Colorado University Athletics
Colorado-Regis Quotes
November 13, 2010 | Women's Basketball
Colorado Head Coach Linda Lappe
General
"It's always great to get that first one. We had some early game jitters to come out, which is very normal. We got off to a slow start but really picked it up midway through the first half. I thought we sparked it with our defense. We really got out, pressured the ball, we were in hard-wing denial. Our posts I thought did a great job defensively tonight. Much better, much improved from what we've seen the past couple of times out. I thought we played hard and for the most part I thought we did a much better job. We didn't have the midgame lulls. We had a little bit in that second half, but for the first half I thought we did a great job. What I told these guys is that I really liked how we finished the first half and started the second half. I think we went on a 14-0 run and a 12-0 to start the second half. I think that was the big difference."
On first half adjustments
"They were playing a little bit different 2-3 zone defense. We had to find the open gaps and our players had to become comfortable with how they were playing us. I thought we were in a little bit too much of a rush and that caught us a little bit off guard. I thought our ball movement was good. When you're struggling on offense, you use your defense. Our defense spurred our offense. That led to baskets. If it was a layup or a free throw, it really helps you feel confident on the offensive end in general."
On tonight's defense
"I thought our post defense played better, much improved. I thought we cut off the baseline a lot better, our positioning was much improved. We spent a lot of time this past week working on position defense. I thought our transition defense was much improved. They did a great job of focusing on what they needed to get better at. They executed what we were looking for."
On the win coupled with the loss of freshman Shae Kelley
"It's a great win. The win is never bittersweet. We're excited to be 1-0; we're excited to get the win. We wish Shae [Kelley] the best of luck but we're really focused on our team and moving forward and getting better every day."
On the depth of the team
"We just have to be in great shape. These guys played a lot of minutes. Chucky [Jeffery] played a lot of minutes in the first half. Meagan Malcolm-Peck played a lot of first half minutes. I don't think she had a sub in the first half. That's what we work hard all off-season for. These guys put a lot of work in the preseason; they put in a lot of work since practice started. It gives everybody the opportunity to get a lot of minutes. Everybody has got to contribute. That leads to good team chemistry. Everybody knows their role. There is nobody unhappy with their role or because they aren't playing. That's a positive."
On possibility of fatigue
"It's a great opportunity (to play minutes). You structure practice in a way that we have shorter practices. With eight kids you don't have to practice for 2 ½ hours. These guys can all play and I think our starting five can play 40 minutes. They'll continue to get better every game as we go along. We just have to be smarter as a coaching staff and rest them when we can. I've played a lot of years with eight kids. Most teams only play eight or nine players anyways and have five or six sitting on the bench. We just don't have that luxury of having those kids sit on the bench."
Colorado Players
Brittany Spears, Sr., G/F
ON GOOD START TO SEASON- "It feels good to win. We're playing more as a team this year, compared to last year. It's a better feeling, and you just feel more confident on the court, knowing that the team has your back. It's a better feeling because we know are playing for each other."
Britney Blythe, Sr., G
GENERAL- "It felt good. Our team really believed in ourselves. We are running off of a high from the first game. I think this feels good. I think you can tell that we all have confidence on the ball moving. It's a lot easier game when the ball is moving around, it's easier to score. I'm not thinking about shooting, I'm just thinking about helping the team. When that happens things are open and they fall."
ON THE LOSS OF SHAE KELLEY- "I think at this point we have to come together as a team. It's Shae's decision. We wish her the best of luck. We're all for the things she needs, and we're all for what our team needs. We have to move forward, and can't look towards the past."
Chucky Jeffery, So., G
GENERAL- "Tonight was really fun. It's not too much about scoring for me. I like to get things for my teammates, especially since I'm real big on the assist game right now. We need to rebound, so I just help us any way I can. It felt good to know that I could pass to one of my teammates and they will hit the shot.
Regis Head Coach Linda Raunig
On Playing at a Big 12 School
"It's fantastic. We love it. We don't get many opportunities to play in a big arena with the pep band and the cheerleaders and all the people. We really try to look at it like it's a great opportunity to come in and experience something that as young players we all dream of. We don't get quite as big a crowd, we don't play in as big a gym, and we don't have a band. We got after it. Our commitment was to play our tails off, and we did that so I am really pleased."
On Starting Off the Game Strong
"It was fantastic. Our zone kind of slowed them down early on, and then they did get to a point where they figured it out and started getting the ball down low and inside which opened up their outside shooters. We tried matching up player-to-player, but we didn't have the athletes to do that so we went back to the zone and they shot extremely well tonight."
