Quotes Following Tulane's C-USA Semifinal Win Over Houston
Mar 11, 2011 | Women's Basketball
March 11, 2011
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Tulane Quotes
Head Coach Lisa Stockton
Overall thoughts on the game
"I think I can sum this up with a big heart. I think this team has just so much heart and I felt so good about this match up and I think a lot of people thought that I was crazy about that. It was a week ago that we lost at Houston in overtime and I thought that our team played so well and it was a heart-breaker. I remember walking up the stairs in Houston and telling my staff, `I'm glad we lost that,' because we're getting them again. I felt like that made our team know that they can play and beat Houston and I felt that Houston knew that we could, too. I really attribute this win to that loss and I'm really proud of this squad."
On adjusting after earlier losses to Houston
"Sometimes it helps to play so closely to the game you played before. We felt that we had a pretty good style. I thought our players were disciplined on defense. We didn't try to make great plays or necessarily get steals. We wanted to give them one shot, rebound and done. I think it was very-disciplined defense that helped us."
On the team's motivation going into the tournament
"I felt like going into a tournament, you certainly have to look at it one game at a time. We haven't even thought about the next game yet. I feel like this team has a little chip on its shoulder because we returned a lot of players and we were a good team. We had a little skid there in the middle and felt we were a pretty good team, but ended up fourth. I think that was a little bit of our motivation and we're just ready to play whoever it is."
On tomorrow's matchup with UCF
"I think that UCF is a tremendous rebounding team. They have a lot of scorers and are very similar to our team in that they have a lot of seniors that want to get it done. I think they've done a tremendous job. Their consistency since February is really impressive."
Senior Forward Danielle Nunn
On coming together as a team
"I think that one thing that stands out is that we play as a team. There was no one person today that did it. It was a team effort. From the last game in overtime, we really did play as a team. Over the last couple of weeks, we won three out of the last four games and started having fun with each other. I think we're coming together as a team and that's the most important thing."
On what drives her to do well
"My motivation is my teammates. I really enjoy playing with this group of girls and they put me in a position to do that. I may not get to the basket, but I draw people to me and I can dish it out. It's a team game."
Senior Forward Tiffany Aidoo
On gaining the confidence to beat Houston
"After the overtime game, we felt that we had that game. We were just coming out to play and I think we had a lot of confidence. After that loss when we didn't pull it off, I think that we built a lot of confidence and we knew that we could come out and beat Houston today. Knowing our style and knowing that we played them two other times, I think that really helped us today and we just played with a lot of heart and intensity."
On holding Houston without a field goal over the final four-plus minutes
"We played them two other times and I think we really played our style today. I think that is what gave us the advantage tonight. We were able to pull it out and get some shots and a lot of stops defensively at the end."
Houston Quotes
Head Coach Todd Buchanan
Opening Statement
"Really brief, my hats off to coach Lisa Stockton and Tulane. They played extremely aggressive and a very good basketball game today. We really appreciate the city of El Paso and Conference USA for hosting this tournament. I thought everything went relatively smooth. I'm incredibly proud of my basketball team. To win 17 in a row...unfortunately today was the day that it had to end. We knew it was going to come to an end sooner or later. We'll regroup and get ready to go to the NCAA Tournament and represent C-USA."
On the difference today between the two teams
"Today was just tough. We never got into a balance. We never go into a flow offensively. The most disappointing part was that I felt I failed them , in the fact of not getting Courtney (Taylor) the ball somehow, someway. She didn't score her first basket until, I don't know, the 18 minute mark of the second half. That's just bad coaching on my part. We've got to find a way. I was really proud of Lesslee and Porsche. I felt we really battled in the first half when Courtney got two quick (fouls) and we kept battling. But rebounding, that's the other big thing."
On what's ahead
"Nobody knows right now. There's no way we get left out this field. I mean there's no way, in my heart of hearts, there's no way we get left out the field of 64. To do what we've done, everything speaks for itself. The body of work is done. We'll go wherever they send us."
On if fatigue was a factor in today's loss
"I always have their back. I know it played a role, but it is what it is. I know they're fatigued. Their legs weren't there at times. I say that because it's the truth. Not using it as an excuse and there's a big difference in that."
