Postgame Quotes
#2 Chattanooga 68, #7 Mercer 47
SoCon Tournament Quarterfinal Round
Asheville, N.C. | Harrah's Cherokee Center - Asheville
Saturday, March 6, 2025
Deandra Schirmer, Head Coach
Opening statement after Thursday's quarterfinal win.
"Coming into this tournament, we were looking to rely on our defense. We always talk about how defense wins championships, and we talked about whether shots are falling or not, and sometimes in a tournament atmosphere it's tough to hit shots, we wanted our defense to carry us. I thought we did that today. We held them scoreless for seven minutes in the second quarter and that's where we kind of busted it open and controlled things from there. Mercer deserves a lot of credit, they were fighting to the very end. That's tournament basketball and I'm just proud of this group and the poise that we showed when things weren't going our way."
On today's key to success.
"Rebounding was a big focus for us and I think that a lot of times we've done a fantastic job at defending the scout. We knew their sets and what we needed to take away, but it's the in between plays. It's the rebounding, it's when you go one-v-one and how will we respond. We were kind of feeling them out in the first quarter and then the second quarter, we really locked in and got it done."
On the Chattanooga program when it comes tournament time.
"I love tournament time. It's desperate basketball. You see the rebounding, the diving on the floor, the first game of the day with the top seed was close. Tournament basketball brings out the best no matter if it's our players, our staff, our fans who were fantastic today. They talked a lot about how amazing our fans are during the interview process and I can't even describe Chattanooga and the support we have. It's what fuels us and what fuels this program. It's because of our fans and our community, we wouldn't be here without that support. Our players feel that. Our players don't want to let our fans, supporters, the Chattanooga community down, we know we're playing for the people before us, the alums. We're in Chattanooga and that means something. We know that. We're trying to win this thing. We know what the deal is and what the goal is. It hasn't changed since day one and we want to make our fans and the community proud."
Karsen Murphy, F-Sr.
On tournament basketball feelings.
"No matter what the score is, it's a tournament game. It's win or go home. I think that's the mindset we have to have going into every game, no matter if we're up by 20 or down by 20, no matter what it is. In that moment, it's like Chattanooga is here and we're ready to roll. We have two more games in front of us."
On trying to defend the title.
"I definitely have that chip on my shoulder coming in. Chattanooga as a program, look at how many championships we have won, no matter who is on the roster, there's some big shoes to fill. We can't come in with that pressure. Just because it's a different roster this year doesn't mean we can't go win it again."
Brooke Anya, C/F-Gr.
On helping Chattanooga earn another title.
"I wasn't a part of that team, but I have been in a championship program before and I know we're capable here. I don't think we really felt that stress at all, a lot of people have doubted us from the beginning. We just come out with something to prove and we're here."
