St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John's Women's Basketball vs. Georgetown
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella, guard Unique Drake and forward Jillian Archer talk to the media after St. John’s 57-56 win against Georgetown
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella
Opening Statement…
“Well, I’m glad it didn’t go to overtime. That’s my first statement. I think we have had a couple of those that have gassed us during this run. Just a great effort by our players, really proud of them for the way that they were able to be as resilient as they have been. Even through this stretch, these three games in seven days, overtime, double overtime. For us to be able to be able to come in and guard the way we did and disrupt the way we did, I was really pleased. I thought we did a tremendous job. The third quarter was big, the fourth quarter not as big, also self-inflicted at times. Just a great win for us. They are tough and their coach has done a tremendous job, under the circumstances of what they have had to go through. We knew it was going to be physical and tough and I’m just glad we were able to make the shots at the end to finish it.”
On Jailah Donald’s development…
“I think Tara [Daye] and Jailah [Donald] have both grown incredibly since they have gotten here. Jailah [Donald] was here, but she didn’t play a lot. She has kinda settled into the role we have given her. We call [Jillian Archer] ‘the fixer’ because she is really good at a lot of the things we need her to do, but Jailah is the other fixer at times. We are asking her to play in different spots, but she has embraced it. I think she was a little hesitant when I came to her about playing the fourth guard spot. She is really a guard at heart and even has point guard in her. When we recruited her, that’s what we thought of her being. So she has the ability to be a little bit of a Swiss Army knife in ways to play multiple positions. When she is playing well we are a lot better.”
On Tara Daye’s impact on the court…
“I can’t say enough Tara [Daye’s] trajectory and what she has been for us. When we brought her here, this is what I thought she could be. There were plays defensively today that I was blown away watching it in real-time. A lot of that stems from her.”
On what he said to the team coming out of halftime…
“I think the fourth quarter went a little differently than we had planned due to a play early where Jill picked up her third foul on a difficult play that changed the quarter a little bit from what it would have been for a few minutes. You know, coming out of the half, we were so bad the other day that I was trying to make sure that we had enough rest and that we cleared their brain as to what we needed to do in the first few minutes. I thought we set the tone. I think Ber’Nyah [Mayo] got a steal and spun into a layup. The other hard part is that we are leaving too many points at the rim in these games and it’s frustrating. I told them that we should have had eight more points in the first half when you look at the lay-ups we didn’t make. We had a beautiful one to [Unique] Drake and it went in and out. Another concern that I had was that we hadn’t made a three and my only concern was that they had. That category has to be won for the way that we’re playing right now. We can’t be minus from three and we can’t be minus from the line. But what an effort from these guys, if you were with me the last couple of days I don’t think you would have heard me saying much of that. It’s been impressive by them and we have another one to turn around and play on Wednesday. As we said, no one cares and no one feels bad for you and they shouldn’t. But, we gotta go out and we gotta do the same things we’re doing to prepare for the next one.”
Redshirt senior guard Unique Drake
On what she did to combat the double team…
“I would say keeping my head up and looking for my teammates. If they are doubling me, then someone else is looking for me on the court. Just keeping my head up and finding my open teammate.”
On what contributes to their team’s defense…
“I would say everyone has each other’s back on defense. If someone gets beat, always helping out for someone. Just knowing we always have someone behind us to help out if we get lost.”
Graduate student forward Jillian Archer
On what allowed her to score in the post today…
“I had a lot of drop-off passes from my teammates. They were able to draw in the defense and find me. We were able to move the ball which definitely helped us a lot. We made the defense shift a little bit. It was just team basketball at the end of the day that helped me do that.”
On the team’s chemistry …
“This is probably the best team chemistry I have had in my long endeavor of college basketball. We are really great off the court and on the court we are super like-minded. I think we just have each other’s backs and remind each other every day that we are here with the same goal: to win games, be successful and ultimately grow as young women.”
On what contributes to their team’s defense…
“Just staying positive, having each other's backs out there. Also knowing that we are going to make mistakes. If anyone puts their heads down just picking each other up and keep playing hard.”
