No. 23 ASU at UW
February 10, 2001 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 10, 2001
Washington vs. Arizona State
Washington Player Quotes
Sophomore guard Loree Payne on the importance of the game: "We knew that it was a crucial weekend going in. We played the No. 1 team and a team that was tied for second with us in the Pac-10. So we knew if we wanted to get to where we wanted to be, first place in the Pac-10, then we had to come in and have a good weekend. We had to beat Arizona and Arizona State. That's what our focus was all weekend and we got the job done."
On rebounding: "They out rebounded us last time down there. They got like 20 boards off of us. That was really crucial coming in. We knew that Melody Johnson was a great player. She follows her shot a lot and that was a big focus. We knew that once the ball goes up we need to post up and go after the ball ourselves. That shows a lot about our team. We have been on the top in rebounding all season and I thing that's really important for our team. We would like to keep that going."
Senior center Carli Halpenny
On the Arizona win Thursday night: "We were all pretty tired after the Arizona game. We knew we just had to go home and get some rest for the Arizona State game.
It was definitely one of the biggest series we've ever had. Winning back-to-back games is always great."
On last week's practice: "We focused a lot on our defense. It helped us move a lot better in the bottom of the zone."
Senior forward LeAnn Sheets
On Arizona State's Melody Johnson: "She's a big body, so we had to figure out how to get around her. On zone we had to make sure we kept a hand or a body in front of her. She's a great player, so I've got to give her credit for that."
On her offensive game: "Actually I was more excited that I was 1-for-2 at the line today. I just try to play my best every game and what happens just happens.
"Our intensity and poise this weekend was great. I think it showed a lot."
WASHINGTON HEAD COACH JUNE DAUGHERTY
On the game: "It's a great feeling to be in first place. The difference for us is that we took care of the ball. ASU is a great defensive team and we didn't turn the ball over a lot. Our front line made a huge difference, especially (Carli) Halpenny, (Andrea) Lalum and (LeAnn) Sheets. We grabbed a lot of rebounds and didn't give up a lot of second shots."
Back to winning: "We are better in lot of areas and definitely more confident. Our starters started out tough and another key to our success is the people coming off the bench and stepping up."
On ASU guard Amanda Levens: "We got pressure on the basketball and she was trying to drive it. Our front line players did a good job getting a hand in on defense so the passing lane wouldn't be open. It frustrated her not to be able to get the ball and she has to have the ball in order to do the harm that she does."
On Carli Halpenny: "She's gone through a lot of injuries in the past two years and she's stayed with it and fought hard to not only improve in her conditioning and strength but her skill level too. She's good at posting up and creating possibilities and I really like her patience. If she's doubled teamed and it's not there she'll kick it back out for the three point shot.
On Jill Pimley: " She has great leadership. She gets out there and gets the job done. She's a great leader and a tremendous lift for the team."
On the Pac-10 Championship: "We don't get caught up in being the Pac-10 winners, we know we can do it. We, as a team, concentrate on achieving our goals along the way and most importantly having fun and staying positive."
Goals: "This year our players set the goals. They look at what it takes to win championships and set their goals accordingly. They believe in their goals and know that with hard work we can get there."
Arizona State Head Coach
Charli Turner Thorne
On scoring runs: "It's amazing that we had that many. You don't get boxed out for 40 minutes and still have an opportunity to win at the end. You have to think that you could be a pretty good team to do that. We obviously needed to play better to win. We have been playing really well lately and we just got away from it."
On Rebounds: We were doing a great job rebounding and we just got away from it tonight. Both games (this week) really. To me that the was the biggest difference in the game. Washington is first in the conference in rebounds for a reason. If you give them a second look they are going to kill you. We knew that coming in, we just didn't do it. I don't know why."
On Washington: "It is a challenge to play them. It is a tough matchup. As soon as you take away the three, they do a great job reversing the ball and getting it inside. In the second half, we did a little better not letting them reverse the ball. You have to give credit to them, but we just were not moving our feet like we normally do. They do a very good job not just relying on the perimeter shot. When you take away the three, they pass and get the ball inside. They are very balanced. We knew what to expect. They are a very good team with a balanced scoring attack. Pretty much everybody on their team shoots the three and when we left them open they did that pretty effectively."
On UW's zone defense: "I don't know if we have seen 40 minutes of zone in a game. You have to credit Washington for doing it. I would have really liked to see us adjust better to it."
On the loss: "We just really didn't do the things we had talked about doing going in. We knew what we had to do to win, we just didn't do it. We were a step slow tonight. We were not in top form. We had been in top form for a while and it is really hard to maintain it. We have been a lot more successful at being aggressive and getting rebounds. I don't think it will be hard for us to get our edge back though. We know we are still a good team. We have been on a mission to win the Pac-10 championships. I don't think because we are tied for first that that will get away from us. My expectations are that this will make them practice that much harder."
Arizona State Center
Melody Johnson
On her play: "In the second half, I came out more aggressively. I made sure that my teammates had someone to pass to in the middle. I got two fouls early in the first half so I backed off. In the second half I think I had more physical freedom."
On the loss: "I think the past two games we have obviously let down a little bit, but I think this loss will motivate us for the remainder of the Pac-10 season. We are hungry now. It may have been a good time to loss. Now we are ready to go. I don't think we will accept anything less than our goals, to win the Pac-10 championship. This is not a set back. We just need to take advantage of our hunger and go out and win."
