March 21, 2010
Gonzaga Quotes
Coach Kelly Graves
On the Previous meeting with Texas A&M
"It was really a tale of two halves. Courtney knows that she didn't play well and sometimes when she doesn't play well the rest of the team follows. We just looked out of sync. Give Texas A&M the credit, they really defended us hard. We both turned it over 21 times so it was a clean game for either team. I think [Texas A&M] is a lot better now than they were, but I also think that we are playing better."
On Coaching against Gary Blair
"It is certainly something we look forward too. This is the fun part for me and my staff. [Texas A&M] is able to do so many different things because of their versatility, their athleticism, their length, and their depth. A lot of what they seem to do is random. I'm sure that if you see them all the time you get used to it, but for us there is still a sense of random to it. They just know how to play, and how to really defend. We definitely have a plan for Texas A&M, but it is going to be a little tougher with all of the weapons that they have."
On Gonzaga playing such a wide zone
"We are not very tall inside, but our wings are long and we have a point guard [Courtney Vandersloot] who anticipates well and is just a very good defender. We are able to put a lot more pressure and get wider because of the length of our wings. We might not be the tallest team in America, but we tend to have an advantage with the height of our guards. We don't always want to be that wide, but sometimes we just kind of get out there."
On the crowd last night
"I thought last night was a great atmosphere. I thought the Zag fans did a great job of coming out here and supporting us. Hopefully we will see the same game tomorrow that we saw last night. I anticipate that it will be another track meet."
F Vivian Frieson, Sr.
On playing against a strong Texas A&M defense similar to North Carolina
"The athleticism is pretty much the same. The size is a big difference. Being that their tallest girl is 6'3" that is a big difference from North Carolina when their girl is 6'5" and her backup is 6'6". Last night I was looking for my shot a lot and I'll probably be looking for my drive a little more and getting contact in there."
G Courtney Vandersloot, Jr.
On the last meeting with Texas A&M
"I was awful that game. I think we've been reminded of that plenty of times. I think it was kind of a learning experience for me. It's tough as a point guard because you feel like you are letting your team down, but at the same time the only thing I can do is learn from it and take care of the basketball in the next games."
On leading the nation in assists this season
"I think it's more just court awareness out there. Knowing when to pass the ball is the key to getting an assist because you have to be able to draw the defender and make the pass in a situation where your team can score the ball. I think that's the biggest part. Also knowing your players because every player that you play with is different and you have to know when they want the ball. You have to know their style and know when to deliver the ball at the right time."
On playing against Texas A&M guard Tanisha Smith
"She is an incredible player. She has so many weapons and a player like that is tough because we can't just take away one thing because she has so many abilities. She can jump out of the gym, she shoots the basketball well, and she's a real leader on that team. That's one of those things we need to be prepared for and hope she misses some shots."
F Heather Bowman, Sr.
On playing against Texas A&M's defense
"I think it's something that we are prepared for because it is the NCAA tournament. Everybody is at that high level. They are a great defensive team. They are long and athletic. I think that set us back the first time we played them, but I think we are prepared for it this time and we have to be prepared for it because we know it is going to be a tough game."
On what is it going to take to stop Texas A&M
"I think it is going to take defensive stops. We are a team that has prided ourselves on our defense through the season, so I think the team that really buckles down and if we are able to get offense from our defense we are going to be the team that comes out on top in this game."
G Tiffany Shives, Sr.
On the game against Texas A&M
"Now we are just really excited, we're trying to focus on the things we did the last time we played them and what we need to adjust and that kind of stuff, but right now we are still focusing on us and making sure we get our game plan prepared."
On teams focus 2nd time around
"I think really just coming out from the start and playing, I think it took us awhile to understand that we are just as good and we can play with them but their a great team and we got to make sure we don't let them get a big lead on us like they did last time."
F Kelly Bowen, So.
On the game against Texas A&M
"It's very exciting we played them before , and I think after that game we did have that feeling inside of us that we could've probably given more in that game and that fact that we get them tomorrow is just exciting."
On fan support
"It's exciting, and it is that extra element that really helps us get across the line."
On stopping Tanisha Smith
"She is a really good player. I think we really need to focus in on really taking her game away tomorrow and not letting her go off like she did last time."
