St. John's University Athletics
Postgame Quotes: St. John's 58, Tennessee Tech 46
12/15/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 15, 2012
St. John's Women's Basketball Head Coach Joe Tartamella
On importance of win against Tennessee Tech and key roles of sophomore forward Amber Thompson and freshman guard Aliyyah Handford:
"For us, it was a couple of things. First, it helped us get back on track after two losses. We haven't had the chance to play here in a while; it seems like it's been a long time since we've played here. Our schedule is certainly testing us and we knew that coming into this season. But for us, it was worrying about getting better and showing some more growth from our Duke game, coming off a performance where I thought our second half against Duke showed some really promising things. I think today, again, we did enough to be able to come out on top. Our effort - as much as we haven't been as happy defensively lately - today we did hold them at 46 points, which is important. But there are a lot of things that we need to improve on. It was also nice to see Amber Thompson step up for us once again for the second game in a row, which is really important; and obviously, the emergence of Aliyyah Handford coming in and filling that role for Eugeneia [McPherson], trying to give us what she can."
On Thompson's consistency:
"It's really important - I really felt she would have a breakout year this year. When she is focused and she is ready to go, she can be a great player. People didn't understand her upside or her or her ability to fulfill the potential, so to speak, when she left high school. She's been a big piece for us -- she gives us a different dynamic in the post because she gives us a presence. The difference is that in the last few games, she has rebounded and she has given us some offense, but she's also defended fairly well. It's important because we've got to be able to use Mary [Nwachukwu] and use Amber. At the same time, we're trying to rotate and develop Sandra [Udobi] to be another person. Having Amber be a presence for us makes us a much better team."
Freshman guard Aliyyah Handford
On her progression:
"I have started to feel more comfortable. I am still trying to get used to the game and stay focused. I've been trying to work hard in practice."
On playing alongside Amber Thompson and Nadirah McKenith:
"Playing against them [in high school] was hard, we were rival schools. But playing with them right now is great."
On stepping into a new role:
"I'm stepping in as well as I can and trying to help out. With Eugeneia [McPherson] out right now, I'm trying to bring more things to the table."
Sophomore forward Amber Thompson
On the importance of having a lead:
"It's really big for us to get a little cushion so that … they can get used to the game just like us."
On playing with fellow Newark, N.J., native [Aliyyah] Handford:
"It's a little different playing with Aliyyah now, being that, in high school, we were [on] rival teams. So it's been good. We're coming together."
