Postgame Quotes vs. Samford
2/27/2010 10:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Chattanooga Basketball - Postgame Quotes
Samford at Chattanooga
McKenzie Arena - Chattanooga, Tenn.
Feb. 27, 2010
Chattanooga Head Coach Wes Moore
On the game:
"I didn't expect to beat Samford by 30 points tonight. I was really just hoping to find a way to win. They shot the ball great when we went down there earlier in the year and then tonight we were the fortunate team. When you bank a shot in from the top of the key and when you have a shot glance off the glass from the dead corner you know that it's your night. We had a lot of people step up. Erin Helton, obviously, came in and gave us a big lift. She can do things on both ends of the floor so it was nice to see her play that well. She scores and she can also defend because of her strength and her presence. Tenisha Townshend had a great game. I thought it was one of the best games she's played since she's been here. Shanara Hollinquest was in foul trouble but she was still able to put up some points. She changes the game so much with her presence out there. Megan Rollins had three big 3's and she was shooting the ball well. Even Jenaya Wade-Fray didn't have a great scoring game, but she had nine assists. A lot of people contributed to this and we've got to make sure we enjoy it for the rest of the evening and a little bit tomorrow, but then we've got to start all over and begin that three-game season that lies ahead of us."
On the tournament seeding:
"There is so much parady in our league that it really didn't matter if we finished number one or number two. The number two team has to play at 9 a.m. in the morning so that was cause for a little concern. Other than that, there are five or six teams in this league that are capable of winning the tournament. Really, any of the teams in this league are capable of beating you on a given day. Really, as far as seeding goes, it didn't matter. We have to show up to play next week. Everything is going to be ratcheted up a notch or two when you get in the tournament."
On putting Tagan Hatchett in:
"We debated over whether to maybe start her and hopefully win the tip and call the timeout, but I hated to waste a timeout knowing that this was going to be a big game. We talked and decided if we had a lead late in the game we could maybe get her out there. It was good to get her out there. Tagan has been such a model student-athlete and I hated that she got hurt. We have defiantly missed her leadership and experience, but it was nice for her to get out there and let the crowd recognize what she has done."
On pressure of winning 11 straight SoCon Titles:
"I do let the 11 straight affect me some and it is probably not a positive thing. I feel pressured and feel like we got to keep winning 20 games a season and win the regular season. I probably pass that on to the players, but I am proud of the consistency. We have a lot of great things here at UTC to help us excel and do well. We are not going to win it every year, but hopefully we are going to be competitive every year. I am proud of the way this team bounced back and overcame a lot of adversity."
Senior Shanara Hollinquest
On the win:
"We thought it was going to be a closer game but we came out ready to play. We clicked defensively and offensively very well. It feels great to beat Samford, and its payback, too."
On the game:
"I think it's one of the best games we've played. Everybody was into it and I think we played pretty awesome."
On her final game:
"It was kind of frustrating because I picked up two early fouls. Overall I was satisfied with it, from and individual and a team standpoint. It doesn't feel real that it's my last game here at McKenzie Arena. I feel like I will be suiting up and playing here in a week again but I guess this is my farewell game."
Freshman Erin Helton
On stepping up:
"I knew I had to go out there and perform because Shanara was in foul trouble. I enjoyed being out there and I wanted to do my best."
On the game:
"We knew we had to come out and beat them. It was a big deal. Plus, we didn't want to play the 9 a.m. game."
On coming back:
"I about died in the first half. It's going to take me a little while to get back in the groove of things. In the second half I was able to catch my breath and I was just so ready to get back out there. Those two weeks gone killed me."
Samford Head Coach Mike Morris <br>On the game:
<br>"Chattanooga has been winning a lot of games and not shooting the ball well. They won 13 in a row for a while and haven't shot the ball extremely well, but they've still been winning. I knew at some point and time that they would start making their shots and that would make them tough to beat. It was their night. It was senior night. They banked one in from the corner and they banked one in from the top. They were the better team tonight."
"This game shows that the team with the most experience and balance wins championships. They raise their level in those kinds of games and players play better than have been playing. It shows that success breeds confidence. They have had success in these games and they know what it takes to win. They have been the number one seed for 9 out of 12 years."
