Colorado University Athletics
Colorado-Utah Quotes
March 08, 2012 | Women's Basketball
Colorado Head Coach Linda Lappe
Opening statement:
“I thought our team did a lot of nice things tonight. From the start we had trouble scoring at the beginning of the game, missing a lot of easy shots and from then they started falling towards the end of the first half. I thought that was key as we headed into the second. We knew that Utah wasn't going to lie down and die they are a solid team, well coached and have good players and they came at us in the second half. We fought back and hit some free throws down the stretch. Our defensive effort tonight was really solid and that is what helped us get the victory.”
On during the second game their physicality bothered you and tonight from the start you guys had a jump in your step and you weren't worried about that, what is it like when you are handled like that and then you catch them in the tournament what was that transition like…
“It was two very good games the last two times we played Utah and they were very physical games. We both played tough, hard-nosed man-to-man defense, we get after it, so we knew that it was going to be a physical game. We came in and wanted to do what we have been doing the last few games and that is playing together and everyone stepping up. We thought we could get to the rim and I think our players did a great job in finding opportunities to get to the rim in the first half, getting to the free throw line. In the second half they really tightened down their defense even more, really clogged the lane and didn't guard our shooters on the outside. Utah knows their scouting report and so they are not going to guard players that cannot shoot on the outside. They are going to really pack it in. They did that and it made it tough for us to score in the second half. We ran when we had an opportunity to run which is a huge part of our offense in transition. I said before I thought that if we scored 55 points then we were going to win and we were right at 55. It was good for us to get that cushion in the first half and we didn't let their physicality bother us. That was the biggest difference from this game to the last game.”
Colorado Players
Sophomore Brittany Wilson
On coming home and having the performance she had tonight…
“I don't think it made a difference with me being home or being in Colorado. It is great to be home, I love this place, I love California, but I knew we had to come home and get this win. I was willing to do whatever it took, whether it was defense, offense or whatever my team needed me to do, I was willing to do it. Yes, I love being home.”
On whether you got nervous when Utah cut the game down to seven…
“No, not really because we know that they were going to go on their run and we had to go on ours and ours hadn't come yet. We were just waiting for our run. You look up and see that it is down to seven but you don't get nervous.”
Junior Chucky Jeffery
On her performance tonight, I noticed that you weren't really bothered by anyone bumping you…
“Yes, that was just the game plan to come out and attack the rim. We changed up our game plan a little bit. We knew that they weren't as good as they were the before when we played them in transition defense, so we wanted to attack the rim as much as we could. That was the big difference we were just getting to the rim.”
Utah Head Coach Anthony Levrets
Opening statement:
“First of all, I'd like to congratulate Colorado on a really good game. This is the third time we played them this year. This is by far the best that they played and they played a really good game on us. I was a little disappointed with our first 20 minutes of effort and very pleased with our effort in the second half. But ultimately, Colorado was the better team tonight.”
On considering what you have been through this season, has this been pretty much par for the course? Or how does tonight's effort compared to what you've seen from your team all season long?
“It's been remarkable. I'm as proud of this team for what they have been able to accomplish than any group I have been around. We have had four season-ending injuries and six injuries that have been six weeks or longer as part of this team this year. And to have the ability to be above .500 at the end of the season, win five of our last seven in conference, I couldn't be prouder of them. We had a tough time executing, we just lost our point guard, with people in new positions. It's just kinda been the way that it's gone.”
Utah Players
Sophomore Taryn Wicijowski
On how tough was Colorado's defense down low, particularly Chucky Jeffery down there?
“Yeah, they didn't come every time, so it was kind of surprising. When people come every time, you know that you have to pass out, or this is what I need to do. But when they are only coming some of the time, it makes it a lot harder.”
Sophomore Michelle Plouffe
On what's it like to in the kind of drought you guys had the first half, 13 minutes without a field goal? And for you personally as the leading scorer, frustrated all night, what's that like for you personal?
“It's pretty frustrating. Unfortunately that's happened to us before, when we played USC we were down 17-0 to start the game. It's just frustrating, obviously as a player, but you have to keep shooting, keep attacking, and unfortunately they don't fall for you, or for me, at least.”
