St. John's University Athletics
WBB Postgame Quotes vs. UConn
POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John’s Women’s Basketball vs. Connecticut
St. John's Women’s Basketball Head Coach Joe Tartamella, junior guard Leilani Correa and senior guard Kadaja Bailey spoke to media after falling to Connecticut, 75-57.
January 23, 2022
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella
Opening statement...
“I thought we played [very] hard. I thought we played one of our better defensive games as far as the pressure we were able to apply. I thought, for the better part of the game, [we] disrupted what UConn was trying to do. As I told these guys after the game, they’re [UConn] the most fluid offense in the country, and they are able to adjust to what you do. They did that. We knew we would have a tough time inside. We tired to do our best to mitigate it. I thought we did a good job, at times, to get the game to a point where we thought we could [possibly] break through. We just weren’t able to. We gave up a couple of back-to-back threes which was able to keep them ahead at a comfortable point. I’m proud of our effort. We have to turn around and get ready for a game on the road on Tuesday.
On whether the team can build on playing UConn close for the majority of the game…
“It’s been an interesting stretch for our team and for our staff. We’re coaching as good as we have. We’re working as hard as we can to get them in the spots where we think they are going to be successful. Our players are showing up every day to work. That’s been the difference. As much as we haven’t come out of these games on the right end of the ledger, they’re showing up with an energy and a positivity [that] is fun to watch. I know they’re frustrated. I think our moment will be there. We have to make sure we take the opportunity and grab hold of it. To know they have the ability to play with teams like Connecticut gives them some confidence to build on.”
Junior guard Leilani Correa…
On UCONN’s defense…
“They’re probably the longest team we’ve played. They were up on me, face guarding me the whole game. My team was able to get me the ball and the backdoors were open a lot, so I did what I could [against them].”
On building off today’s game…
Them being the No. 9 team in the country, I think the way that we fought, we proved a lot to ourselves. We can hang in there, we are tougher than a lot of the teams that we face and we need to be even tougher to pull out wins.”
Senior guard Kadaja Bailey…
On the team hanging tough with No. 9 UCONN…
“I’m very proud of them. We stayed in the game, stayed together and matched their toughness and intensity. We kept our heads up and kept fighting.”
Opening statement...
“I thought we played [very] hard. I thought we played one of our better defensive games as far as the pressure we were able to apply. I thought, for the better part of the game, [we] disrupted what UConn was trying to do. As I told these guys after the game, they’re [UConn] the most fluid offense in the country, and they are able to adjust to what you do. They did that. We knew we would have a tough time inside. We tired to do our best to mitigate it. I thought we did a good job, at times, to get the game to a point where we thought we could [possibly] break through. We just weren’t able to. We gave up a couple of back-to-back threes which was able to keep them ahead at a comfortable point. I’m proud of our effort. We have to turn around and get ready for a game on the road on Tuesday.
On whether the team can build on playing UConn close for the majority of the game…
“It’s been an interesting stretch for our team and for our staff. We’re coaching as good as we have. We’re working as hard as we can to get them in the spots where we think they are going to be successful. Our players are showing up every day to work. That’s been the difference. As much as we haven’t come out of these games on the right end of the ledger, they’re showing up with an energy and a positivity [that] is fun to watch. I know they’re frustrated. I think our moment will be there. We have to make sure we take the opportunity and grab hold of it. To know they have the ability to play with teams like Connecticut gives them some confidence to build on.”
Junior guard Leilani Correa…
On UCONN’s defense…
“They’re probably the longest team we’ve played. They were up on me, face guarding me the whole game. My team was able to get me the ball and the backdoors were open a lot, so I did what I could [against them].”
On building off today’s game…
Them being the No. 9 team in the country, I think the way that we fought, we proved a lot to ourselves. We can hang in there, we are tougher than a lot of the teams that we face and we need to be even tougher to pull out wins.”
Senior guard Kadaja Bailey…
On the team hanging tough with No. 9 UCONN…
“I’m very proud of them. We stayed in the game, stayed together and matched their toughness and intensity. We kept our heads up and kept fighting.”