Lady Vols vs. Howard Postgame Quotes

Head Coach Kellie Harper

Opening statement:
"I am excited we got the win and happy that our team came back from Christmas break with some energy. Hopefully we can improve on some things from this game moving forward, because we need to. I think we are all excited about SEC play in front of us."

On if she is surprised about Jessie Rennie's performance today:
"I think she has been shooting the ball a lot better in games as of late as well as knocking down some shots in practice. Obviously, we are getting a lot of shots up outside of practice. That has probably helped her with routine and confidence. I think we knew she was capable of having a pretty good game."

On if it was just a matter of time until Jessie Rennie had a game like this:
"I think for her, I think the confidence piece was definitely big. She looked extremely confident shooting the basketball today. When you have that, that is going to give you an opportunity to make some shots. Her teammates, I think, do a better job now of looking for her and expecting her to shoot the ball. They couldn't have been happier every time she made a three. That makes you feel good as a shooter. I think it is just kind of our players figuring out roles, both for themselves and each other."

On if she saw any progress made on things she wanted corrected after the Stanford game:
"We talked about it as a staff, and I thought in the first half we had some really, really good offensive possessions. Our spacing was good. Our ball movement was good. Our timing on post passes (was good). I thought we had some really good possessions that we could build on in the first half. Not so much in the third quarter, but maybe again in the fourth quarter. We were able to get some good offensive executed plays."

On if she talked to Jessie Rennie on shooting more and if her confidence has changed throughout the season:
"I can't say I saw her confidence waiver. I think she has always played with a pretty good head on her shoulders and knows what she needs to do and how she has to play. We have seen her pass up some shots in games and in practice that we have talked to her about. It is not just about her shooting, our team is better because if you shoot those shots, it is a rhythm. We can rebound if you do miss it. It just makes sense. She has been taking more shots as of late, and I think it is the confidence to take the shot that she's got."

On what she sees as strengths in offense after four players scored in double digits today:
"For us, we have different people that can make plays and make shots. When we are sharing the basketball like we did today, I think we are a better basketball team. When we move the ball, when our execution is a little bit higher in ball reversals, and our screening action, I think our offensive production is a little bit higher."

On how she approaches SEC play with a freshman point guard like Jordan Horston:
"One thing that we have been doing is that we have been talking about SEC play for a while now. We have been building up to what is about to happen. We have been building up to the tough night-in and night-out games we are going to have to play. Hopefully Jordan, and hopefully everybody else, especially the younger ones, have been listening to what we have been saying. Between the third and fourth quarter, I had a rant in the timeout and part of it was that you have to get ready for SEC play. Hopefully just talking about that has helped them a little bit understand what that needs to look like."

On if today was a good example of what she wants from Rae Burrell:
"Rae is coming off a really good game at Portland State where she was extremely aggressive and played downhill. I thought she still played hard today but had a bit more control about her. Everyone is still going to have opportunities to get better—she does as well. I think we're going in the right direction with her, I really do. Just when you think an offensive possession is getting a little stagnant, here comes Rae with an offensive board above everyone else. I thought she made some big plays that only Rae can make because of her high motor and her athleticism."

On what her new year's resolutions are:
"You know, I don't think I've ever made a new year's resolution, so I'd really have to give that some thought. I'm just trying to do the right thing every day and a new year doesn't change that. Do I get it right every day? No, but I feel good about it, because I try. I really put thought into every decision that I make, and I'm conscientious of every one that we're around, so I'm sure I'll come up with something for the team in the new year."

On the whirlwind the last year has been for her:
"It's been a crazy year. It's been a lot. I've had a lot going on. Last year at this time I had a team heading into conference play that I felt really good about. Our record wasn't great, but I felt really good about that team and what that team could accomplish. So, if you had told me at this time last year where I would be sitting 365 days later, I probably wouldn't have believed you. It's just been an amazing ride. It's been a lot; there's been a lot on our plates, but I'm just excited about the journey and being in Tennessee."

On how she feels about her team as 2019 comes to a close:
"I think we've made some strides. I think we've had some questions answered. I think we've got some questions still remaining, but I think we know what we're working with. We know where we need to continue to improve. I think that's one of the biggest things for us. Knowing where we need to improve and being ok with that. As far as how far we've come, since April we've come miles. Now, we still may have miles to go, but we've come miles, and I'm proud of them for that."

