Colorado-New Mexico Quotes
December 29, 2012 | Women's Basketball
Colorado Head Coach Linda Lappe
General
“That was a great team win, we played as complete of a game as we've played so far this year. We played the best that we've played, and we've played some pretty good teams. I thought that how we came out both with the intensity on the offensive and defensive end I thought that really helped us throughout the game and it helped us build a good halftime lead. In the second half, our depth really showed in extending the lead. Our starters were fresh, our bench was fresh. We got better as we subbed a little bit and we were able to pull away big in the second half.”
On G Lexy Kresl
“She's put in some extra time. With Lexy it is all about the consistency of her shot and making sure she shoots it the same way every single time. We have been able to show her some film of her good shots, her bad shots, her shot selection, as well as her form and how she looks when she is shooting her shot; both of those looked great today. She took all great shots, she moved the ball well on the offensive side; she didn't force anything which was great to see. The thing that I liked best about Lexy today was she did a fantastic job on their leading scorer (Caroline Durbin) and that was her mentality coming in, she knew that was her focal point. Her job today was not necessarily to knock down five threes; her job was to defend their best player. When you have that sort of focus, and she had a focus defensively, that transfers over to every part of your game and I think you could see that on the offensive side in her shooting.”
On Kresl Not Pressing
Yeah, and that kind of goes with focusing on the defensive side of things and focusing on her job being to make sure that their leading scorer doesn't go off and doesn't get any easy shots. Her defensive intensity to start the game was outstanding and she kept it throughout the game; and I think that allowed her to not think so much and just play on the offensive side. You didn't see her pressing at all. She took the shot that she wanted and that she knew she was going to be able to make.”
On How Much Better Team Is When Kresl Is Scoring
“Yeah, we're a lot better. It spreads the defense. We have been very post dominant so far this year and teams are starting to understand that and take away our inside game. So, then that happens what needs to happen is your guards need to knock down the open shot. We have become a much more balanced team, in terms of where were scoring the ball, when she can hit open threes, when Brittany [Wilson] can hit open threes, and Chucky [Jeffery] can knock them down,”
On Where Team Is Entering Conference Play
“We are prepared as we can be. I can't think of very many things that we aren't prepared for. We haven't faced a ton of adversity yet, but I really feel confident that we have enough veteran players that have that understand what it takes to overcome that. I feel like we have been tested in terms of playing on our home floor, we've played on the road, we feel confident on any venue really to come out and perform. For us, we feel like it is all about us and what we do and executing what we do. Obviously we scout, and watch a lot of film and do some of those things. If we play with the intensity that we did tonight the composure we had both offensively and defensively then I feel confident that we are ready for the conference season.”
On Earning 100th Career Victory
“It's nice. It's not something you focus on as a coach, you don't ever say 'I can't wait until I get to 100 wins'. But, it's something that you do take a chance to look back at all the players who have worked really hard for you, all the assistants all the staff members that have put in a lot of hours to help you win games. I obviously hope that there are a lot more hundreds after this but it is good and I'm happy that our team can experience success and we are going in the right direction I think.”
On Maturity Of This Team
“Well, I never felt like our players knew what the score was, and in this case that was a really good thing. They were playing as hard with six minutes left in the game as they were with 16 minutes left in the first half; and that shows a ton of maturity. I think that shows good leadership and it shows competitiveness in a team that is trying to get better. The score in this game wasn't why we were playing, it was more that we are trying to get ready for what we are about ready to do in the conference. I was really pleased with how we kept the foot on the gas pedal for 40 minutes.”
Colorado Players
Lexy Kresl, So., G
On Breaking Out Of Her Offensive Slump
“It was nice. I think it happened because I kind of stopped caring a little bit. Once I put aside the worries, my shot came to me. I just decided to play and have some fun.”
On If She Gained Confidence From Last Game
“It gave me a little confidence. But, I think it was the little break. The time allowed me to gain some confidence and get up some extra shots.”
On If She Feels Pressure To Be The Leading Scorer
“I don't exactly feel like my role this year is to be the leading scorer. I am more than happy to see my other teammates score and I love passing them the ball. Tonight I think I just felt comfortable with my shot. It felt more natural and in rhythm.”
On If She Has Improved In Areas Other Than Shooting
“Defense has definitely been my focus this season. I think my defensive focus might also have compromised my shot a bit because I focused so much on stepping up my defense and contributing to the team in other ways.”
On Being Part Of Coach Lappe's 100th Collegiate Win
“I think it's really good for coaches, as well, to get rewarded at times. Sometimes as a coach you don't always get the recognition needed or deserved. So, I think it's great that coach Lappe is getting the recognition that she has earned.”
On Facing Stanford First
“I think we are more excited than anything. It's more of an exciting feeling than a feeling of pressure or worry.”
Jen Reese, So., F
On The Importance Of Scoring Early
“We knew coming in that we had to get the first punch because they are coming in here trying to beat us. I feel like we did a great job in transition and getting them to turn the ball over, which led to a lot of our points.”
Arielle Roberson, Fr., F
On Lexy Kresl's Overall Play This Season
“I think Lexy is doing a phenomenal job this year. She has definitely been focusing a lot more on defense, as Coach Lappe has been emphasizing for the whole team to do. I think tonight Lexy just came out and she looked a lot more comfortable and relaxed than she has been looking. I think that's causing her to have a lot more fun because she doesn't have to worry as much and when your shot is hitting then everything just goes in the right direction.”
On Being Part Of Coach Lappe's 100th Collegiate Win
“It's definitely positive for us. We get to say we helped her get here. It was a great landmark for all of us, especially coach Lappe. I was just proud to see her get recognized.”
On How Prepared The Team Is For Pac-12 Play
“We are very confident. We are happy with where we are right now. I think we can only go up from here. Heading into the conference we are confident because of how we played during pre-season. We have come together more as a team and I think that's going to help us down the road.”
On If Her Offensive Play Has Surprised Her
“I felt pretty confident that I was going to be able to contribute, but I just didn't know in what areas. I knew I could help on the defensive end because that's what I really focus on. But, coming in here and contributing a lot on offense kind of surprised me because I didn't really expect that of myself. I am doing so well because of my amazing team.”
New Mexico Head Coach Yvonne Sanchez
General
“Colorado took everything away from us and I credit them immensely. They're well coached and they had a great game-plan. We didn't execute well, but a lot of that has to do with what (Colorado) did to us. We've just got to get better.”
On Turning the Ball Over
“We weren't strong with the ball. Colorado pressured us very well. They took it at us and took it away from us a few times. We just weren't strong with the ball and they did a nice job against us.”
On Lexy Kresl
“She's a shooter. She's been a shooter since high school, she's been a shooter (at Colorado), she had a great game and shooters do that. Sometimes they just feel it. She was five for five from the three (point line), she hit off ball screens, she hit off our zone defense, they found her in their offense and she did a tremendous job.”
On Their Schedule and Going into Conference Play
“It's season one and season one just ended. We try to look at it as three seasons. Season one is non-conference and we are 8-5 in season one. We gave away a few games, but that's okay. We've got to learn from it. Season two is next. Season two is conference games and we are 0-0. We've got some goals with season two and that's what we want to do. Then season three is our conference tournament and then we go from there.”
