Coach Hillsman Quotes
Syracuse vs. Harvard
WNIT First Round
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Manley Field House/Syracuse, N.Y.
Opening Statement:
“We’re obviously very happy with the outcome. We won the basketball game and that’s what tournament play is all about – surviving and advancing. I thought overall we really played well in the paint. We really wanted to push tempo and get up and down the floor and be aggressive.
“We’re obviously very happy with the outcome. We won the basketball game and that’s what tournament play is all about – surviving and advancing. I thought overall we really played well in the paint. We really wanted to push tempo and get up and down the floor and be aggressive.
“I’m really happy with our effort. We wanted to pound the paint, rebound the basketball and take quality shots. We shot 47 percent from the field and only took four three’s. That was our goal – not shoot a lot of three’s and really attack the basket. Our freshmen played big. Overall, I’m just really happy to be playing another game.”
On what was working in the first half:
“We just wanted to throw the ball down low and play at the rim because we knew their strength was (Victoria) Lippert and (Emma) Markley. We really wanted to attack the basket and engage them and make them play.
“We just wanted to throw the ball down low and play at the rim because we knew their strength was (Victoria) Lippert and (Emma) Markley. We really wanted to attack the basket and engage them and make them play.
“Early in the first half, we threw the ball down low to Kayla (Alexander), who was huge in the first half. Even Vionca (Murray) was getting catches and still finding people out on the perimeter. I thought that Erica (Morrow), her numbers might not have been gaudy, but she did a very good job handling the basketball.
“Overall, it was good to see Lynnae Lampkins back. She’s really been effective handling the ball and gave us a change of pace in this game. I was just happy to be able to get the ball into the paint and play aggressive.”
On the defensive game plan:
“We just wanted to run them off spots. I think a lot of the three’s they got were late (shot) clock situations. We started playing up the floor in the second half. We got the lead up into the high 20’s and we started playing up the floor and they got a couple cheap things down low as far as offensive rebounds. Our goal was to not let them make many three’s. I didn’t think they could make enough two’s to beat us and that was key.”
On playing against Harvard:
“The coach (Kathy Delaney-Smith) has been there so long. I’ve seen her programs win championships and go to tournaments and the things she’s done with that program – we were really worried about them. It’s one of those games where I knew they would come in here with experience and confidence and they’d be well prepared.”
On the team’s motivation:
“Our kids were ready to play. We had tough practices. We didn’t have soft practices. I had them ready to come in here and compete. This is probably one of the toughest stretches in the last two or three days as far as getting in the gym and scrimmaging – playing back up and down the floor and getting used to being back in game situations. I knew they’d respond and knew they would come out and play hard. These kids have a lot of pride and they understand every game is important.”