On wanting to keep heavy lineup rotation heading into conference play:
"I traditionally like to play a lot of players. I like getting them in. I think it's good for a lot of reasons. I think it's good for your depth; it helps develop your depth. I think it's good for team chemistry and camaraderie. When we get into SEC play, I can't say I wouldn't shorten our bench if I needed to if a game is going a certain way and I may need to keep someone in a little longer. I also may need to be a bit more strategic with some of our substitutions, but the good thing is that our players are used to this rotation now, and they understand that at any moment they can be subbed in or out of a game. Hopefully that helps us. And let's not forget that you're just one injury away from somebody having a bigger role at any moment, which is why you have to prepare everyone on your team for future minutes played."

On if she saw things against Howard that need to get fixed before SEC play:
"Oh absolutely. Our boxing out was nonexistent today. I didn't think we had a lot of folks technically boxing out. I thought we turned and watched a lot. I did not like our transition defense today. We had a few too many silly turnovers, and I thought our defensive communication wasn't where it needed to be. I can nitpick all day, but yes, there are plenty of areas where we need to get better."

On what she told Rennia Davis at center court during her 1,000 point ball presentation:
"Oh, I just told her congratulations. I think she smiled because I walked off and left her there. Rennia is pretty shy, so having her out there at center court when everyone is looking at her and clapping for her probably wasn't her idea of fun. I know I chuckled when I walked off and left her in the spotlight."

Sophomore Guard/Forward Rae Burrell

On the upcoming SEC season and what advice she gives the new players:
"The tempo will be faster. We've got to prepare for that and focus on the little things in practice, because that's what is really going to matter."

On if she has focused on any specific things over the last two games that have affected her performance:
"I've just been really mindful of crashing the boards every time and try to go in and rebound."

Freshman Guard Jessie Rennie

On what is feels like to have a successful shooting day:
"I work hard at practice. My teammates and my coaches are confident in me to shoot the ball, but when you're making shots, there's a level of confidence boost, especially going into SEC play. (I am) being more confident to shoot the ball, and it was a good day to do it."

On her holiday break:
"I'm not going to lie, I actually went to New York for a couple of days for my Christmas break, but I came back early and have actually been going to the gym. I was the only one here, so that was good getting extra shots up. I guess that helped."

On how her teammates embraced her after the game and what it meant to her:
"I've been confident to shoot the ball, but I haven't been shooting the ball enough. The more I shoot, the more shots I'm going to make. I know my team is confident in me to shoot the ball, and I needed Jaz (Jazmine Massengill) and even Re (Rennia Davis) to constantly say to me, 'Jess, we're never going to get angry at you to shoot the ball. Every time you get it, look to shoot.'"

On heading into SEC play:
"Going into the SEC, I know it's my first season doing it. Every game is going to be like a Texas and Stanford game. We can't have all the lapses. We have to make sure we're focused on our offense and defense and going back and forth between each."

On her progression from the start of the year to now:
"When I shoot, I'm always confident to shoot it. But the volume of shots I'm putting up, I think I now know how many more shots I need to be putting up each game. I think tonight showed that I need to be doing that, not just for me, but also for my team as well. I need to put more shots up when I get the ball."

On how comfortable she is with coach Harper:
"I actually remember during the game in a timeout, she said, 'No matter the ups and downs of the game, we need to trust what our staff is saying to do.' So, I think we need to really carry that over to the SEC. No matter what they're saying, we are trusting what they are doing to win games."

Junior Forward Rennia Davis

On how happy she was to see Jessie Rennie's performance:
"I told her after the game, 'You came at the perfect time in my opinion.' Her confidence hopefully has increased a lot in this game. I mean, I said before she can shoot the ball. She proved that tonight, so I'm just happy for her."

On how the team has improved since the Stanford game and addressed those issues:
"I think just being aware. I personally feel like a lot of time during the Stanford game we just weren't aware of what was going on, especially on the defensive end. I think today we were more locked-in on who everyone was guarding, who had the shooter, who we had to go over a screen with and a couple of people we had to go under a screen with. Just those little details. I think we were really focusing on today."