Opening Statement…
“Well, I’m glad it didn’t go to overtime. That’s my first statement. I think we have had a couple of those that have gassed us during this run. Just a great effort by our players, really proud of them for the way that they were able to be as resilient as they have been. Even through this stretch, these three games in seven days, overtime, double overtime. For us to be able to be able to come in and guard the way we did and disrupt the way we did, I was really pleased. I thought we did a tremendous job. The third quarter was big, the fourth quarter not as big, also self-inflicted at times. Just a great win for us. They are tough and their coach has done a tremendous job, under the circumstances of what they have had to go through. We knew it was going to be physical and tough and I’m just glad we were able to make the shots at the end to finish it.”
On Jailah Donald’s development…
“I think Tara [Daye] and Jailah [Donald] have both grown incredibly since they have gotten here. Jailah [Donald] was here, but she didn’t play a lot. She has kinda settled into the role we have given her. We call [Jillian Archer] ‘the fixer’ because she is really good at a lot of the things we need her to do, but Jailah is the other fixer at times. We are asking her to play in different spots, but she has embraced it. I think she was a little hesitant when I came to her about playing the fourth guard spot. She is really a guard at heart and even has point guard in her. When we recruited her, that’s what we thought of her being. So she has the ability to be a little bit of a Swiss Army knife in ways to play multiple positions. When she is playing well we are a lot better.”
On Tara Daye’s impact on the court…
“I can’t say enough Tara [Daye’s] trajectory and what she has been for us. When we brought her here, this is what I thought she could be. There were plays defensively today that I was blown away watching it in real-time. A lot of that stems from her.”
On what he said to the team coming out of halftime…
“I think the fourth quarter went a little differently than we had planned due to a play early where Jill picked up her third foul on a difficult play that changed the quarter a little bit from what it would have been for a few minutes. You know, coming out of the half, we were so bad the other day that I was trying to make sure that we had enough rest and that we cleared their brain as to what we needed to do in the first few minutes. I thought we set the tone. I think Ber’Nyah [Mayo] got a steal and spun into a layup. The other hard part is that we are leaving too many points at the rim in these games and it’s frustrating. I told them that we should have had eight more points in the first half when you look at the lay-ups we didn’t make. We had a beautiful one to [Unique] Drake and it went in and out. Another concern that I had was that we hadn’t made a three and my only concern was that they had. That category has to be won for the way that we’re playing right now. We can’t be minus from three and we can’t be minus from the line. But what an effort from these guys, if you were with me the last couple of days I don’t think you would have heard me saying much of that. It’s been impressive by them and we have another one to turn around and play on Wednesday. As we said, no one cares and no one feels bad for you and they shouldn’t. But, we gotta go out and we gotta do the same things we’re doing to prepare for the next one.”
Redshirt senior guard Unique Drake
On what she did to combat the double team…
“I would say keeping my head up and looking for my teammates. If they are doubling me, then someone else is looking for me on the court. Just keeping my head up and finding my open teammate.”
On what contributes to their team’s defense…
“I would say everyone has each other’s back on defense. If someone gets beat, always helping out for someone. Just knowing we always have someone behind us to help out if we get lost.”
Graduate student forward Jillian Archer
On what allowed her to score in the post today…
“I had a lot of drop-off passes from my teammates. They were able to draw in the defense and find me. We were able to move the ball which definitely helped us a lot. We made the defense shift a little bit. It was just team basketball at the end of the day that helped me do that.”
On the team’s chemistry …
“This is probably the best team chemistry I have had in my long endeavor of college basketball. We are really great off the court and on the court we are super like-minded. I think we just have each other’s backs and remind each other every day that we are here with the same goal: to win games, be successful and ultimately grow as young women.”
On what contributes to their team’s defense…
“Just staying positive, having each other's backs out there. Also knowing that we are going to make mistakes. If anyone puts their heads down just picking each other up and keep playing hard.”