Texas A&M Quotes
Texas A&M Head Coach Gary Blair
On the last time they played Gonzaga
"We got after them early. I don't think they were expecting that type of pressure really to start the game. And we sort of got them on their heels and then when they made their comeback, Bowen got into foul trouble in the first half and that limited her. And so, that put a lot of pressure on Frieson and Vandersloot. And we played a solid ballgame but when they made their run, we were 18 points up with 11 to go. They play with no fear, they have complete confidence in themselves. Gonzaga would finish in the top four in any BCS conference in the country. That's how good they are and how much respect I have for their personnel and their coach. We played a little bit of matchup because we had to play three games in three days in the Big 12 tournament. That had a little bit to do with it."
On if Gonzaga has changed
"Completely different, so much confidence. That's one of the best college basketball games I've seen this year-the North Carolina-Gonzaga game. Both teams played well, both had outstanding point guard play, and that's what makes the game fun because of the assists and not many turnovers, and the point guards on both teams were painting a mural out there, penetrate kick, draw the defense to them, set up the mid-range shooters, and they were doing a very good job. Gonzaga plays their zone wider than anyone we've faced, and it's a wide 3-2 and I'm sure [Coach Kelly Graves] is going to tweak it some depending on what sets we run. I really like their team. When you look at [Katelan Redman], she's one of the best athletes, and she just flies down the wing, and all of sudden you're thinking about those other kids, and here comes [Tiffanie Shives] bombing a three out there, shooting it well with no fear at all. [Heather Bowman] comes in and does an excellent job. They've got an eight-player rotation that's very good. So you can't go into trying to stop three players, you have to stop their whole team."
F/C Danielle Adams, Jr.
On the matchup's against Gonzaga
"I know that they are very good in transition and we've kind of had problems with that and we just have to adjust to it."
On what senior guard Tanisha Smith brings to their team
"She brings us energy every night. She is a player that never gives up, she works hard every day in practice and when game time comes you can expect anything out of her. If she's not scoring, she is doing something else. She is an amazing player."
F Damitria Buchanan, Sr.
On how they are as a team compared to their December game versus Gonzaga
"We understand the term of hard work better. We know that nothing is going to come to us because we are talented. We have to guard them and earn it. Since we played them in December we have grown as a team and developed into a hard-working, hard-nosed team where we go out and try to be the more aggressive team and get things done."
On the amount of fans that will be here for Gonzaga
"I expect it to be more like a road game. We are a tough team and I think that it doesn't matter who is in the stands, we play for each other. They can have a million fans and we're still going to go out there and execute a game and play as hard as we can to get the win. We did it at Nebraska where they have 11,000 fans and we came back after a deficit so we don't worry about who is in the stands."
F Adaora Elonu, So.
On how she feels her role has changed this time around against Gonzaga
"We're playing harder, so this team is a lot different than when we played them the first time. My role is different. I have to be more aggressive. I think that this game will be different as far as us guarding them and them guarding us. Especially with Danielle coming off the bench as an offensive spark."
On the difference in how Gonzaga will come out at the start
"They push the ball really well so we have to get back and match up with them defensively, but I think we'll do a good job as long as we play as hard as we did in the second half versus Portland State. I think we will be able to keep up with them and execute and just play our game."
G/F Tanisha Smith, Sr.
On last night's game against Portland State
"First half I feel like we came out a little sluggish, but in the second half we picked it up with the defensive pressure and scoring easy buckets. Me personally I have to give credit to my teammates for giving me the shots and I was just going to rebound and looking for my teammates because I know they can score too."
On what they need to improve on
"We cannot come out sluggish in the beginning of the game; any good team can take over with the way we came out against Portland State. So we need to pick it up at the beginning of the game. We need to be doing what we have all year and come out with defensive pressure and running in transition. "
On Gonzaga after watching them play against North Carolina
"They have improved but we are still going to come out and play them the way we played them the first time, but even better because both teams have had 15 to 18 games since that game. We are going to play with intensity and that will be key for us."
On the Gonzaga-heavy crowd
"We cannot let them get involved. We've got to take away their three pointers and the hustle plays that gets their crowd going. Us just doing the little things is what will keep us in the game. It should help us out in the whole game and keeping the crowd out of it."