On her performance and getting honored during the game:
"Did I perform well? Thank you. I mean, it was an okay game for me. The ball at the beginning was special for me, especially having my mom here, so that was big for me. Today, I just tried to do whatever it took for us to win the game, especially on the defensive end. I was really trying to rebound and communicate with my teammates and just do the little things."

On how comfortable she is with coach Harper:
"I'm comfortable. It's just about now everybody buying in. We have at least tried to buy into what Kellie is saying. Again, it's a whole new system for a lot of us. We're still trying to get that together. I mean, I'm confident in what Kellie's doing with this program."

Howard Head Coach Ty Grace:

On her initial thoughts about the game:
"Obviously, I anticipated us scoring the ball a lot more than we did. We lead our conference in scoring right now, so this is probably the worst we've shot all season. I did anticipate we'd shoot the ball a little bit better, but I knew how athletic Tennessee was going to be and their rebounding. I think our kids still competed. We never gave up and I was proud of that."

On what may have contributed to Howard's shooting struggles:
"I think initially maybe just getting going, maybe the first couple of shots were a little tight, but I thought they were all good looks. We were open on most of the shots. They're shots we normally hit. I wasn't disappointed in the shots that they were taking. I was okay with the shots they were taking. They just didn't fall tonight. Hopefully, we've got it all out now, and we move on to the next."

On if Tennessee invited Howard in to play, or if there would be a return trip:
"Every year, obviously, we play some top-tier games and some guaranteed games, as you know. Obviously, I wanted to give this experience to my team. I have a senior-led team. I have three bigs that are out right now, so I thought coming in we'd have our full team, but we didn't. We still competed, and it was a game that I definitely scheduled to give my kids some experience and wanted to get down here under the big lights and (against) one of the top teams in the country. That's how that game pretty much came about. They didn't invite us; we invited ourselves."

On if she watched film on Tennessee from earlier in the year and how they look different now:
"Obviously, they're a very athletic team. Watching them, (they're) very skilled, big, long, athletic. One thing that stands out to me that they've been doing consistently is the rebounding. They just dominate the glass at a level that I haven't seen. They're number one in the country right now in offensive rebounding. That's something that I knew consistently that they have been doing. They're shooting the ball a lot better. Early on, they were not shooting the ball as well. That's why, as you see, we tried to play a little zone and pack it in a little bit. They hit some shots early on, and then late in the game that they hadn't been hitting early on, but that's what they do. They're players. They step up in moments when they need to, and they did a good job."

Junior Guard Jayla Thornton:

On why the team may have struggled to shoot the ball today:
"I don't think it's the Christmas break, but I just feel that the ball didn't fall in. For some reason, even with me and Sarah (Edmond), we all were taking shots that we normally take. Like you said, we're usually an offensive team and this is usually what we do, but today it just didn't fall. I don't feel like any of the shots we took were crazy or anything like that. They (Tennessee's players) are long, but I feel like we were still getting good looks. I just feel like we've got to move onto the next, like Coach Ty said."

On what the team can take out of this trip:
"I would say mostly the experience. Of course, you want to shoot better, but I feel that it was still a great experience. We have played in arenas like this. Earlier in the season we played USF (South Florida), and it was kind of similar with the court and everything. I feel mostly the experience, playing against the top kids in the country that you see on TV. I would say mostly the experience of playing against them."

Senior Guard Sarah Edmond:

On why the team may have struggled to shoot the ball today:
"I pretty much agree with Jayla (Thornton). It was just a bad shooting game. I feel like everybody is still being confident in what they were doing and being aggressive."

On what the team can take out of this trip:
"The experience was definitely incredible, to play against a team like Tennessee. My dad also went here, so I've been coming here since I was a kid. I know a lot about the school. Just playing against the players that they have, like Jayla said, they're the top in the country. Competing with them was a lot of fun."

On if she ever thought about playing against Tennessee:
"Playing against Tennessee is definitely a full-circle moment that I'm able to play at this level against a school like this that I've been coming to since I was young. It was definitely something I was looking forward to."