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Women’s Basketball Postgame Quotes
No. 4 Maryland 74, Virginia 62
Jan. 18, 2008
Virginia Head Coach Debbie Ryan
Opening Statement:
“It was a really good college basketball game. We had a great atmosphere, a great crowd and our team was prepared. That was very evident in the way we started the game. Maryland is an extremely talented team and I thought we did our best to take away what they do well. I thought that [Crystal] Langhorne had an incredible game tonight. It wasn’t until towards the end of the game that they hit a three. It really took the stuffing out of us, but I was proud of my team’s effort. It just goes to show you that we’re pretty good. I think we were right there with them and I was really proud of our effort out there tonight.”
On the end of the game:
“We had been making great decisions all night, and we just made one or two bad decisions there. We were still battling, but we just couldn’t get anything to fall. We missed a lot of lay-ups tonight, as well.”
On guard Monica Wright:
“Monica played with such presence tonight. She answered every call. She was not going to give in.”
On guard Sharnee Zoll:
“I thought she had a great game tonight. She stepped up and shot the ball for me, she ran the team. I thought that Maryland did a good job defensively changing things up, and she did a great job recognizing everything. Sharnee made sure that everyone was in the right place and knew what they were doing, so she just had a great game.”
On what to take away from the game:
“We lost a game tonight, but I know that this team has an awful lot to give. We have to get more production out of certain people, and they know that. We played a good game, but was it good enough? No. Are we there yet? No. Are we getting there? Absolutely. Everyone here feels it. Not just me, not just my team, but everyone in the community knows it and loves this team.”
Guard Monica Wright
On the team’s confidence:
“We definitely got an awakening to how good we are and how good we can be. We just need to tweak a few things and we’ll be up there with Maryland. We’re definitely feeling confident.”
On fouling out:
“I was definitely frustrated, but at the same time I have to learn from my mistakes and learn that things like that can be avoided.”
Guard Sharnee Zoll
On the game:
“I can’t believe we let it go. They have five great scorers, but as well and as hard as we played, especially in the first half, to see this game fall is pretty tough.”
On the team’s mindset:
“There was no intimidation factor in this game. We all came in knowing we could hang with this team. I give all the credit in the world to them because they hit a couple of key 3-point shots that kind of deflated our spirits a little bit. This is the No. 4 team in the country, so if there were such a thing as a moral victory, I guess this would be one. Still, it’s tough to let this one go at home. We had great fans tonight.”
Maryland Assistant Coach Daron Park
Opening statement:
“You cannot say enough about this group of individuals and this team. To have all sorts of adversity thrown at you in the first half, have every reason to quit, have every reason to go into a shell and turn inward, to become individuals instead of a team, to come out in the second half and continue to battle and fight, I just really believe that this team is made up of such great character. So many players have been through the battles and understand what it takes to be a championship-level ball club. I think we showed that tonight.”
On whether Maryland’s early performance was an “emotional letdown” following the Duke game:
“Absolutely not. I think that we were incredibly prepared for this game. Emotionally, we were ready. I think we kind of got caught with maybe a little deer in the headlights. We gave up some transition baskets. Virginia made some tough shots in the first half. I thought they were contested. I do not see any signs of a letdown following the game Monday night.”
On the second half:
“All year we really had the mindset offensively that we take what the defense gives us. We talked about our ability to get some post touches, and we talked about how maybe we had an advantage on them inside. We ran an action to get a post catch for Crystal (Langhorne), and I think they got her going again and got her comfortable. I thought we did a great job the next few possessions of finding her. She did a great job of posting hard and continuing to seal and demand the basketball. Good things happen when we throw it inside.”
On freshman guard Marah Strickland:
“Marah is such a wonderful example of a freshman who has stepped into a big-time program on a big-time stage and understood the role that we as coaches have asked her to do. That is basically to be a catch and shoot kid and always be ready for when the ball finds you and then be able to shoot with confidence. She has worked very, very hard to put herself in those positions and make sure that she has success when she gets those opportunities.”
On whether Maryland always “answers emotional baskets with a dagger of their own”:
“I do not remember many times that there have been many baskets in a row that we have not been able to answer. That comes back to our vetern leadership, and our kids understand that we have a game plan offensively and defensively and that does not change whether or not the other team makes baskets. We want to get it out quick. We want to push it ahead. Then we have a progression we look for, and the first option was open for a shot, and we feel comfortable enough taking those shots.”
Center Crystal Langhorne
On whether Maryland was eventually able to tire Virginia out:
“I think so. They started out pushing a lot of transition, and I think as the game went on we kind of got to them with our different looks we were giving defensively.”
Guard Marissa Coleman
On Monica Wright:
“She attacked, and she did what she did best, and she got me in foul trouble. She played really well today.”
On whether it was frustrating sitting on the bench in foul trouble:
“It was very frustrating, especially in a game like this with the crowd as emotional as it was and the game as tight as it was, especially in the first half. On the bench, you get to see a lot more than you do on the floor, so I would try tell my team what they were doing wrong. It is funny because before the game I was talking to Kristi (Toliver), and we were both talking to each other about how we could not get into foul trouble, and then of course I would be the one in foul trouble.”
Guard Marah Strickland
On where her confidence on the court comes from:
“I think the upperclassmen, and just the whole team, and the coaching staff have a lot of confidence in me and have welcomed me on the court. I feel very comfortable when I go out there and play with them.”