Postgame Quotes: Alabama vs. Auburn
1/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Alabama Head Coach Kristy Curry
Opening statement:
"First of all, Crimson Chaos, every student that was in this building tonight, from cheer to the dance team was incredible. Our practice guys were on the front row, so I appreciate the student support. Our crowd support for coming out on a raining night, when it's cold and it was a late game; I just appreciate everyone. I'm really, really proud for our kids to find a way to win. It was ugly down the stretch, but we were fortunate to get enough stops and a quick one there at the end. I feel like our goal every day, as I constantly say, is to improve. We will improve from tonight, and let this go at midnight and get ready for Vanderbilt and get ready to improve tomorrow."
On Karyla Middlebrook's play in the last few minutes:
"Well, it was night and day from the last couple minutes at the end of the first half. Her toughness and her character to respond with the basketball in her hands, of making better decisions down the stretch, I think was key. It was also key for her to knock the three down, and get to the foul line to convert. She certainly grew up tonight before our eyes and that's good to see."
#20 Ashley Williams, Forward
On the first league win:
"Of course coming back home, not being on the road, and getting that home win was great. The crowd was great, and we just fed off their energy."
#13 Nikki Hegstetter, Forward
On the importance of winning tonight's game:
"It was pretty sweet to win, especially since it was Auburn. Every game is important, but it's always better if it's Auburn. Everybody really stepped up. Ashley (Williams) especially in the back court. Everyone looks at each other and says `Let's go,' and we all step up. But that's what you do as a team, you have each other's back."
On the team's defense as a whole:
"I think our defense is something we pride ourselves on. Especially me, that's what I take as my role. I feel like I put the defense on my back. That's my thing; I don't focus on scoring a million points or anything like that, I just want to get stops on defense. Ashley is always on my back, she helped me so much tonight. She would tell me when (Tra'Cee) Tanner was coming from the backside, or when she doubled from the backside. That's the kind of stuff that people don't see or doesn't get put in the highlight films, but that's what wins you games. You can just see when we play great defense because that's when we get those wins."
Auburn Head Coach Terri Williams-Flournoy
Opening statement:
"I thought we had every opportunity to win the basketball game tonight. Turning the basketball over 29 times doesn't help though."
On if anything changed at halftime:
"No, I don't think so. I think we hit a few more shots in the second half, scored a little bit off of turnovers a bit more than we were doing in the first half. I thought we rebounded better in the second half as well."
