Post-Game Quotes
December 19, 2008 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2008
2008 Caribbean Classic MTE
Moon Palace Resort
Cancun, Mexico
Second Round Game
Washington 62, Florida State 60
Washington head coach Tia Jackson
On the win:
"We beat a very good team. Florida State's amazing in all positions. They've got some extreme aggression coming from all spots on the floor from their inside attack who are their leading scorers. Then you combine some really good shooters on the outside, some very good athletes who can penetrate. For us to really have a defensive focus like we did, to limit a lot of their looks, keep them under their average was huge for us. You know when the game is low in scoring it's in our favor. We were able to pull it off at the end and I'm very excited for the girls."
On how big it is to bounce back with a win after the loss to No. 1 UConn last night:
"It was about getting our kids to understand that this is an opportunity to redeem ourselves. It was up to them to say okay, we're beating a team who's either gotten votes in the last couple of weeks to be in the Top-25 or has already been ranked in the top-25. So for us to pull off the victory on a neutral court against a very, very good team, I couldn't be more proud of these kids."
On keys to the win:
"Our defensive prowess. We packed it in a lot because they penetrate so well. They look to go into their post a lot. We had to pack it in and make sure we had help there. Getting the post players in foul trouble was huge, now on the flip side of that they got our two guard scorers in foul trouble as well. And then you've got Mo (Sara Mosiman) coming off the bench who was exceptional, you've got Michelle (Augustavo) coming off the bench who showed her leadership and hit big shots. Then you've got Lydia (Young) and Christina (Rozier) coming off the bench who just add to our pressure. Now we can pick it up and go more full court. It made it pretty difficult for them, they started getting creative with their press offense. For some reason whatever they threw at us, those girls were ready to attack it."
On the four-point play at the end, probably not your plan in a close game?
"No, I don't think fouling their best shooter was our plan and we definitely didn't want her to hit the shot. You always say if you're going to foul someone and you feel like you're in a position to foul, you definitely don't want them to get the shot off. Unfortunately she got the shot off before Lydia (Young) even got to her so the momentum she had flying at her, she couldn't stop herself. She understood the urgency so I can't get mad at her aggression, she reacted the way anyone would have. Now we just have to get her body under control. But for our kids to then really hone in on the defensive end of it because we ended up extending our pressure to just slow them down and take some time off the clock. By the time they thought they were going to get a shot, there were five seconds on the clock. Again, the girls' focus defensively was what was key for us."
On a day off tomorrow and getting ready to face Northern Colorado:
"It's not really a day off. I want the kids to enjoy Cancun but we've got to focus. Northern Colorado already beat one of our Pac-10 opponents in Washington State. Washington State is a much, much better team than they were last year. For them to beat them on their home floor says a lot about what kind of arsenal they have. We can't take them lightly. We're going to enjoy this win for tonight and get ready for them tomorrow."
Junior forward/center Laura McLellan
On the win:
"It feels really good especially after that four-point play scare we had at the end. It feels so good. Both teams fought really hard. They have good post players, good guards. We just came out and executed. We did everything today we didn't do yesterday. It feels really good."
On holding on close down the stretch:
"That last defensive stop was huge. I actually thought we were going to get a charge called for us and that would have ended the game perfectly. Our coaches told us to stay poised, the clock was on our side, use the clock. We were trying to get to the free-throw line and run the clock."
Keys to the win:
"I think we ran pretty well. Another key was defense. I think defensively we did really well, we got a lot of charges. Defensively we stepped it up today."
From emotional standpoint, how big is it to have a win under the team's belt going into the final game of the tournament:
"It's really good. We're in Mexico, we're here for basketball, but the mood is so much lighter now. This win really lifted our spirits. That loss yesterday was tough to handle, even if it was against the No. 1 team in the country."
Junior guard Christina Rozier
On rebounding with a win after the big loss yesterday to UConn:
"It's a big, big win. Some people might come back the next night with their heads down but we didn't let yesterday take us down. Today's a new day like coach said and we had to start over."
Keys to the win:
"Defense. We pressured them and trapped them and I feel like they couldn't handle it. I don't know if they hadn't been pressured before like that but when we pressured them, they were just stagnant with the ball. They were giving it to us, turning it over, traveling. On the offensive end, we were in their faces. Defensively we were all over them."
