St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John's vs. UConn
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella, redshirt senior Kadaja Bailey and graduate student forward Danielle Patterson spoke with the media following an 82-52 loss to No. 4 UConn.
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella
Opening statement…
“It’s always a difficult game when you play a team of this nature. I was pleased with the way we competed. We didn’t execute overly well. I thought we had a couple of stretches where we played with a lot more energy, specifically in the third. They do a lot of things to make it difficult. I think we had some self-inflicted wounds, but they’re good for a reason. It’s an experience that we have to learn from, and we’ll continue to get better. We have a quick turnaround, but we’ll get back to the drawing board and get ready for that game.”
On the pace of play…
“I was pleased with how we played in the first quarter. If you play too fast against them, you’re fueling their fire. It was more about not having live turnovers and trying to be deliberate when you can be while also being opportunistic when we got out in transition. Part of it is trying to control pace and tempo when we can.”
On how the team needs to respond…
“[We need to respond] the same way we respond after every game, whether it’s a win or a loss but especially a loss. We have to continue to come to work and be consistent, and that’s what they’ve done all year. We have stretch here coming up where we have to be great. That’s what we’ve been building towards. It’s about going back to work, watching the film and preparing the same way we’ve prepared for every game.”
On what tonight said about the mentality of the team…
“I think it’s been who we are. I was pleased with what our mentality was. These are the moments that are the stress test for us. These are the games that are going to try to bend you as far as you can go. As long as you don’t break, you’re going to get better from it. I think that’s part of what today was about, and that’s how we have to look at it moving forward. We also know we have to turn the page and finish the deal.”
Redshirt Senior Guard Kadaja Bailey
On looking ahead to the team’s next game at No. 25 Villanova…
“We will just keep our heads high and focus on the next game. We will stay together as a team and not let each other down.“
On playing the first women’s college basketball game at UBS Arena…
“It was a really great experience for my team and I.”
Graduate Student Forward Danielle Patterson
On the team’s message throughout the game…
“We said to each other that we are not going to give up, no matter what the score was. We just kept playing and that’s what it came down to. We decided to keep fighting, that’s the only way we will get better.”
On playing the first women’s college basketball game at UBS Arena…
“It was a great atmosphere and experience to play the first women’s game [at UBS Arena]. It will be something that the team will remember.”