Carrier Dome – Syracuse, N.Y.
Opening Statement:
“I thought that our kids played a phenomenal, phenomenal game. We put in the game plan and with this quick turnaround this is one of the games that we had to do our best job of game prep in trying to get them ready to play in a short amount of time. We really focused on three of (West Virginia’s) sets. We went through the one man set, which we thought they ran the most. We gave our kids four items that we had to sit on and thank goodness (Head Coach Mike Carey) ran those four things. It was incredible that we kind of rolled the dice and picked the four sets that he ran the most tonight. I thought that is at least why we were able to guard them pretty well. We just locked down defensively, played as hard as we could and refused to give them open looks – I thought we did a good job. We gave them two open looks in the second half that I thought we broke down. With Tasha (Harris) it was funny; I don’t think she realized when you say Meg Bulger can shoot it when she crosses half court that means when she crosses half court and she did and shot on Tasha and I said yes that one too. It is kind of hard sometimes to explain to a young kid, who is that good, who shoots it that well, that you have to get on her and don’t let her get going. I thought we did a pretty good job on her. I’ve seen Meg Bulger just kill people and she is a scary player when she can catch and shoot.
“Offensively we got Chandrea (Jones) and Erica (Morrow) to be aggressive. We have to get Nicole (Michael) going again. It is like you get one out and another one steps in. It is like we have a little suitcase that everyone jumps into for about five games and they zip it up and stay in there and then they just switch places, they just pack it in a little bit. We will get it going for the BIG EAST Tournament. I am just excited to be in the BIG EAST Tournament, the last time I was there I kind of just ate the meal and let Nicole get her award and we went home. This time we get to play, it is awesome.”
On the importance of the win:
“It is funny because when you look at it on paper and you see No. 14/13 West Virginia, it really hits home on how big a win it was for our program and for this season. I thought they came out tough at the start of the game, but I think that we just played better tonight. Mike (Carey) is a great coach and Mike gets his kids to play hard and what he has done with that program, getting those kids to that level is remarkable.”
On the NCAA Tournament:
“There is always a doubt until your name comes across that screen on Monday. I hope we make it because I don’t want (Carrier Dome Manager) Pete (Sala) and (Senior Women’s Administrator) Barb (Henderson) and those guys to have to set the gym up again. So hopefully we get in instead of doing the big changeover again for the WNIT. Hopefully we are in; I think we have enough quality wins, I think that we beat enough good teams this year and we have just beaten one of the top three teams in the conference, so hopefully that is enough to get us into the tournament.”
On Senior Night:
“It was tough. I told them no crying and that we would go and get our flowers and then play basketball because we have a lot more basketball to play. It is funny because you think senior night is going to be your last one, but we still actually have a lot more basketball to play. You think of Vaida (Sipavicute), my wife and I practically raised Vaida. We brought her to the country and I coached her in high school. I remember first picking her up at the airport. I picked her up and dropped her off at the school and said I’ll see you in two weeks and I went and got married two or three days later. So she was confused as to what was going on there. That was Vaida and my first encounter, I dropped her off and I left her but now we are back here together again and she has grown up to be quite a lady and I am just really happy for her. Then Fantasia (Goodwin) has gone through a lot to get to this point with the things she had to endure what a classy young lady. Tracy (Harbut) coming back from arguably one of the worst knee injuries that Dr. Tucker said he had ever seen. For her to come back and do what she has done. For Sara (Antolick) to be injured for two straight years, when you think about our senior class they have been through a lot. Mary (Riley) is injured now, so you think about them and what they are going through and what they have been through. Just for them to hang in there with us and reap some of the benefits of having a pretty decent season I am really happy for them and their families.”
On whether he was surprised by the margin of victory:
“It was one of those games where once you start playing, and playing well, it can go either way. I thought that once we got that lead up and I saw a couple possessions where we just were not giving them three point shots. I thought that (Olayinka) Sanni started playing a little soft inside because she had those fouls. Once you can get a player of that caliber to soften, she had to be careful because she couldn’t come across the lane and post up hard, but what a great post player – what an awesome strong kid. When she came across the lane and I saw her running in to Vaida (Sipavicute) I was hoping she wouldn’t hurt Vaida. She is a strong kid and I thought that was the key. Once they couldn’t really score inside I thought we had a good chance of taking care of the basketball game.”
On whether the win is a relief:
“No, I am going home to watch tape.”
On the importance of the win going into the BIG EAST Tournament:
“It was very important. It was a huge win and for us to win that game and do what we did I thought it was big for our program and big for our season.”