St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John’s vs. Butler
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella, senior guard Unique Drake and redshirt senior forward Rayven Peeples spoke with the media following a 67-65 win over Butler on Wednesday night.
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella
Opening statement…
“I am just really pleased with our fight today, especially in the second half. This is the part of the year that is always hard when you are getting back to school, but you are also in the last stretch of conference play. I give credit to Butler and their head coach for getting them going, because it’s not easy in our league. This year is as good as it has been from top to bottom regardless what the records say. They [Butler] put it to us and made us have to really earn it today. Again, this group has never ceased to amaze me, probably one way and the other way. We have been able to do things that I was accustomed to seeing for many years. To watch this group, especially the ones that have been here, it is a lot of fun. Unique [Drake] was terrific, Rayven [Peeples] has been one of the best turnarounds that I’ve seen in our program. She has become incredible on both ends of the floor all year, especially defensively. Even today when it was great for her at times offensively, she’s been unbelievable for us defensively. Unique does what she does, she can come in and change the game on both ends, especially on the scoring end. I thought Sitota [Gines] and Danielle Cosgrove that have been waiting to get in and help us, they really did their jobs today. Glad we got it.
On Danielle Cosgrove buzzer-beating three-pointer…
“Now, I say it was massive. Danielle Cosgrove has a special place in my world, because I have seen her play ever since high school. It is hard for her sometimes. There are moments that she really helps us and then times that times are challenging for her. She knows that we trust her to do certain things. She is a great teammate and to see the love that she got after the game, it was great. She’s got a special ability to shoot the ball. I couldn’t tell that it was going in at my angle, but I certainly played for it as it was in the air.
On Rayven Peeples' lock-down defense at the end of the game…
“Well first of all, I didn’t know why she switched. She stayed in and they countered and then she went up-and-under and it looked scary in the air. Again like I said it’s an amazing improvement. She’s gone under-the-radar that way, and we need her to continue to do that.
On breaking the longest win streak inside Carnesecca Arena in program history …
“The goal every year is to protect the home floor. The fact that we were able to do that and get 13 in a row is great. But, you saw that any day you are going to get tested, and certainly I am glad that we were here today, in a game like this. Obviously, I am proud of it and it’s really cool to talk about it, but we have to get ready for the next one.”
Senior guard Unique Drake
On her lay-up and-one in the third quarter to spark the momentum …
“I felt pumped. Our team we feed off each other's [energy]. Whenever one of us is doing well, all of us are doing well. We are all just hyped with each other. I was pumped up.”
On breaking the longest win streak inside Carnesecca Arena in program history …
“It’s a blessing and all. It shows how much work we put in each and every day day. It’s just a blessing.”
Redshirt senior forward Rayven Peeples
On her lockdown defense in the last seconds of the contest…
“I just really wanted to lock in defensively. I thought they were going to try to go inside. I wanted to do my best to get a stop and help us win.”
On breaking the longest win streak inside Carnesecca Arena in program history …
“This team has brought my love for basketball back to me. It is just exciting to be here every day.”
Opening statement…
“I am just really pleased with our fight today, especially in the second half. This is the part of the year that is always hard when you are getting back to school, but you are also in the last stretch of conference play. I give credit to Butler and their head coach for getting them going, because it’s not easy in our league. This year is as good as it has been from top to bottom regardless what the records say. They [Butler] put it to us and made us have to really earn it today. Again, this group has never ceased to amaze me, probably one way and the other way. We have been able to do things that I was accustomed to seeing for many years. To watch this group, especially the ones that have been here, it is a lot of fun. Unique [Drake] was terrific, Rayven [Peeples] has been one of the best turnarounds that I’ve seen in our program. She has become incredible on both ends of the floor all year, especially defensively. Even today when it was great for her at times offensively, she’s been unbelievable for us defensively. Unique does what she does, she can come in and change the game on both ends, especially on the scoring end. I thought Sitota [Gines] and Danielle Cosgrove that have been waiting to get in and help us, they really did their jobs today. Glad we got it.
On Danielle Cosgrove buzzer-beating three-pointer…
“Now, I say it was massive. Danielle Cosgrove has a special place in my world, because I have seen her play ever since high school. It is hard for her sometimes. There are moments that she really helps us and then times that times are challenging for her. She knows that we trust her to do certain things. She is a great teammate and to see the love that she got after the game, it was great. She’s got a special ability to shoot the ball. I couldn’t tell that it was going in at my angle, but I certainly played for it as it was in the air.
On Rayven Peeples' lock-down defense at the end of the game…
“Well first of all, I didn’t know why she switched. She stayed in and they countered and then she went up-and-under and it looked scary in the air. Again like I said it’s an amazing improvement. She’s gone under-the-radar that way, and we need her to continue to do that.
On breaking the longest win streak inside Carnesecca Arena in program history …
“The goal every year is to protect the home floor. The fact that we were able to do that and get 13 in a row is great. But, you saw that any day you are going to get tested, and certainly I am glad that we were here today, in a game like this. Obviously, I am proud of it and it’s really cool to talk about it, but we have to get ready for the next one.”
Senior guard Unique Drake
On her lay-up and-one in the third quarter to spark the momentum …
“I felt pumped. Our team we feed off each other's [energy]. Whenever one of us is doing well, all of us are doing well. We are all just hyped with each other. I was pumped up.”
On breaking the longest win streak inside Carnesecca Arena in program history …
“It’s a blessing and all. It shows how much work we put in each and every day day. It’s just a blessing.”
Redshirt senior forward Rayven Peeples
On her lockdown defense in the last seconds of the contest…
“I just really wanted to lock in defensively. I thought they were going to try to go inside. I wanted to do my best to get a stop and help us win.”
On breaking the longest win streak inside Carnesecca Arena in program history …
“This team has brought my love for basketball back to me. It is just exciting to be here every day.”