St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John's Women's Basketball vs. Fairfield
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella, guard Ber’Nyah Mayo and guard Ariana Vanderhoop speak to the media after a 77-68 win over Fairfield
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella
Opening statement…
“Great game for us. We knew this was kind of the finisher for us, before we get ready for conference play and against a really well-coached team and a team that's won a lot, whether it be on the road or at home, so this was going to be a big test for us. I'm pleased with how we've shown up, and that's the thing that I love about this group, specifically, even over the last, you know, three, four weeks of just what they meant to me, but also for each other. So, I think we controlled the game. I mean, as much as it got close, I felt like we still did what we needed to do, to push it. I thought these guys (Ber’Nyah Mayo and Ariana Vanderhoop) next to me stepped up. We made more shots, which helps. And I thought we guarded enough, even though we gave a kid 30, which is a problem. But we did enough and certainly, we needed this for the bigger picture and just in terms of kind of where we want to see where we were in this point of the season. So very proud of these guys. I told them in the locker room, great resiliency. We still make, some mistakes we got to be better with, but they play hard every single time they get out there.”
On the advantage of outscoring Fairfield from the bench…
“I felt that we could do a lot of things with different lineups this year, and I believe it's been a while since we've gotten that kind of contribution. I thought Phoenix [Gedeon] was really good in what she did in this game, coming off the bench. AV [Ariana Vanderhoop] was terrific, just the aggression. [Ariel] Little gave us a big three, just gave us good minutes. And I think, you we felt that way this year, that we can do it. We have a capability in terms of our depth. And so we needed it today, big time. You know. I thought Skye [Owen] was really good early. Then she kind of just struggled a little bit today, and they picked her up. Kylie [Lavelle] never really got in the flow of the game. And, so if you asked me if those two guys were not in the flow of the game and we'd be on the right side of it, I would say, would be very hard, but these guys were so good and aggressive. And I thought Lashae [Dwyer] was much smarter today in terms of her efficiency, and that's what we want to see. I think this was a great game for her today.”
On Pheonix Gedeon’s ability to take charges…
“It's a huge piece to what we do. I mean in terms of defending, you've got to have an anchor, and we've had it in the past, especially last couple of years with with Jillian Archer and then Rayven Peeples, and you've got to have someone in there that'll do it. And Phoenix was terrific today. There's nothing else I can say about it. This is the best sheet she's ever had here. Four-for-five, one turnover, three assists. She was great and I'm happy for her because she's battling through some stuff, but she was a winner today, for sure.”
On what he thinks the identity of the team is heading into conference play…
“Well, I mean, if you look at the marketing of it all or the images, right? I mean, we've defended people. I think that they feel good about what they can do there. So, when you talk about scoring, defense and pressure, an interesting team, because we've won in a million different ways that I don't see at practice, because I lose my mind about what I see most of the time, but they find a way to really perform with each other and for each other. But yeah, I think defensively, obviously, that's a big part. But I was hoping that this would be the kind of team that we would have where we'd be in that 70 to 75 point, maybe we'd get to 77 or 80 and hold guys to what we've been holding them to. Our identity doesn't change, in my view. I think our program has always been built on how hard we play and compete defensively and try to disrupt. So, I think they all know that and they've bought into that for right now. And I think we got to keep we got to keep buying into it. It's a daily thing. It's reinforcement every day about who we want to be, what we are and where we want to go. So I am pleased with where they are right now.”
Graduate Student guard Ber’Nyah Mayo
On game planning for the fact-paced Farfield…
“In terms of the pace, it just obviously controlling it, Go at our speed and do what we do.”
On keeping her composure late in the game to hit clutch free throws…
“Understanding that I've been there before. I’ve shot free throws at the end of the game since probably like middle school. I shoot free throws every day after practice, before practice.”
