St. John's University Athletics
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John's vs. Saint Peter's
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella, guard Lashae Dwyer and guard Ariana Vanderhoop speak to the media after 80-39 win over Saint Peter’s
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella
Opening statement…
“I thought we really did a good job of setting the tone in terms of how we want to come out and play today. And, you know, I thought we grinded. I think with the way we could play with fresh legs and the balance that we have, we did a really good job of grinding them down as we got into the second quarter. And then obviously, had a really good one there with without a foul on a three point shot, they would have probably had a zero on the board. I thought we did a better job of really moving. We shot the ball well. You look at the points from the bench, and I haven't had a team, I think that can do that. And again, you know, we've shown in the three games that we've played so far, the ability to have major contributions from people who can come in and give us a boost off the bench. I thought we did a good job of trying to neutralize 44 [Fatmata Janneh], who I think is a terrific player for them, and again, I think our pressure just bothered them enough, and we found a way to get enough steals, turnovers, points off turnovers, high level of assists, which was great. I thought we just played with a really good edge. And that's what we were hoping to see today, in terms of how competitive we could be. Happy to see all of our all of our players get in and be able to get a taste of it, and we've got a lot of work to do still, even though we're happy that we were able to finish the deal today.”
On if the pressure defense will stick around this season…
“I think with the personnel we have, the depth we have, we felt that we have the ability to do it. We've got to get a lot better, right? But you can see the potential in how we can play and kind of bringing it back to being able to create a little more pace, and how we quite defensively, instead of of having to slow it down as much as we had last year. But, yeah, I mean, look, we've, you know, [Associate Head Coach] Steve Pogue who I brought in, that's part of why, you know, we brought him here, in terms of what his expertise is. And so, you know, we haven't pressed a ton in the last few years. We just haven't had the numbers. And you know, I think, you know, we're going to get only better at it as we get a better feel. But you see how lethal it can be players like Tara [Daye] who are flying around and really gets to her skill set. The speed that Skye [Owen], and you saw a little bit of [Ariel] Little today, I mean, the speed that we had there, even though we may lack some length, they're ferocious, and so I think we did a better job in being able to create opportunities for ourselves on the defensive end to turn it over 27 times. So I was really, really pleased with that.”
On how confident he is in the second unit…
“I told them in the huddle. I mean, our second team has beaten up our quote, on quote first team, I guess, or whoever's out there to start the game. I think it's going to change all year in terms of how we can mix and match. But, you know, Skye [Owen], having Skye and [Ariel] Little is a different dimension for me in terms of having multiple guys who can come in and help us off the bench. And you know, Ber’Nyah Mayo is still about 100% you know, in terms of where she needs to be, but it gives her support as well, you know? So Ber’Nyah has got the ability to come in and out. I think you know what AV [Ariana Vanderhoop] did in the execution of of how we go two for one there at the end of the quarter, was fantastic. So our execution today in terms of what we were trying to do was great. And, you know, again, I think we, we did a better job on the glass than I thought we would, which was nice. I think it's going to be something we've got to continue to do. And, but, yeah, no, I mean to have the ability to go to the bench, where in many years we haven't had that, except two years ago, we had the same similar, you know, ability at times, where some of these guys could be out there at the start, but it's a nice thing to have, you look at what Kylie [Lavelle] did, you know, Kylie comes off the bench and drops 10 to three for four in the first, you know, first half as good of a line as she could have there. And so we'll continue to build and continue to create, you know, the synergy that we're going to have to have, where we've got to be, certainly a lot better than you know what we did today. But I think we will be, and I think we're close.”
On if he thinks Lashae Dwyer could become the number one option for the team…
“Yeah. I mean, it's part of the reason why she's here, and being able to showcase what she did. She only played 21 minutes. I mean, you know, when you think about what she did in those minutes, and she probably left about six or eight points on her floor on layups that she would probably make most of the time. So, you know, she easily could have scored 20 or 22 in terms of how she played. But I loved her confidence. She came down and transitioned one time and pulled the three, which we've been, you know, trying to get her to do in practice. And I thought she took good shots. I think that's the bigger part, you know, and I think that's the most important thing for us in terms of, are we taking the right shot? Because we have so much balance now, where you're not, maybe, hopefully, looking just a Unique [Drake] or a Jillian [Archer], again, similar to some of the teams that we had probably a couple years ago, where, yeah, Lashae could take 18 shots if she wants it, but she's that kind of the kid. She's unselfish, she wants to win, she's going to make the right play. So I look forward to seeing what we become and proud of AV [Ariana Vanderhoop[, because, you know, every day I got a yell at her to shoot it, and she shot it, and that's what she's capable of.”
Senior guard Lashae Dwyer
On how she felt in her debut with St. John’s…
“I was feeling really good today. You know, the team, we were all hype for the game. I would say they had my back. So, I would say I felt really good coming into today's game.”
On playing with confidence…
“Honestly, I just felt good coming into this game. You know, my teammates and my coaches give me a lot of confidence, so they expect me to play the game, to play the right way.”
Graduate student guard Ariana Vanderhoop
On her confidence of her outside shot after four three-pointers today…
“It's definitely getting better. I would probably say everybody wants a coach that yells at you to shoot the ball. So, I've definitely been working on that in practice. You know, it definitely feels great.”
