UCLA-Bowling Green Post-Game Quotes
March 19, 2006 | Women's Basketball
March 19, 2006
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UCLA QUOTES
UCLA Head Coach Kathy Olivier
Opening statement
"I thought that we had some signs of very good basketball and some signs of being rusty. We haven't played a game in about 13 days, and I thought that showed a little at times. Give Bowling Green credit; they never gave up. They worked really hard, they played good team basketball and gave it their best shot, especially in the second half. Offensively, we did a lot of positive things, but we've got to do a better job of taking care of the ball, but otherwise we'll get back on track."
On pressure of first round tournament game
"Personally, I was feeling it (pressure). I just think it's a very good basketball team, extremely talented. They like this atmosphere, they like playing in front of a crowd. I was trying to keep them settled down. It's nice to know that we were toned down a little and still scored 74 points. In the first round, you just want to get by the first one. It's nice to represent the Pac-10 and win the first round."
On team's defense
"I thought we did a very good job defensively early. Maybe Bowling Green was a little hesitant at the beginning, but its hard when you get a lot of fouls. We had a lot of fouls called on us, and then we got a little tentative. We've taken a lot of pride in our defense the last six weeks, and it's been paying off. This team's very offensive-minded; they like to get up and down the floor. Defensively, they bought into it, and it's been working for them."
On UCLA guard Nikki Blue
"Early on, they were playing her to pass, and she was getting her teammates involved. I told her, 'You need to look for your own shot'. She's so capable, and she was trying to get everyone involved. That's what she's been doing all year. She did a great job of getting the ball to the right people."
On playing Purdue at Mackey Arena Tuesday
"We like that atmosphere. The Purdue crowd, they were great for the first game, and they stayed for a lot of the second game. We definitely anticipate a big crowd, and hopefully play better basketball and have a little more fun, do a little more offensively."
On playing Purdue Coach Kristy Curry
"I can't say enough positive things about Kristy Curry and Purdue basketball. She's done a great job here, she's constantly improving the program. It looks like they're playing very well. It's always difficult to play someone you know, and Kristy's one of my better friends. It's a tough one."
On looking ahead to the Purdue game
"They're fundamentally sound, they're disciplined, they know the game of basketball. They have some good athletes, they're big girls, they play smart, they're going to play hard, and they are at home. We're going to have to bring our 'A' game. Our 'B-minus' game won't cut it. We're going to have to bring our 'A' game for sure."
UCLA guard Noelle Quinn
On UCLA's hot streak in first half
"I think we just settled down a little bit. As a team, we came together, focused on passing the ball more. We got more movement and started to run a little bit more, which gave us more opportunities and more open looks."
UCLA guard Nikki Blue
On more fundamental approach to game
"We wanted to come out and just play fundamental basketball at the beginning, to just get the jitters out and then progress from that. Bowling Green, you've got to give a lot of credit to them. They slowed the ball down very well. They're very good at half-court defensive sets, but I think once we got our transition going it would open looks up."
UCLA guard Lisa Willis
On pressure at beginning of second half
"We knew that they would come out with a sense of urgency because it's one loss and you go home. So we just tried to make a change, and we did pretty good at that. I wouldn't say we relaxed, they just stepped it up more than we did. Then in turn we stepped it up."
BOWLING GREEN QUOTES
Bowling Green Head Coach Curt Miller
Opening statement
"It's been a magical year at Bowling Green. Nothing can take away from the 28-3 season we had. We knew it would be an extremely tough match-up. We may have been able to compete against an athletic, big team, but when you add that they can shoot the ball as well as they do, we knew we had a tough task. Their one big run in the first half was the difference in the game."
On next year's team
"I'm excited. Last year we made the NCAA tournament with the youngest starting lineup. We're still one of the few teams that start an entire underclassmen starting lineup. We're going to take a few weeks off and then get right back in it. We want to get back, we're having fun even though we can't get over the first round hump; we are having fun."
On UCLA's 18-2 run in the first half
"The difficult part was that you can do everything right, and they're shot-makers. We had some missed opportunities during that run. We had chances to stop their run on the offensive end and didn't get it done. They'll make tough, contested shots. We didn't get any second chances. I made our team tentative about getting back. I wish we would have tried to get to the boards better. They were getting what they wanted. We didn't win the one-on-one battles that we needed to win to pull the big upset."
On UCLA's versatility
"That's what makes them special. That's why, in my opinion, with more consistency, they're a top 10 team. They just have so many weapons. You knew it would be a game of runs; both teams are too talented not to have runs."
Bowling Green forward Ali Mann
On frustration of playing good defense
"It's very frustrating. I thought we did some good things in the first half, keeping their key players under control. They're great players and made tough shots. Those shots are just killer and then having to go back on offense to try and answer. If we didn't make our first shot, the obviously out-rebounded us, so we weren't getting too many second chances."
Bowling Green center Liz Honegger
On momentum
"As soon as we got back, they made a three and then another three. That took the wind out of our sails."