Arizona at Washington
February 07, 2002 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 7, 2002
Washington vs. Arizona
Washington Head Coach June Daugherty
General Remarks: "We are really excited to get this victory. We struggled in the second half down in the desert against Arizona. Our team showed how hard they worked, they showed they improved and they showed poise. It is exciting to come out with a win. We knew it was a matter of time before Arizona made a run. But this team stepped it up and there was no panic. Arizona is a talented team. But we had great leadership on the floor. We battled really hard on the boards tonight. They're athletic, both their posts are 6"4' but we did a good job and that was the difference from the first time we played them."
On Arizona's size: "Sarah Keeler had a great game off the bench for us. She came in and gave us some good momentum offensively and defensively. Their posts are very good. The posts did a good job following the game plan as far as trying to take their big people away from the basket and use penetration skills when they didn't come out on them. I thought we had some great answers from the three-point line. The other thing that happened when they did come out on the posts is that it opened up a lot of penetration lanes for our guards and we were very effective because of that."
On carrying momentum from Stanford game: "After the second half of that game we felt if we had two more minutes there could have been a different outcome. Obviously if we had a better first half it would've been different. But it was a huge confidence builder. They are second in the country and we talked about that. The players realize we are getting better and they have gone into practice with a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of energy. We are not perfect yet in a lot of areas but the focus is there which is remarkable for this time of year. They have been going since September. I think that game was definitely a huge confidence builder and it is all the more motivating for us. We have to keep it going. We have huge game Saturday."
On Arizona forward Elizabeth Pickney: "She is very good. There is a good chance she will be playing basketball for a long time at the next level. She is very tough, even on the double teams. She finds a way to score or get the foul or both. We have seen that from her for four years and especially the last two years. She has been remarkable. We were able to hang in there and rebound well against them as a team."
Washington guard Loree Payne
On inside presence opening up outside game: "Our front line had an incredible game. They got in foul trouble, but they were smart. Sarah Keeler came in and lit it up offensively and Andrea Lalum had 13 rebounds. They gave us a huge presence. Any time that happens it opens up a lot. The other team starts paying attention to the posts and it opens up drive lanes, it opens it up for kick outs. That is our game. We love going inside out and being an all-around threat."
On the importance of tonight's win: "We are really excited to have Arizona State come in here this weekend. We got half of the weekend done and we are looking forward to them having to come in here. This is a great environment to play in and we have looked forward to get have them in Washington."
Washington forward Emily Autrey
On attacking inside: "We knew their posts are huge. They are a big part of their team and their offense. We knew we had to go at their posts. Sarah Keeler and Andrea Lalum and me and Kelly did a great job of getting them in foul trouble."
Washington guard Giuliana Mendiola
On playing up-tempo: "I always have fun playing basketball but today the posts were opening it up for my penetration and when they stepped up on me I looked to dish. I saw Emily Autrey open a couple times under the basket and she was having a great game and putting it in pretty easily. We had fun out there as a team and we're looking forward to our next game."
On the team's confidence: "The games recently against the LA teams and Washington State and the winning streak definitely has given us a lot of confidence. We are not satisfied with just going out and getting victories here and there. Our team is working hard in practice trying to get better every single day. We are trying to play defense better and pass the ball around more and just play better as a team. I think we are doing that and as long as we keep doing that we will keep getting confidence."
Arizona Head Coach Joan Bonvicini
General Comments: "I thought in the second half we just rode Pickney's back. We put the team on her back and we made some adjustments at halftime because we just didn't have a good first half. We didn't get the ball into the post as well as we should have. Washington was playing a match up defense that they mixed with a one three one from the beginning of the game and we had a real problem adjusting to it in the first half. Then in the second half we were able to get the ball to the high post and score a lot more. I thought the tough thing for us was that we were pretty flat in the first half and got down. I felt like we had to pull ourselves out of a hole. I thought we had some great runs down the stretch. Mendiola did a really good job backing down our guards and posting up and Payne is really tough. We had an opportunity here. It is different playing on the road than at home, Washington is a good team."
On the confidence of Washington: "I think when you win three games on the road and then come home is a confidence boost, I don't care who you play and they beat some good people. I think they are playing with more confidence but on our end I was really proud of our team in the second half that we were able to come back. I think we need to sure up our defense. I think our defense was too soft we need to toughen up."
On how many wins it will take to make the tournament: "17 or 18 minimum. The big problem with the teams in the conference besides Stanford is the RPI because it tells you not only how many games you won but also who they were against. You need quality wins and right now everyone is struggling."
