Chattanooga Basketball Postgame Quotes
No. 2 Notre Dame at Chattanooga
McKenzie Arena – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Tuesday – Dec. 27, 2016

Head Coach Jim Foster
On tonight's performance…
"We went out there timid and had veteran players go out there and do silly things. I told Chelsey if I was playing, I drove in and my shot got sent to the upper reaches of this building, endangering people lives I wouldn't drive to score over them anymore. I would drive to find my teammates. Lesson learned.

"That's the way we have to start games. Jasmine can't strive to be a shot blocker in games like this. We need her on the floor. We have to figure that part of it out. We know how to play hard in the second third and fourth quarter. We've done it at Louisville, we've done it here, we've done it with Connecticut; we've done it with very good teams. We have to start games better and understand what that means."

Thought's on how well they played when Jasmine was off the court…
"We started the second quarter and played fairly well and she wasn't on the floor. That position was hurting us. We ran a bunch of players and finally we put a guard on Brianna Turner and she did the best job because she got down low, pushed her out and competed with her before she got position.

"If you're competitive you start playing hard at the foul line and you make getting to the block difficult. You don't walk them to the throne, sit them down and then play them. Our minds aren't where they need to be for a thirty-minute show."

Chelsey Shumpert
What's it going to take to take those steps to get there as a team?
"I'm learning from it. We have to go out there and practice harder, every day harder and harder just to know that we are going to be playing people like that when it comes tournament time. I think if we continue to do that every day then it will become natural when we get in the game that it will just be there. We just have to keep doing it consistently."

How mentally taxing is it to play these opponents to get better?
"I think it's something we needed. If we weren't in this position playing these good teams like that we wouldn't expect that later on down the road. That something we have to get used to and compete consistently and have our mindset at a higher level each game."

Queen Alford
On facing big teams…
"I understand we're not winning the game that we should be winning but we're learning from all of them. In the end it's going to work out for us. We're being exposed for our mistakes and that's the biggest thing about success; you have to fail in order to be successful. I feel in the end we are going to do better."
 
What's the confidence level of this team at right now?
"I think everybody is taking a different approach. We don't have anybody here that doesn't want to be here or doesn't want to give up. We're all at the level where we know we have to compete. Either we're going to keep losing or we're going to start winning. I think everyone understands that."

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Notre Dame Head Coach Muffet McGraw
Opening Statement
"I was very pleased with the start we had. Coming off of break be only had one practice yesterday and I was a little worried about how we were going to come out. I think offensively really looked good, which I thought would be the other way. I thought we would play better defensively and be a little rough on offense. Brianna was amazing. She proved why she's an all American and Lindsey Allen as well. These two really ran the team. They did everything they need to do to get the win."
 
Late are you telling Lindsey to take the shot?
"Yes, we didn't tell her about the triple double stuff we just ran stuff that she would get shots and fortunately she made them. I really didn't want to keep her in the game that long but it's a pretty special day when you get a triple double."
 
On putting the starters back in, in the second half
"I was a little uncomfortable. I think I wanted to make a point also. I was going to get the starters back in the game anyway but just a little sooner than I had planned. I was a little disappointed in how the bench came out. I felt they could have been a little better defensively and rebounding."
 
Lindsey Allen
How did it feel to get your first career triple double?
"I think it's definitely a special moment. I think towards the end of the game they were telling me to look for your shot and that's when I kind of got the hint I was either going to get a double-double or a triple-double. I think it's just credit to my teammates. Brianna did a great job posting up today. We shared the ball really well. It's actually a special moment in my senior year."
 
What does it mean to you when your Coach runs plays for you to help you get shots?
"It means a lot. Coach McGraw is a legendary coach. It's very cool to see that she has that confidence in me and she wants to see me have that moment for my senior year for myself. So all credit goes to her."
 
Brianna Turner
When you're in foul trouble early in the game, how much does it throw off your rhythm?
"It of course throws my rhythm off but I have a lot of confidence in my teammates to go in and get the job done. so make sure I stay positive and encourage them more."