Post-Game Quotes
Syracuse vs. Notre Dame
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Coach Cieplicki Quotes
On slowing down the offense:
“Knowing how they like to run and score, us shooting with a little less time on the clock isn’t a bad thing in a game like this. We weren’t going to be in a rush tonight unless we felt like we had something really good.”
On the absence of Sara Antolick:
“In a game like this (where the other team has a height advantage) we either have to play one-on-one and hope they miss or we have to scramble and leave players open. I don’t like the options.”
On Notre Dame forward Jacqueline Batteast:
“The game always comes down to a big shot and she made plays. When you’re trying to stop somebody and you can’t stop them it obviously speaks to her talent. Big time players make big time plays. She made a few tonight and I thought that was the difference.”
On how the team played:
“I thought we did a great job battling back. We could have really gotten blown out, so to get it back to five and have a few good looks at it; I was pleased. There was no ‘give up’ in this team tonight. I like where we are right now. I think we’re playing as hard as we can.”
On the play of freshman Jessica Richter:
“She’s a hard-nosed player. Jess is always a threat out there, and she is always looking to make something happen for everyone. I think she makes everyone out there better. I’m really enjoying coaching her. When she doesn’t have a great night and gets 14 points that says something.”
Senior Guard Rochelle Coleman
On Notre Dame’s press:
“Towards the second-half we handled it well but in the first-half we didn’t do so well. In the end, I think we did a better job against the press.”
On defending Notre Dame’s guards:
“We’re just going out to play harder defense. We’re trying to do our best to win the game and play everyone hard.”
On shooting against the shot clock:
“We’re not really worried with the shot clock. We just try to hit our first available shot. Sometimes it was bad decisions when we didn’t hit the person that was open when the shot clock was early or not taking the shot when we had it. We have to execute our offense. Everyone is going to come out and play tough defense so we have to make sure we do what we need to do to put the ball in the bucket.”
On the problems with scoring after closing the gap:
“We needed to execute better in the end and hit our shots when we were open. We missed a couple shots and then we didn’t get a stop on defense so they would score and that hurt us.”
Senior Forward Chineze Nwagbo
On Courtney LaVere’s offense:
“I think we prepare for the game overall. We weren’t worried about how much playing time LaVere had during the game. We were more concerned with being able to contain our players and play solid defense.”
On the importance of Vaida Sipaviciute in the game tonight:
“I think Vaida’s very important in every game we play. Her presence is very key in every game and she comes out and plays 100% every night. That helps us by far.”
On playing well while in foul trouble:
“I think it had to do with Coach Cieplicki’s decisions. He took me out at the right time and put me in at the right time. I composed myself. I realized that I had three fouls and played smart basketball.”
