Colorado University Athletics
Colorado 74, Nebraska 54
January 13, 2003 | Women's Basketball
Colorado Assistant Coach Tanya Haave
GENERAL-"I think we knew that they were a team that seemed to stay around for the first half. They were tied with Oklahoma at the half before Oklahoma pulled away. We knew we needed to come out and play for 40 minutes. I think we got that break in the second and we were able to pull away."
ON TAKING G SYREETA STAFFORD OUT EARLY-"I think that is was a decision more on the defensive end. I think we were trading baskets on the help side and we needed to be more aggressive than we were being...I think we also decided to go big at the guard spot with Linda Lappe and Kate Fagan."
ON C TERA BJORKLUND-"Team's are designed to stop Tera and teams have been trying to stop her. I think if she has her confidence, no one is going to be able to stop her.
ON REBOUNDING FROM SATURDAY'S LOSS-"I think that this game could be the turning point of the season at this point. We had only lost one and we won a close one to open the conference and then we got blown out by K-State. I think with this game being at home and against a team we should be able to beat it was a big win for us. The players couldn't wait to get back on the court. No one, coaches included, felt good about the game (against Kansas State) and they wanted to get back on the court and prove what they could do. I think they really responded well."
ON COLORADO'S SHOOTING PERCENTAGE-"It was encouraging to see. We were more patient on offense. I think we were becoming too predictable and tonight we had better shots and a higher percentage."
ON THE PLAY OF F SABRINA SCOTT-"I think the forward really has to make some decisions in this offense. Her, Tera (Bjorklund) and Kate (Fagan) are really important. I think when Sabrina starts off the game missing a few shots we need her to keep shooting and to be aggressive...she's got to score."
Colorado Players
F Sabrina Scott
ON BOUNCING BACK FROM K-STATE-"We were really anxious to get out here and play. All during practice this week, players made a conscious effort to be more positive. Nobody likes to get ON HER PERFORMANCE-"I knew if I kept being aggressive, the shots would fall eventually. It was just a matter of time before they start dropping. I wanted to go out and just take the ball to the basket more. I just wanted to get an attitude about being aggressive and taking the ball to the basket more. It is more on me to get involved opposed to other people (getting me involved). Sometimes I am a passive player and all that blame falls on me. I think when she (Coach Barry) sees I'm maybe being aggressive, she says to look to get the ball to Sabrina some more."
G Kate Fagan
ON NEBRASKA-"Coach Barry told us coming in that they were scrappy. We knew that they had turned it around from last year. We knew they were going to compete from the get-go. I think for every Colorado athletic team, Nebraska is a rival. We look at Nebraska just like the football team does. It is nice to get a win (against them)."
ON BOUNCING BACK FROM K-STATE-"It was really important for us to come back strong. That was the first game this year where we were really stagnant on offense. It was a wake up call for us and it was really important for us to bounce back (tonight). Nebraska is a good team, and they are going to beat some people in this conference. This was a good win."
Nebraska Head Coach Connie Yori
GENERAL-"I think the key play in the game was when Margaret Richards picked up her third and fourth fouls. When she was on the bench, the lead quickly went from seven to 14. We have been coming out flat after halves, but we felt at half we were in good position. Colorado does a good job of running the triangle offense and they make good cuts and passes. In the second half they did a good job of getting the ball in the middle and putting the ball on the floor. On defense they pressured the ball and played good position defense, but we did a good job of throwing the lob pass. If we stay positive and injury free I think we can win some of these games."
ON NEBRASKA'S DEFENSIVE EFFORT-"Not to make excuses, but we did not have much time to prepare for Colorado. Our effort on "D" was good, but the execution was not. The defensive focus was not really good in either half, but the intensity was. I thought that Laura Pilakowski did a good job defending Tera Bjorklund and a good job on the glass at both ends. She just needs some more experience."
