University of Tennessee Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Lady Vols 77, Alabama 56
February 19, 2015 | Women's Basketball
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Head Coach Holly Warlick
(Opening Statement)
"We played in spurts, great win for us, we will take the win. We got some people a lot of playing time. Good film for us to go back and watch and evaluate and see how we can get better."
(On the first game without Isabelle Harrison)
"We wanted to make sure, we talked about this being a statement game, just playing hard. I talk about that all the time. I thought that the Kentucky game we played hard and I wanted to carry it over to this game. I thought we did some really good things. My main concern was defensively how we were going to come out, where we going to guard someone one-on-one, make sure we didn't need Izzy [Isabelle Harrison] in the paint blocking shots. I was really pleased for the most part of how hard we played and what we did on the defensive end"
(On changing the starting lineup)
"I just saw something in practice that I just wanted to look at starting. Bashaara [Graves] and I talked about it and she was fine with it and then she got in foul trouble and had to sit for the first half a little bit more. But was proud of her, she came in and went to work, 15 minutes and 14 points is pretty solid."
(On experimenting with the starters)
"I thought it was a great game for us to experiment a little bit. I wanted to get Nia [Moore] in and get her some play with the starting group."
(On Nia Moore)
"I was. I think the only thing I would tell Nia [Moore] is slow down. I think she was trying to do everything, everything she did on offense was so fast. She was shooting away from the basket a little bit, kind of farther than she would. Everything was rushing. For her it is just let the game come to you, slow down. Six blocks is huge. I think Nia has always had a good defensive presence for us. I think she, offensively, she just needs to slow down a little bit and take her time. She was rushing a little bit too much."
(On free throws)
"We take time to do it. Free throws are just focus. It is mental. They know how to shoot them, it is just total focus. We put a lot of time in our free throws. That is solid. That is awesome. I was really, really pleased with it. We didn't really go to the line that much, there weren't a whole lot of fouls called in the game, until kind of towards the end. That is solid. That is making a statement right there."
(On having a game without Isabelle Harrison before South Carolina)
"It was huge. We got a lot of people playing time. Now we get to talk about South Carolina, now that the Alabama game is over. It was good for us to go out and see just how hard we were going to play, what we were going to do without Isabelle's presence. I thought it was very important for us for everyone to get out and everyone play and get up and down the floor. I am glad we had a game in-between and before we play South Carolina."
(On Alabama having 34 paint points being a concern)
"It is way too much. It is way too much. We were trying to do some different things and obviously it wasn't very good. I will take responsibility for that. I thought we gave up too many offensive rebounds, too many put backs. We gave up too many transition points. It felt like to me they got 20. But that is a concern, I thought it was solid until we started getting different combinations. That is a concern. We will fix that tomorrow."
(On South Carolina)
"I think South Carolina plays with a lot of confidence. They are playing very well together. I think they added A'ja Wilson which takes their game to the next level. They added a great point guard, Bianca Cuevas, that can get inside. I just think they play hard and smart. They use their talent very well. I think they still want to get the ball inside and they play aggressive on the defensive end. They added A'ja Wilson who comes off the bench and is a scoring threat. Anytime you add a Player of the Year and she comes in off a very, very solid team from last year. She is going to make a big difference."
(On Isabelle Harrison being out and other players stepping up)
"They have to be solid. I told them in the locker room. Izzy is 13 points in the SEC and nine rebounds. I'm not expecting Cierra (Burdick) to make-up 13 points for Izzy. I'm not expecting Bashaara (Graves) to get nine rebounds. It is by committee. We went through and each of them had to score two more extra points. Some two points, some one rebound to take up the slack for what Izzy has done. It is by committee. For me to sit there and think that Ariel (Massengale) and Cierra are going to take up all the slack got Izzy, that is not realistic. That is not fair for those two. Can they lead this team? Absolutely. Can they score more points and get more rebounds? Yes, but they have to have help. That is what we need from our whole team. Everybody has to step it up a little bit more. Izzy was the heart and soul of our team. Now it is a new challenge for us. We can do it. Then you see Izzy behind the bench talking the whole time. She is very much still a part of our team. She is going to be a great leader for us as long as our kids keep listening."
Senior Guard Cierra Burdick
(On showing leadership abilities)
"We have one goal and that's to get to Tampa. We know we've got to have great senior leadership in order to do that so we've got to continue to be vocal, continue to lead by example and I think our teammates are doing a great job of just buying in."
(On helpful it is to have a game without Isabelle Harrison before going to South Carolina)
"I think Nia (Moore) did a great job of coming in and Bashaara (Graves) has done a great job of coming in. We've got to do better of getting them looks...I think it helped me and Bash to have a game to know that they are our go to posts right now and will be for the rest of this season...You've got different chemistry with different players. We've got to know where Nia likes the ball, where Bash likes the ball so it definitely helps us to have this game under our belt before we head down south."
(On what she liked most about how they played)
"I think just the fact that we showed we could. People are doubting us saying we're out of the run and Tennessee's off the map now...We just use that as motivation. It's all noise right now. We've just got to continue to play our basketball. We dearly miss Izzy. I love that girl to death and she's been our catalyst all season but we've got to do this for her. We've got to do this for ourselves. We are more than capable of doing it. We're just going to continue to show the naysayers by our actions."
(On acting if the game was in doubt when leading)
"Every single time I step on the floor I want to play with tons of heart, tons of passion...I try to be the emotional, energizer bunny for this team...That's one of the best parts of basketball, being able to celebrate with your teammates."
(On South Carolina)
"It's a new season. Both of us are completely different teams."
Junior Forward Nia Moore
(On mentally preparing for the game)
"I just try to focus on coming in the game and trying to help my team out and whatever is possible to win a game."
(On her career high six blocks)
"That's just me trying to help out on the defensive side"
(On if she is surprised on the six blocks)
"Honestly, yes."
Senior Guard Ariel Massengale
(On how comfortable she is to move back into the starting role)
"Whatever it takes for this team to win and us to get the W at the end of the night so whether it's coming off the bench, starting or scoring, playing defense; I'm willing to do whatever."
(On South Carolina game)
"It's definitely a game that we've had circled on our calendars and we're look forward to it. I think we're really excited about it...So I think everyone is looking forward to it and we look forward to putting on a show Monday night."
Alabama Head Coach Kristy Curry
(On talk with Isabelle Harrison before the game)
"I just told her how sorry I was that it happened and that our thoughts and prayers were with her. Her will and her leadership have just been unbelievable. I'm just really sorry it happened, and I'm praying for her and a speedy recovery."
(On Tennessee stretching the lead in the second half)
"That has happened to us a lot. Again, you have to credit them. They did a great job of making plays, and we came down and missed some shots. Making shots will heal a lot of ills in those situations. I'll have to go back and watch, but obviously, they had a hand in our faces. We just have to be tough enough to make plays down the stretch."
(On Tennessee vs. South Carolina Monday night)
"We've drawn South Carolina twice and have seen them up close twice. Then, watching Tennessee tonight then all the film I have watched of both, it's going to be a great matchup. I look forward to watching it. I think the most important thing is going to be who can make plays and who can make shots. [Both teams] have great combinations of inside-outside presence. It will be a great game. It will be great for our league and great for women's basketball Monday night."
Sophomore Forward Ashley Williams
​(On her 17-point, eight-rebound evening)
"Everybody as a whole getting me the ball and going to screen for somebody else. It was a team thing."