Graduate Student guard Ariana Vanderhoop
On where she thinks this team is heading into conference play…
“I mean, it's definitely exciting to finish out 10-1. I'm just excited to see us keep growing.”
Opening statement…
“Great game for us. We knew this was kind of the finisher for us, before we get ready for conference play and against a really well-coached team and a team that's won a lot, whether it be on the road or at home, so this was going to be a big test for us. I'm pleased with how we've shown up, and that's the thing that I love about this group, specifically, even over the last, you know, three, four weeks of just what they meant to me, but also for each other. So, I think we controlled the game. I mean, as much as it got close, I felt like we still did what we needed to do, to push it. I thought these guys (Ber’Nyah Mayo and Ariana Vanderhoop) next to me stepped up. We made more shots, which helps. And I thought we guarded enough, even though we gave a kid 30, which is a problem. But we did enough and certainly, we needed this for the bigger picture and just in terms of kind of where we want to see where we were in this point of the season. So very proud of these guys. I told them in the locker room, great resiliency. We still make, some mistakes we got to be better with, but they play hard every single time they get out there.”
On the advantage of outscoring Fairfield from the bench…
“I felt that we could do a lot of things with different lineups this year, and I believe it's been a while since we've gotten that kind of contribution. I thought Phoenix [Gedeon] was really good in what she did in this game, coming off the bench. AV [Ariana Vanderhoop] was terrific, just the aggression. [Ariel] Little gave us a big three, just gave us good minutes. And I think, you we felt that way this year, that we can do it. We have a capability in terms of our depth. And so we needed it today, big time. You know. I thought Skye [Owen] was really good early. Then she kind of just struggled a little bit today, and they picked her up. Kylie [Lavelle] never really got in the flow of the game. And, so if you asked me if those two guys were not in the flow of the game and we'd be on the right side of it, I would say, would be very hard, but these guys were so good and aggressive. And I thought Lashae [Dwyer] was much smarter today in terms of her efficiency, and that's what we want to see. I think this was a great game for her today.”
On Pheonix Gedeon’s ability to take charges…
“It's a huge piece to what we do. I mean in terms of defending, you've got to have an anchor, and we've had it in the past, especially last couple of years with with Jillian Archer and then Rayven Peeples, and you've got to have someone in there that'll do it. And Phoenix was terrific today. There's nothing else I can say about it. This is the best sheet she's ever had here. Four-for-five, one turnover, three assists. She was great and I'm happy for her because she's battling through some stuff, but she was a winner today, for sure.”
On what he thinks the identity of the team is heading into conference play…
“Well, I mean, if you look at the marketing of it all or the images, right? I mean, we've defended people. I think that they feel good about what they can do there. So, when you talk about scoring, defense and pressure, an interesting team, because we've won in a million different ways that I don't see at practice, because I lose my mind about what I see most of the time, but they find a way to really perform with each other and for each other. But yeah, I think defensively, obviously, that's a big part. But I was hoping that this would be the kind of team that we would have where we'd be in that 70 to 75 point, maybe we'd get to 77 or 80 and hold guys to what we've been holding them to. Our identity doesn't change, in my view. I think our program has always been built on how hard we play and compete defensively and try to disrupt. So, I think they all know that and they've bought into that for right now. And I think we got to keep we got to keep buying into it. It's a daily thing. It's reinforcement every day about who we want to be, what we are and where we want to go. So I am pleased with where they are right now.”
Graduate Student guard Ber’Nyah Mayo
On game planning for the fact-paced Farfield…
“In terms of the pace, it just obviously controlling it, Go at our speed and do what we do.”
On keeping her composure late in the game to hit clutch free throws…
“Understanding that I've been there before. I’ve shot free throws at the end of the game since probably like middle school. I shoot free throws every day after practice, before practice.”
Graduate Student guard Ariana Vanderhoop
On where she thinks this team is heading into conference play…
“I mean, it's definitely exciting to finish out 10-1. I'm just excited to see us keep growing.”