Chattanooga at #7/10 Tennessee
Knoxville, Tenn. | Thompson-Boling Arena
Monday, December 27, 2021
Postgame Quotes
 
Chattanooga Head Coach Katie Burrows 
 
Opening statement...
"Disappointed in some statistical things. We didn't shoot the ball well at all. I was talking to the group in the locker room about some things that were disappointing including the fact that we didn't shoot the ball well. I felt like our shot selection was pretty good, getting good looks and moving the ball well. Twenty-one turnovers do not bode well in games like this and so we have to do a better job as some turnovers were self-inflicted. We are going to work on getting better at that. Bottom line is that they {Tennessee} knocked down shots and we didn't. However, I felt my group stayed true to who they are, and they fought just like they have the entire season and never backed down. I am thankful to see they continued to battle and fight even though we weren't shooting it well we were still able to battle."
 
Playing against Kellie Harper who was an assistant at Chattanooga when you were a player...
"It's a lot of fun. I didn't get to spend any time with them – I wish I had been able to. I have been able to spend more time with Jon {Harper} than Kellie {Harper} just because she is pulled in so many different directions and he handles the behind-the-scenes stuff. It's pretty cool to go from Kellie being my favorite player, such a fun player to watch and model after, and an even better person to her coaching me to us playing against each other. It was nice when I found out she was going to coach me at Chattanooga, and she would be on the court kicking our butts every day. I wonder if she still does that to them – get out there and play around with them? She's intense and I also think it is pretty cool we both get to coach at our alma-mater and to be a part of that. The coolest part of the day was when we first got here, and she was out on the court and her kiddos were running around and I got to see them in person. It was really neat to see her little munchkins and wonder what they are going to be like one day. Are they going to kind of like Momma, but you know Dad is pretty cool too? I guess, Jon is pretty cool. I would like to continue this, Tennessee and Chattanooga playing each other, to some capacity. I think it is fun for the players and a nice quick buzz up the road and maybe even try to get them to come back to our place. It has been a few years. I think that would be exciting for the fans in Chattanooga as well. I think you will hopefully see us play each other more in the future."
 
Talk about what it meant to your player, and Knoxville native, Abbey Cornelius playing against Tennessee...
"She had a ton of family here at the game today. It was a special time for her and her family. They bleed orange, and to be honest I am not very happy about it (said in jest). We did this for her so she could have the opportunity to play in front of her family."
 
Chattanooga Junior Guard Amaria Pugh
 
Talk about your 17 points against Tennessee and what was working for you…
"I kept telling myself just be aggressive and play my game handling what I could control."
 
How can you build on this?
"I think being able to see what I can do against such a talented team like Tennessee. I can carry that over to Southern Conference play and help us get where we need to be in the SoCon."
 
 
Chattanooga Junior Forward Abbie Cornelius
 
As a Knoxville native talk about coming home to play at Tennessee...
"It's special. I grew up coming to Tennessee games and to get to come back, (she pauses with tears in her eyes apologizing for her emotional outburst) and play in front of everybody was a special moment for me. It was really special to play on this court I watched Pat Summitt win so many championships on." 
 
When did it hit you that you were playing here (at UT)...
"As soon as I stepped on that court. Like Coach {Katie} Burrows said, my family, bleeds orange so it was really exciting, and the emotions started as soon as I stepped on the court.