Alabama Women's Basketball vs. Belmont: Postgame Quotes
12/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 18, 2010
Alabama Head Coach Wendell Hudson
Opening statement:
"I thought we struggled scoring early. Defensively, we still aren't in position because we are really starting without a point guard. That is why we got off to a little better start in the second half with Katie Hancock as the ball handler out there. Starting without a point guard, we have to look at what we're doing there and see what we can do to get off to a better start. Effort wise, you can't ask for any more."
On forcing 28 turnovers on the Bruins:
"We talked about the goals that it would take for us to win the basketball game. One of our goals was to get 25 turnovers and we got 28, so we were plus there. One of the other goals was to limit the number of offensive rebounds for Belmont, and for the first 37 minutes of the game, we had that goal well in hand. The final goal was to go up and down the court in transition, and I thought in the second half we really did a good job of that. We got up and down the floor and played the way we wanted to play."
On the success of hitting three-pointers today:
"We shoot (three pointers) more quickly than other teams. We'll shoot them a little further out than people will allow some of their players to shoot it from. That's the way we practice. We practice shooting them, and what that will do for you is open up your inside game. That happened when Ericka (Russell) hit a couple of threes. That is kind of the way we play, inside-outside and then outside-inside. Whatever the other team is giving you, we're not going to try to force the basketball any place. Whatever the other team is giving you, that is what you have to take."
On Monday's fifth grade game against Alabama A&M:
"That fifth grade game is not only one that we as coaches look forward to, but the team looks forward to it as well. You have all those fifth graders in here, and they're going to cheer no matter if you're winning or losing or anything in between. They just keep up the noise. This place is rocking when those fifth graders are here.
"This is going to be a tough game for us though. It is going to be a focus game. We're going to be off following that game until Christmas, so can we stay focused and come in ready to play in a game at 11:30 a.m.? With this team right here I would be surprised if we're not focused because this team has been focused and has played the way we have needed them to play in the 11 games that we've played."
#21 Tierney Jenkins, Forward
On coming back from a loss at Kansas:
"All through practice we talked about how we didn't compete against Kansas. They made a run, and we just gave up. With younger players it's almost expected because they don't know, and we are trying to tell them that's what the SEC is like. Coach (Hudson) told us not to give up. I don't think we pressured them in defense, and we just didn't play our game at Kansas. That was the main thing we focused on in this game."
On how she overcame early foul trouble to come out and finish strong:
"Whenever that happens it's like they get you out of your game. You just have to have the mindset that when you get back in you are going to do whatever you can to help the team. Even if it's just cheering on the bench then that's what I'm going to do. You just have to stay in the game."
Belmont Head Coach Brittney Ezell
On returning to her alma mater and coaching on the opposing sideline:
"It is really humbling walking down the same sidelines as some of the previous coaches that have been here. It is fun to bring our team here and compete against athletes of this caliber that we will not see in our conference games. It shows a lot on Alabama's part to bring us here. I love Tuscaloosa, and I love coming back to Coleman Coliseum."
