Postgame Quotes
Chattanooga 72, Lipscomb 62
Nashville, Tenn. | Allen Arena
Thursday, December 14, 2023
 
Shawn Poppie, Head Coach
On the up and down flow of the game
"We've still got to learn. I don't know if we relax, we get tired. We build a 10-12 point lead and then we relax, or whatever it may be, and let them back in the game. But the good news is we have a final push. In the last couple [of games] we've had that final push."
 
"I'll tell you what, that was a gutsy win. First game, obviously, without Raven [Thompson-injured]. We're playing totally different but we had kids step up all over the court, but not on both ends. Sigrun didn't have her best offensive game, but goodness sakes, on the other end she was phenomenal. I thought Caia [Elisadez], she had some early turnovers, but ultimately she played a really good game for us. Addie Grace Porter finally found her shot, which you could feel the last couple of days. She was getting in rhythm and shot with confidence. Jada Guinn down the stretch was phenomenal. It was a balanced effort. Karsen Murphy, early on, bangs in a couple of threes, she opens up the second half with one. Totally a team effort."
 
"They matched small with us and we stayed small most of the game. I thought Takia Davis came in the first half and gave us some solid minutes, but again they stayed small. They thought that was the best way for them, so we stayed small with them."
 
On the play of Jada Guinn
"In the third, I don't know if she got tired, but when she should have drove she took a pull up, when she should have took a pull up, she drove. I told her in the fourth, you get a switch and we give you space, that's not a pull up time. That's down hill, move through the chest. I felt like they were calling it on that, so the more we can be aggressive here, maybe she gets to the free throw line and she did. She ended up 10-for-11 from the free throw line. And then she makes that nice little floater as she's aggressive. Big time plays by her, but ultimately a heck of a team win on the road, facing adversity. Facing a lot of uncertainty."

Addie Grace Porter, Jr., G
On getting the win tonight over a tough Lipscomb team.
"It feels good for us when people may have doubted us with Ray (Raven Thompson) being out. I mean, she's a great piece of ou offense and our defense and our team in general, and we obviously can't wait to get her back, but this is just a great time and opportunity for other people to step up and I think that's what we did collectively. As a team, we know that Ray's a big piece but we'll still get it done regardless. We had some big time plays from a bunch of people tonight, which is always good. We're not just relying on one person, this is a team sport. We demonstrated that well tonight."

On her lighting it up from three-point range tonight.
"With Ray being out, I went into this game knowing I'd probably have to step up in some way a little bit in whatever way my team needed me to. Tonight it was shooting. They were crowding the paint a lot and Caia was getting downhill and Jada was getting downhill, so I was just staying ready with my hands out around the three-point line. Tonight it was threes, but it could've been anything. Whatever they need."

On the team having a really solid crowd traveling with them tonight despite being on the road.
"I think that that's one of the perks of being at Chattanooga. We always have such a big fan base wherever we go whether it's home, in Asheville in the SoCon Tournament or just on the road. I know this game was close to home for me, it's about 30 minutes from where I grew up, so a lot of my people from back home came and that really meant a lot to me. Seeing them and having them support me all the way from when I was a little baby to now just feels good."

Caia Elisaldez, Fr., G
On making her first collegiate start and being able to make an impact tonight.
"Honestly my performance at first, you could just tell I was nervous. It was a little nerve-racking and I just didn't want to let anyone down. We all knew we needed to come together to win this one. For E (Eleecia Carter) and for Ray (Raven Thompson), this was our time to be there for them. They've been on the sidelines for us this whole week and we've all had to adjust, but in the end we all knew it was about doing it for each other."

On the team's win streak and being able to finish off some wins down the stretch.
"This team's just gritty. Everyone likes to work hard, everyone likes to bring energy and contribute. All in all, there's just a love for the game. Everyone just loves to play. We've all learned to take the adversity and roll with it. It just means we have to push harder. Everytime we've made mistakes today and in any other game, we've gotten back up and we've gotten stronger. I think this team has a great future ahead."