St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John’s vs. Wake Forest
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella, Qadashah Hoppie and Alissa Alston spoke to the media after Friday night’s 82-74 victory over Wake Forest.
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella
Opening statement…
“We came off a loss on the road against a pretty big team, where I thought we played well enough to win. This was a big one for us. The beauty about this team is we continue to move forward, and we have people who step up. I was really pleased with the effort and our energy level. We executed the game plan fairly well throughout the game, and we played with a pace today that we were excited about.”
On Alissa Alston…
“To watch Alissa Alston do what she did today is why we really wanted her and why I think she is going to be a great player for us all year.”
On Emma Nolan’s first start…
“We know what she can do and we are kind of hoping to see it. She was fighting, she was physical, she played within herself. We feel confident when she goes to put it up. [Nolan] was terrific to her credit. She can feel good about where she is and so can we. Now we just have to keep moving forward and I think we are evolving.”
On Emma Nolan and Cecilia Holmberg…
“You’re looking at [Emma] and Cecilia trying to fight to be able to play. To look at the stats sheet and see rebounds next to their names is a good thing. Between the both of them, they had ten boards and that is important for us.”
On the play of the newcomers…
Unique [Drake] was terrific at James Madison and Alyssa [Alston] was so good today. It was important to get Unique time. The length Leilani had and Kadaja. The freshman, they have been a big part and will continue to do that.”
On stepping up and evolution…
“Watching Emma do what she did, watching Alyssa be able to show what she can do, from a standpoint on both ends, I think that is the big point.“
On Kadaja Bailey…
“Kadaja Bailey was good for us today. She wasn’t great, but even her good was eight points and five boards in 20 minutes with three assists and no turnovers. We weren’t saying that last year. We are seeing the development of her.”
On success of the team…
As I say to them all the time, it’s not about how good your good is, but how bad your bad is. That’s a big part of our success and failures in games. I think, as a whole, I was really pleased with our energy and I guess that is a part of what you are seeing out there from some of the younger players and what they are doing.”
Junior guard Qadashah Hoppie
On how she would describe this team…
“I would just say we’re a very fast team. Small in some areas, but we’re very fast. Today, a big thing for us was pushing the tempo and really getting up on defense.”
On early season success successful…
“Just focusing on us as a group. It starts with my defense. Once I get started on defense, everything will come.”
Redshirt senior guard Alissa Alston
On the team’s performance…
“This is a great team. We have a lot of energy. I play within the offense and that’s how I get my shots. Tiana [England] was able to find us and we just play well together as a team.”
Opening statement…
“We came off a loss on the road against a pretty big team, where I thought we played well enough to win. This was a big one for us. The beauty about this team is we continue to move forward, and we have people who step up. I was really pleased with the effort and our energy level. We executed the game plan fairly well throughout the game, and we played with a pace today that we were excited about.”
On Alissa Alston…
“To watch Alissa Alston do what she did today is why we really wanted her and why I think she is going to be a great player for us all year.”
On Emma Nolan’s first start…
“We know what she can do and we are kind of hoping to see it. She was fighting, she was physical, she played within herself. We feel confident when she goes to put it up. [Nolan] was terrific to her credit. She can feel good about where she is and so can we. Now we just have to keep moving forward and I think we are evolving.”
On Emma Nolan and Cecilia Holmberg…
“You’re looking at [Emma] and Cecilia trying to fight to be able to play. To look at the stats sheet and see rebounds next to their names is a good thing. Between the both of them, they had ten boards and that is important for us.”
On the play of the newcomers…
Unique [Drake] was terrific at James Madison and Alyssa [Alston] was so good today. It was important to get Unique time. The length Leilani had and Kadaja. The freshman, they have been a big part and will continue to do that.”
On stepping up and evolution…
“Watching Emma do what she did, watching Alyssa be able to show what she can do, from a standpoint on both ends, I think that is the big point.“
On Kadaja Bailey…
“Kadaja Bailey was good for us today. She wasn’t great, but even her good was eight points and five boards in 20 minutes with three assists and no turnovers. We weren’t saying that last year. We are seeing the development of her.”
On success of the team…
As I say to them all the time, it’s not about how good your good is, but how bad your bad is. That’s a big part of our success and failures in games. I think, as a whole, I was really pleased with our energy and I guess that is a part of what you are seeing out there from some of the younger players and what they are doing.”
Junior guard Qadashah Hoppie
On how she would describe this team…
“I would just say we’re a very fast team. Small in some areas, but we’re very fast. Today, a big thing for us was pushing the tempo and really getting up on defense.”
On early season success successful…
“Just focusing on us as a group. It starts with my defense. Once I get started on defense, everything will come.”
Redshirt senior guard Alissa Alston
On the team’s performance…
“This is a great team. We have a lot of energy. I play within the offense and that’s how I get my shots. Tiana [England] was able to find us and we just play well together as a team.”