On almost shutting out Saint Peter’s in the second quarter…
“We work really hard at it in practice every day and to see the chemistry and everything finally come together. It definitely feels good.”
Opening statement…
“I thought we really did a good job of setting the tone in terms of how we want to come out and play today. And, you know, I thought we grinded. I think with the way we could play with fresh legs and the balance that we have, we did a really good job of grinding them down as we got into the second quarter. And then obviously, had a really good one there with without a foul on a three point shot, they would have probably had a zero on the board. I thought we did a better job of really moving. We shot the ball well. You look at the points from the bench, and I haven't had a team, I think that can do that. And again, you know, we've shown in the three games that we've played so far, the ability to have major contributions from people who can come in and give us a boost off the bench. I thought we did a good job of trying to neutralize 44 [Fatmata Janneh], who I think is a terrific player for them, and again, I think our pressure just bothered them enough, and we found a way to get enough steals, turnovers, points off turnovers, high level of assists, which was great. I thought we just played with a really good edge. And that's what we were hoping to see today, in terms of how competitive we could be. Happy to see all of our all of our players get in and be able to get a taste of it, and we've got a lot of work to do still, even though we're happy that we were able to finish the deal today.”
On if the pressure defense will stick around this season…
“I think with the personnel we have, the depth we have, we felt that we have the ability to do it. We've got to get a lot better, right? But you can see the potential in how we can play and kind of bringing it back to being able to create a little more pace, and how we quite defensively, instead of of having to slow it down as much as we had last year. But, yeah, I mean, look, we've, you know, [Associate Head Coach] Steve Pogue who I brought in, that's part of why, you know, we brought him here, in terms of what his expertise is. And so, you know, we haven't pressed a ton in the last few years. We just haven't had the numbers. And you know, I think, you know, we're going to get only better at it as we get a better feel. But you see how lethal it can be players like Tara [Daye] who are flying around and really gets to her skill set. The speed that Skye [Owen], and you saw a little bit of [Ariel] Little today, I mean, the speed that we had there, even though we may lack some length, they're ferocious, and so I think we did a better job in being able to create opportunities for ourselves on the defensive end to turn it over 27 times. So I was really, really pleased with that.”
On how confident he is in the second unit…
“I told them in the huddle. I mean, our second team has beaten up our quote, on quote first team, I guess, or whoever's out there to start the game. I think it's going to change all year in terms of how we can mix and match. But, you know, Skye [Owen], having Skye and [Ariel] Little is a different dimension for me in terms of having multiple guys who can come in and help us off the bench. And you know, Ber’Nyah Mayo is still about 100% you know, in terms of where she needs to be, but it gives her support as well, you know? So Ber’Nyah has got the ability to come in and out. I think you know what AV [Ariana Vanderhoop] did in the execution of of how we go two for one there at the end of the quarter, was fantastic. So our execution today in terms of what we were trying to do was great. And, you know, again, I think we, we did a better job on the glass than I thought we would, which was nice. I think it's going to be something we've got to continue to do. And, but, yeah, no, I mean to have the ability to go to the bench, where in many years we haven't had that, except two years ago, we had the same similar, you know, ability at times, where some of these guys could be out there at the start, but it's a nice thing to have, you look at what Kylie [Lavelle] did, you know, Kylie comes off the bench and drops 10 to three for four in the first, you know, first half as good of a line as she could have there. And so we'll continue to build and continue to create, you know, the synergy that we're going to have to have, where we've got to be, certainly a lot better than you know what we did today. But I think we will be, and I think we're close.”
On if he thinks Lashae Dwyer could become the number one option for the team…
“Yeah. I mean, it's part of the reason why she's here, and being able to showcase what she did. She only played 21 minutes. I mean, you know, when you think about what she did in those minutes, and she probably left about six or eight points on her floor on layups that she would probably make most of the time. So, you know, she easily could have scored 20 or 22 in terms of how she played. But I loved her confidence. She came down and transitioned one time and pulled the three, which we've been, you know, trying to get her to do in practice. And I thought she took good shots. I think that's the bigger part, you know, and I think that's the most important thing for us in terms of, are we taking the right shot? Because we have so much balance now, where you're not, maybe, hopefully, looking just a Unique [Drake] or a Jillian [Archer], again, similar to some of the teams that we had probably a couple years ago, where, yeah, Lashae could take 18 shots if she wants it, but she's that kind of the kid. She's unselfish, she wants to win, she's going to make the right play. So I look forward to seeing what we become and proud of AV [Ariana Vanderhoop[, because, you know, every day I got a yell at her to shoot it, and she shot it, and that's what she's capable of.”
Senior guard Lashae Dwyer
On how she felt in her debut with St. John’s…
“I was feeling really good today. You know, the team, we were all hype for the game. I would say they had my back. So, I would say I felt really good coming into today's game.”
On playing with confidence…
“Honestly, I just felt good coming into this game. You know, my teammates and my coaches give me a lot of confidence, so they expect me to play the game, to play the right way.”
Graduate student guard Ariana Vanderhoop
On her confidence of her outside shot after four three-pointers today…
“It's definitely getting better. I would probably say everybody wants a coach that yells at you to shoot the ball. So, I've definitely been working on that in practice. You know, it definitely feels great.”
On almost shutting out Saint Peter’s in the second quarter…
“We work really hard at it in practice every day and to see the chemistry and everything finally come together. It definitely feels good.”