Washington-Southwest Missouri State Quotes
March 26, 2001 | Women's Basketball
Southwest Missouri State 104, Washington 87
NCAA West Regional Final
March 26, 2001
Spokane Arena, Spokane, Wash.
WASHINGTON HEAD COACH JUNE DAUGHERTY
"We want to congratulate Southwest Missouri State. They played a great game. Obviously, well coached and we wish them all the best in the Final Four. I want to thank the city of Spokane, Washington State University, and the Spokane Arena and everybody that put on a great regional."
On the play of Jackie Stiles and Tara Mitchem...
"Mitchem and Stiles were very tough. They always seemed to find the open shot when we made a run. I thought are team played very hard and kept their poise. I think we left it all out on the floor."
On this inside game of Southwest Missouri State...
"The inside game of Southwest Missouri State really came on terrific for them. In the zone, as much as they stretched us with Mitchem and Stiles, we were isolated a lot one on one and we couldn't afford to help."
On the zone against Southwest Missouri State...
"They are such a tough matchup for any team. Player to player was not something we wanted to do because that is not our strength. They really stretched us out with how well they shot it."
On the six seniors...
"They are great kids. There great character, they never pointed fingers. They took this team so deep into the NCAA Tournament. Washington is back on the map in women's basketball in a big time way. The torch has been passed... There definitely want to get back."
What she said to her team after the game...
"I just told them how proud I was of them. They deserve all the credit for getting this program to the Elite Eight, one game away from the Final Four. These are our expectations of this program. This is a great level. The underclassmen know how to get there. They just need to sit back and enjoy the season that they have had."
If more preparation would have helped her team against Stiles and SMS...
"We always want to practice more, but that just doesn't happen with the NCAA Tournament. "
WASHINGTON SENIOR MEGAN FRANZA
On Washington's season and the future...
"I think this team made an amazing run this year. To come in and have two young starters like we did and play the way they have is an accomplishment. We are making a tradition. We had a group of seniors that were ready to fight. The younger players are what we have to look forward to from now on. They made a point. Washington is going to be back up their in the Pac-10 and back up their in the national rankings for the next four years."
On the progression of this team from last year's 8-22 season...
"I'm totally proud of this team. We fought so hard. Everybody did so well. There was always somebody who was going to step up and hit the big shot.... Having a team you can count on every night,, that s all you can hope for."
On playing zone against Stiles and Mitchem...
"When you have to focus on a player like Jackie Stiles, there is no way you can hold her scoreless, but you have to be aware of her no matter where she is on the court. To have Mitchem step up like she did, it makes it hard to guard a team. Your focus has to be on a player who averages 30 points a game."
WASHINGTON SOPHOMORE KELLIE O'NEILL
On saying goodbye to the six seniors...
"There leadership and their willingness to not die was amazing. We won't have six seniors next year, but everybody has learned from their leadership and their intensity and what they brought to this program. Nobody wants to have a season like last year, everyone wants to build on what they made this year."
On Jackie Stiles fouling out of the game...
"I was kind of excited, but I wished it would have happened earlier."
SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE COACH CHERYL BURNETT
"We are definitely living out a dream. This group of seniors formulated the dream. This is a team that understands through hard work you can do anything you set your mind to. We have incredible leadership, and it starts with our captains Melody Campbell and Jackie Stiles. As they believe, we can achieve."
SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE SENIOR JACKIE STILES
On teammates playing with her in foul trouble...
"They deserve every bit of that and more. I feel I get more credit than I deserve. Basketball is a team game, and they showed tonight it takes everybody to win."
On playing in St. Louis...
"It's been a dream, and now we're actually living it. St. Louis, you can't script it any better than that. I can't describe what I'm feeling."
On playing on the road making SMS a tougher team...
"These experiences have made us a lot tougher. We wanted to host, but it may have been a blessing. It forced us to go and win on the road. We came in here and kept believing. We were able to come out on top."
On Washington fans giving her a standing ovation...
"It was an incredible feeling. Washington has been incredible hosts. We've enjoyed it here. We just want to thank them for making it special for us."
SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE SENIOR TARA MITCHEM
On Stiles in foul trouble...
"You never want to see Jackie in foul trouble. Somebody had to step up. We wanted to go to St Louis."
On how she feels...
"Is this real? Our hearts have been racing. It couldn't get any better than this."
On the team...
"We are all so tired. We're all like "finally we've done it." We'll have the day off, travel, and be ready to play Purdue. We want to make history."
On going back to Springfield...
"Springfield has been incredible. It's a dream come true. I know I've made the right decision to come back. Hammond student center has been amazing. It can't get any better than this."
SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE SENIOR CARLY DEER
On Jackie Stiles in foul trouble...
"We have to keep our heads focused. When Jackie had foul trouble. Tara didn't miss. She did everything we needed tonight."
On the team..
"We're still a little emotionally drained. It's going be great going home, especially for the Springfield home fans."
