Coach and Player Quotes - WBB vs. Auburn - Dec. 19, 2004
Coach Cieplicki's opening remarks:
"We talk about really playing hard and competing and being consistent with that. I think the second 20 minutes we did a good job of that. I think as a team we talk about still trying to learn our own identity and really settling in and I think that's getting better. The bottom line is we have to make more shots. It's really that simple and the results will hopefully be different."
Cieplicki on his team's two costly turnovers down the stretch:
"Well, I think everybody could feel it. That's the difference between winning and almost winning. It's understanding how to run the transition consistently and make the right decisions. We didn't in those two critical situations and it really did turn the momentum. As much as one play doesn't a game make, those two plays back-to-back definitely hurt us."
Cieplicki on Auburn's large rebounding advantage in the game:
"Second-chance points were 17-4, so that's a factor. But, we're going to give up some of that in the zone. Hey, 48, you know (Auburn's total points in the game) - again, we've got to find a way to get to 49. I was pretty happy overall with the defense today. I thought we were real active. I thought we did some good things."
Sophomore guard Lauren Kohn on her mini-scoring spurt in the second half:
"I knew we needed a run. We needed something to get us going. We needed to start making shots. During one of these games, I don't think I'm going to get a lot of open shots, so I'm just trying to knock down the ones that I could get."
Cieplicki on the play of freshman Vaida Sipaviciute:
"I'm proud of Vaida. She's been really working in practice. She's had a good couple days. She's going to be a big factor in our future. Not only did she score for us today and rebound, but she did a great job defensively. Payne really didn't get easy looks all day. So, I'm real happy about that, especially going into BIG EAST play here in a couple weeks. Vaida's going to factor in more and more."
Cieplicki on Auburn's Natasha Brackett:
"She's a great player and obviously we tried to adjust the defense and did a good job there in the first half of taking it away from her. The first one was an almost rebound, kick-out. The second one was a drive baseline where everybody sinks when somebody should stay out. So, hey, they found her and she made them and that's what makes her real good. Despite those two, and again, that's where we've got to go from good to real good, I thought overall, not a bad job on her. She's very explosive and you can't just play her one way. She can do it off the dribble. She's pretty off the dribble."
Auburn head coach Nell Fortner:
"Well, it wasn't the prettiest of games, but once again, from our standpoint, we're continuing to play really good defense. That's one thing that we're really hanging our hat on. This is two games in a row we've held a team under 40 points. We held their leading scorer scoreless. I think that's something that we're really proud of. We did it tonight mainly playing mostly man defense and we've been kind of mixing our defenses up, but our man was good for us tonight. We really did some good things. Offensively, we've got to find our shooting stroke. We kind of lost that a little bit. But, I don't worry about that. If we weren't playing good defense, I'd really be mad. Offense, I don't worry so much about because that's going to come. That's an area that I know we'll get better."
