Syracuse Women's Basketball Postgame Quotes
vs. Maryland Eastern Shore
Syracuse vs. Maryland Eastern Shore
December 1, 2010
Syracuse, N.Y. - Carrier Dome
Head Coach Quentin Hillsman Postgame Press Conference
“It was not one of our cleaner games. Three-point shooting was horrific, we didn’t do a good job of making shots. Overall the rebounding and offensive rebounding got us through. The free throw shooting was also very good again tonight; we just have to do a better job of making sure we’re taking good shots. A lot of the misses in the first half were my fault because we were playing off ball reversal and I really wasn’t letting them shoot the ball freely, I was really trying to get them to get the ball inside. A lot of times they were looking inside and second guessing their shots. A lot of the three-point shooting, not shooting the ball with confidence was my fault, I have to take the blame for that.
“We have to have La’Shay Taft keep shooting the ball. Every time she catches it they run full speed at her because they’re nervous. You want people to be nervous. One of these games she is going to go 8-for-9 and it is going to be a big night, we’ll have fun in here. She is going to keep shooting the ball.
“I told our players that without Erica Morrow we normally don’t win and I really challenged Iasia (Hemingway)to step up and play well. Obviously she played well, she had a few travels at the high post but that was really just trying to get the ball down low to Kayla (Alexander). Obviously Kayla Alexander had a monster game, really did a good job of taking care of her stuff in the paint having a perfect night. For Tasha Harris, that is the good thing about having another senior in the backcourt because you can put her at the point guard or the two. She played a very good game today. We’re going to keep playing Rachel Coffey, keep getting her better – the speed of the game is catching up to her a little bit. She is the No. 2 point guard in the nation coming out of high school, she is a great player and I still have a lot of confidence in her. We’re going to do everything we can to make sure she gets acclimated to our system and can give us some good minutes in the BIG EAST.”
On whether senior point guard Erica Morrow is expected back soon after missing the game with a foot injury:
“Definitely. If this was a conference game or a big game she could have played. It is just precautionary, it is a bruised toe, that is all it is. Sometimes you have to put somebody in a boot to make sure they don’t keep stomping it and stubbing it, just to protect it.”
On whether he tells the team to keep shooting:
“In the second half I told them to shoot the ball freely. First half I got them so much out of the rhythm of shooting the ball this game that they couldn’t have made shots. That was 1000 percent my fault, it was the first game I tried to get them to limit the number of three’s they took. When a team is sitting back in Kayla’s lap you have to knock some down and I thought that I got them out of the flow of making shots.”
On whether there is any worry about not being able to make threes against bigger teams:
“I’m not worried at all. Kayla had 27 points, she was perfect from the field. I’m good. Four blocks and seven rebounds, 90 percent from the free throw line, I’m good. She might be first team All-American after that game, you never know.”
On whether he had ever limited the teams shooting prior to this game:
“No, It was more of us really trying to take advantage of our size inside. We want to keep throwing her the ball and making sure we take advantage of that presence. We are a better shooting team than that, La’Shay was 1-for-9 and she is someone that doesn’t go without three’s. When you think about lineups we had in the game, we had Shakeya (Leary), Iasia (Hemingway) and Kayla in the game at times, we had some quirky lineups with Erica (Morrow) being out. I’m kicking myself a little bit because I probably should have got Phylesha (Bullard) more time because when she is on the floor she is productive. She had four rebounds in six minutes, we have to make sure to keep her minutes up.”
On the importance of good free throw shooting:
“It is good to keep getting to the line because it takes some of their players off the floor and that is the most important thing, to try and get some of their players off the floor. If we can keep shooting the ball like that from the free throw line, with the way we rebound the ball we’re going to be really good. Getting 56 rebounds and 21 offensive rebounds was a great effort.”
On whether the team works on free throw shooting every day in practice:
“Absolutely.”
Junior Guard Iasia Hemingway
How do you think you played today?
“I did what I had to do for my team to get a win. With Erika being out I just had to play hard. Coach Q told me that I had to come out, step up and play a big role so I had to do what I cold to get the win.”
What was your first look was it to try to get a high low or try to get you to score?
“Most likely a high low. Kayla had a perfect game and I do not mind giving her a lob. I love to assist and I love when she goes to the basket I feel like I am scoring out so I look for the lob before I take it.”
How much of a difference does it make not having Erica Morrow on the court?
“She means a lot to the team but that is why we have a bunch. When someone is out we always have someone who can step up and take the role. E did what we had to do. Now you seem regardless of if we have anyone out we can still win.”
Carmen Tyson-Thomas Sophomore Guard
You guys struggled from the outside shooting in. Coach took a lot of the blame for that, but what was going on in your head throughout the entire game?
“Just to keep crashing. If we are getting shots up we can crash the boards and Kayla and Iasia and myself are going to be there and the rest of our guards are crashing. So just as long as we are getting the shots up, which we were because we kept shooting. Although it was not going in, we will keep crashing because that is what we do.”
When you were missing outside shots, were you looking for a pass or do you just keep shooting?
“That is what you have to do you have to shot out of it. One of the plays I threw Tasha a baseline drive. You do look for the pass also. You keep shooting but passing is also another thing.”
How big was free throw shooting for you guys today?
“It was big. We have been doing well from the floor shooting free throws. We were 83 percent this game and about 80 percent last game so it has been a big part. You have to finish plays and that is what we have been doing. “
Kayla Alexander Sophomore Center
You hit a career high last night and a new one tonight how does that feel?
“It is just working hard, going hard, following Coach’s game plan and doing the work. Seeing Erica out for a game motivated us to get the win for her, not to let her down and to keep our winning streak.”
When everyone is missing these shots from the outside is there more pressure for you?
“It would be easier if they made shots from the outside but our team, whether we hare having a great shooting game or a bad shooting game, we will go after the ball. With Iasia, all the posts and all the players going after it we can score. When you take away one thing we have another.”
Coach Q said you did a good job keeping the ball up at least when you got in the post so they would not swat it away. Is that something you thought about before the game?
“Coach Luneau, before the game to keep the ball up high not to bring up high especially in the first possession because you are going to get stripped. So I have been seeing it in my head and working on it.”
