to open shooters. We really wanted to put pressure on them and really test their foot speed."
Sophomore G Carlie Wagner
On the team's game strategy:
"It wouldn't have surprised me if [Rachel Banham] came out and scored 60 points again. We just had to come out and play with high intensity and get up on them and rebound. Rebounding was huge and pushing [Jessica Shepard] off the block - she's a really good freshman, got Freshman of the Week multiple times - was a big goal of ours for the game. Also finding [Natalie Romeo] and shutting her down at the 3-point lin. We just really had to be focused in on the game plan in this game, and really work together and communicate."
On what the team learned about themselves from this game:
"I think we learned what we're really capable of. We have nights where we go off and can score, but to go up against a team that's been on a winning streak and doing well in the Big Ten - and to come together, play rock solid defense, really communicate and move the ball well, and just come together as team - I think it just showed how great we are as a team and how well we work together. There's just so many ways that we can score and so many ways that we can do things, and I think it's a lot for teams to take in when you have so many people on the court capable of so many ways of scoring, playing defense, and communicating."
Sophomore G Allina Starr
On the team's commitment to tightening up on defense:
"I think our defense has been our main focus, along with our rebounding. So it's just been something that we've really been focusing on. We have this thing that if we get more than 45 stops, more than likely we're going to win the game, and it's just something we've been committed to the last couple weeks. As we've seen and talked about it in the locker room, every time we've hit that mark we've won the game."
Sophomore C Jessie Edwards
On the matchup against Jessica Shepard:
"Obviously playing against Shepard was going to be a challenge because she's a nine-time Big Ten Freshman Player of the Week. We just had to really focus on stopping those clutch moves that she does have. We've been trying and practicing for several weeks on getting the bigs out of their scoring range, so that is a big focus for us defensively. Also, as I said, definitely focusing on those go-to moves for the bigs."
On if this was the best game they've played inside:
"I definitely think over the past few weeks we've picked up our defense. We've been a lot more intense and physical in the post, and that's definitely helped other players in being able to focus on the outside players as well."
