Head coach Jim Foster
On shutting down their offense.
"I just think we did a good job defensively, whether we were in man or zone. I think we had a sense of urgency at the three-point line. We moved our feet. We were in good position to help, and we just played defense at eye-level for 40 minutes."
 
Where would you put this on defensive performances your team has had?
"I think it's a little bit different because we mixed it up more. We've had some pretty good man-to-man performances, but I think it's the fact that we've been working hard on our press and on our zone. We've gotten very comfortable with our slides, and it's a defense that makes it that more difficult to play against because our looks are varied and not consistent. So I think that it makes it harder for us to play against.
 
On Sydney Vanlandingham's role in tonight's game.
"She did a great job on the boards and did a great job of taking care of the basketball with six boards, three assists and zero turnovers. I think that there are areas of strength for her, and she sort of let the game come to her. 
 
"She picked up some quick fouls in the first half, and I think she would have been on the floor longer. I thought Aryanna Gilbert at the center position did a great job defensively with her using her body very well and getting in position."
 
Does it change anything when Jasmine Joyner is off the floor in foul trouble?
"No because I think Aryanna is a very good post defender. She is disciplined, moves her feet, has a good sense of where to be and when to be there. I think defensively she can slide into any defensive position, and she is probably our most cerebral basketball player."
 
On Queen Alford's fast start and the team balancing out in the game.
"I thought we were a little tentative at first where people weren't looking at the basket like we should have. I think Queen sort of helped us get comfortable and when she got comfortable, the whole team realized that there were opportunities that they needed to take advantage of." 

Queen Alford, guard, junior
On the first quarter.
"We came out with a lot of energy. We lost to them last time. We just needed to come out with a lot of energy, and that's what we did."

How important was it getting off to a good start?
"I think it was very important. Energy is something every basketball team needs, especially playing against a team that you should have beaten the first time."

On holding Samford's offense to 30 points.
"The focus wasn't just on them. It was on everybody, especially on us. We've become more of a defensive team, and that's what we've been trying to do. Today was just another day that we showed we're a great defensive team."

Keiana Gilbert, guard, sophomore
On what the team had to do after Jasmine Joyner got into foul trouble early.
"We couldn't focus on Jasmine being out. We had to keep focusing on getting stops on defense and having energy. Whoever came off the bench had to have energy in the game."