Oregon at Washington
March 20, 2002 | Women's Basketball
March 20, 2002
Washington vs. Oregon
NIT Quarterfinals
Washington Head Coach June Daugherty
General Remarks: "It has been a very beneficial experience to play in the NIT. We got a lot out of it as a team and individually. This summer as we prepare for next season we will be able to look back on this and build on it. We played some very good basketball in these three games and I am pleased with that aspect of it."
On the team's performance: "We didn't play particularly well in the first half. Catherine Kraayveld got a lot of good looks down low and took advantage of it. In the second half we played really well. One less turnover here or there or getting through one more screen on a three pointer shooter might have made the difference. But there is nothing we can do about it but wish Oregon well."
Washington Center Andrea Lalum
On Oregon's success with the lob in first half: "We knew they were looking for that pass so we made some adjustments at the half. It was a matter of our guards sinking low and being too worried about their outside shooters. They have a tremendous outside game and they made threes when it mattered. It was just a matter of shifting our defense and getting the rotations down.
On Oregon's success from the outside in the second half: "I think in the last couple minutes we had so much pressure defense, pressuring the shooters and posts and going all out, that we just lost it and they got some wide open shots. We knew that their posts were hurting us in the first half so we made adjustments but they can really shoot the three."
Washington Guard Giuliana Mendiola
On the UW-UO rivalry: "I know our team gets pumped up to play them and I'm pretty sure they get just as excited to play us. We knew coming in it would be a battle and it was again tonight. We didn't get the win tonight but we'll take this and prepare for next year. We have the same squad back and I'm excited about next year but today was very disappointing."
On Oregon's defense: "Their defense was solid the whole game. It wasn't anything we didn't expect down the stretch, we just didn't make the plays when we needed them. You hate to say it but this is how you learn. You learn from the losses and move on and look towards next year."
Washington Guard Loree Payne
On Oregon's late run: "They hit big shots down the stretch. Jamie Craighead came out firing and made some huge threes at the end. They definitely executed toward the end of the game."
Oregon Head Coach Bev Smith
General Comments:
"This was a real important game. An important win on the road in the post season to prove to ourselves we are capable of winning in the post season, in Mac Court and outside Mac Court. Both teams of doing good at keeping it close. We weren't feeling good, but we dealt with it and went from there."
Kraayeveld and Craighead combined to score points. They gave us a good offensive execution. This kept us going in the second half and helped our outside game open up. We knew Washington well. We tried our best to execute the little things to make a difference for the bigger things. Washington played more man-to-man defense than I have seen them play in a long time. They challenged us, but we made adjustments to weather the storm."
Thoughts about Washington hosting three NIT games in a row: "As coaches we have to look at ourselves first. We should be more up front with the NIT as they are with us. Home games are important. We needed to get this win regardless of where we were playing next, though, to prove that we could win anywhere in the post season."
Forward Cathrine Kraayeveld
General Comments:
"We came in with good confidence. It is always a good game here. We wanted to come out strong after our last game here. It is nice to play in front of friends and family. It was nice to have the support here to keep me going in the post season."
On playing in the NIT Final Four in Mac Court:
"It is going to be huge. It will be great to have the fans there to keep us going. We want to send a message that we are a good team, even good enough to play in the NCAA tournament as well."
Guard Jamie Craighead
General Comments
"They shot the lights out the last time we played them. We picked it up defensively and were not going to go home with a loss as we did last time we played them. The team did a good job of coming to me. I was glad to step up and shoot big shots. I had a rough start, but knowing that I am a senior, and that this could be my last game at any time, I was not going to stop shooting the ball."
On playing in the NIT Final Four in Mac Court: "It is pretty cool to move on in the tournament and play an opponent our fans haven't seen before. It will be nice to play a team we don't see every time with new faces. It will be huge to be in Mac Court where our fans are always behind us and keep us going."
