Postgame Quotes
Fargo, N.D. | Scheels Center
March 19, 2026
Final: Chattanooga 62, North Dakota State 75
Head Coach Deandra Schirmer
Opening Statement
"I felt like they (NDSU) did an excellent job being aggressive on defense. That put us back on our heels a little bit. And then they're scoring out in transition. Obviously, they have a fantastic team, probably an NCAA Tournament caliber team. And we wanted to come out here and prove what kind of basketball we have, and we wanted to come out here and show what kind of team we have. And I'm proud of our group for that. I'm proud of how we fought to finish the game. I'm proud of Caia (Elisaldez) over here, who, as she's done all year, night in and night out, put the team on her back."
On the crowd at tonight's game
"I also felt like the atmosphere here was one of a kind. Credit to the community for coming out and watching women's basketball. I think that it was such an exciting atmosphere to play in. And that's what tournament basketball is all about, you know, being able to be in front of a big crowd and playing a very important game."
On coaching against Jerry Collins, who is from the same hometown of Holton, Kansas, as Coach Schirmer
"Listen, if you guys even knew how small Holton, Kansas is, I graduated with 70-some kids in my class. There were less than 400 in the entire high school. And it was ironic enough, 'cause Coach Jerry Collins had actually texted me before we found out we were playing them and said, Hey, do you wanna do a home and home? I was like, No, thank you.
And then it got announced that we were playing them and coming up here, and, you know, I have so much respect for the career that he's had. He's done such a fantastic job, and, you know, as far as looking to somebody who's done it the right way, you know, he's set a great example, and he's represented Holton, Kansas in a great way, and that's something that I hope to do as well in my career. And, I mean, we were the talk of the town. I got a lot of text messages about it. I got a lot of stuff about it. But always proud to be a Holton Wildcat, and hopefully, we made Holton proud."
Junior guard Caia Elisaldez
On playing in the WBIT at NDSU
"Yeah, I think ultimately, no matter what, no matter where you go, no matter win or loss, it's a blessing to keep playing. It's a blessing to be able to use this platform to showcase the abilities that we have been blessed with. And I think the atmosphere like Coach D said, was great.
The people here are great. I have never been to North Dakota, so this was a new one for me for sure, but, as much as we wanted to win and everything, it was a great atmosphere to end our season with. And if I wasn't going to be in our community with our people, it's nice to be around people who genuinely do love women's basketball."
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