St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John's Women's Basketball vs. Xavier
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella, guard Unique Drake and guard Skye Owen speak to the media after the 67-55 win over Xavier
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella
Opening statement…
“ I think certainly we didn’t start the way we should of. Gritty win for our group. We knew that it wasn’t going to be anything that was easy in this league as I have told my players no matter what the year is or who we play. For us to be able to finish off this 10-day stretch and be 3-1 with seven games to go on our schedule – massive ones we have to have at home, but also the short rest time and prep that you have to deal with. Some of these guys are actually used to it because they played in a league with really no days in between. Pleased with how we played. Unique [Drake] did a great job. Jill [Archer] great job. As I said to our team, without Skye [Owen]’s contributions today I don’t know if the game goes in our favor. She was terrific…Hopefully, get a day here of rest and get ready for what lies ahead against one of the best teams in the country.”
On Jillian Archer’s effort tonight…
“ She had a nice game. She told me she had nine boards when I took her out with one away from a double-double which I didn’t see, but I rather her for the next game rather than something happen. She was composed throughout the game today, regardless of what her frustration was. I told all our guys you have to keep playing and honestly no one really cares. I think she handled herself well. I think we gave her enough rest throughout the game which helped. I thought she did a really good job anchoring us in the paint, being able to clean up plays on offense…she was great. I think we did a better job in being more deliberate in getting her the ball later in the game.”
On Skye Owen’s development this season…
“I told her parents after the game that I think shes improving – saw them in the stands while going over to the booth. I think she’s improving. She’s getting legitimate minutes – whether it’s high-leverage minutes where she has to control the floor – last year her and Jailah [Donald] didn’t get a lot of time. They had to watch those guys do it. They have been thrust into this position where I think every game they play they are just getting so much experience and knowledge to be better players. Today she was under control, focused and when she does that she has a chance to be a terrific player for us.”
On his thoughts about this team right now …
“This team as I have told them, is the most interesting team I have played in 12 years. In terms of what they have been able to do and where we started. I always thought that we could have been the team that we have been the last two months. I was frustrated about the way we started, but you can’t take those back. Anyway, I think we have found a way to connect and stay connected through it. We need to be a little more organized to win this game [against Xavier] in a game that wasn’t a pretty one.”
Redshirt senior guard Unique Drake
On finding her groove in the second half…
“My teammates finding me helped me make shots. Skye with eight assists, so probably passed to me a couple of times. Everybody just finding me while I was open allowed me to hit my shots.”
On if she heightens her play during the fourth quarter…
“I just look at as if it’s the last 10 minutes of the game, so whatever my team needs me to do to win the game and help them win the game I do.”
Sophomore guard Skye Owen
On her development this season…
“I feel like I have just been bringing energy and letting the game come to me.”
On what she is looking to contribute in the game against UConn…
“I’m looking to do the same thing from tonight – try to set my teammates up with open shots and knock down open shots for myself. Get everybody involved.”
On what she saw on the court that allowed her to perform the way she did…
“I felt like I was being aggressive and looking to attack. Once I got my feet in the paint I was finding open people because I was drawing defenders. And my teammates knocked down open shots so that helped. Couldn’t do it without them.”
Opening statement…
“ I think certainly we didn’t start the way we should of. Gritty win for our group. We knew that it wasn’t going to be anything that was easy in this league as I have told my players no matter what the year is or who we play. For us to be able to finish off this 10-day stretch and be 3-1 with seven games to go on our schedule – massive ones we have to have at home, but also the short rest time and prep that you have to deal with. Some of these guys are actually used to it because they played in a league with really no days in between. Pleased with how we played. Unique [Drake] did a great job. Jill [Archer] great job. As I said to our team, without Skye [Owen]’s contributions today I don’t know if the game goes in our favor. She was terrific…Hopefully, get a day here of rest and get ready for what lies ahead against one of the best teams in the country.”
On Jillian Archer’s effort tonight…
“ She had a nice game. She told me she had nine boards when I took her out with one away from a double-double which I didn’t see, but I rather her for the next game rather than something happen. She was composed throughout the game today, regardless of what her frustration was. I told all our guys you have to keep playing and honestly no one really cares. I think she handled herself well. I think we gave her enough rest throughout the game which helped. I thought she did a really good job anchoring us in the paint, being able to clean up plays on offense…she was great. I think we did a better job in being more deliberate in getting her the ball later in the game.”
On Skye Owen’s development this season…
“I told her parents after the game that I think shes improving – saw them in the stands while going over to the booth. I think she’s improving. She’s getting legitimate minutes – whether it’s high-leverage minutes where she has to control the floor – last year her and Jailah [Donald] didn’t get a lot of time. They had to watch those guys do it. They have been thrust into this position where I think every game they play they are just getting so much experience and knowledge to be better players. Today she was under control, focused and when she does that she has a chance to be a terrific player for us.”
On his thoughts about this team right now …
“This team as I have told them, is the most interesting team I have played in 12 years. In terms of what they have been able to do and where we started. I always thought that we could have been the team that we have been the last two months. I was frustrated about the way we started, but you can’t take those back. Anyway, I think we have found a way to connect and stay connected through it. We need to be a little more organized to win this game [against Xavier] in a game that wasn’t a pretty one.”
Redshirt senior guard Unique Drake
On finding her groove in the second half…
“My teammates finding me helped me make shots. Skye with eight assists, so probably passed to me a couple of times. Everybody just finding me while I was open allowed me to hit my shots.”
On if she heightens her play during the fourth quarter…
“I just look at as if it’s the last 10 minutes of the game, so whatever my team needs me to do to win the game and help them win the game I do.”
Sophomore guard Skye Owen
On her development this season…
“I feel like I have just been bringing energy and letting the game come to me.”
On what she is looking to contribute in the game against UConn…
“I’m looking to do the same thing from tonight – try to set my teammates up with open shots and knock down open shots for myself. Get everybody involved.”
On what she saw on the court that allowed her to perform the way she did…
“I felt like I was being aggressive and looking to attack. Once I got my feet in the paint I was finding open people because I was drawing defenders. And my teammates knocked down open shots so that helped. Couldn’t do it without them.”