St. John's University Athletics
Postgame Quotes: No. 25 St. John's 56, Auburn 49
12/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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Dec. 20, 2014
Head Coach Joe Tartamella
Opening Statement:
"I'm very pleased with how we were able to come out, especially in the first half, and execute our gameplan as well as finish down the stretch against a great SEC team in Auburn. This is a really good win for us. I thought we made some great individuals plays towards the end of the game, and being able to be better at the free throw line today was also a key. We're very excited about the win but we know we have to get ready for tomorrow and the tough teams that we could play in either Indiana State and SMU."
On the Red Storm's 15-for-21 performance from the free throw line:
"In games like these that we need to win, against very good teams, you have to be able to convert. It's an important piece to the game. I thought a big part of our first-half lead was the conversions that we made at the line. In other games, we don't open up a lead because we aren't making those free throws. It was obviously a big part of the win today and we hope to carry that over."
On the Red Storm's resiliency:
"We've been able to find a way. We know that it's a game of runs. I tell our players all the time that our opponents are going to throw a punch at us and it's about how we respond and come back. Today, Auburn got close a few times but we were able to make a couple of plays. The resiliency I think is born out of the competitiveness of the group. The thing that I am looking forward to is seeing this group improve throughout the year. I don't think we've done everything that we can every single day. I'm really excited to see what we are going to continue to grow into."
On playing in the 2014 Chartwells Holiday Classic championship game:
"It's an opportunity for us to win a championship and that's a first step in our goal setting and vision. We try to get that in our players' heads. We've got to come out and play well [on Sunday]. Those are two very good teams out there in SMU and Indiana State. SMU played Texas A&M tough and Indiana State is 8-1 so it's going to be a great game tomorrow. We have to make sure that we are ready. Today won't mean much if we don't get tomorrow."
Junior guard Danaejah Grant
On responding to Auburn's second-half run:
"It was all about keeping our composure against their press. We didn't want to have any live turnovers that they could convert into points. I think we did a pretty good job of that."
On the on-court leadership of sophomore guard Aaliyah Lewis:
"We are very comfortable with her running our offense. A lot of teams underestimate her because she's so small but we know that she takes pride in what she does in terms of getting assists and running the floor."
Junior guard Aliyyah Handford
On her scoring down the stretch:
"There are no doubts [going through my head]. Like Coach says, I work on it every day. I just need to bring what I work on every day in the gym to the game and perform."
On the team's collective rebounding effort with senior Amber Thompson in foul trouble:
"I think Selina [Archer] played a big part today. She helped us out on their rebounders and with boxing out. She did a great job when Amber was out."
