St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John's vs. Wake Forest
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella, forward Phoenix Gedeon and guard Skye Owen talk to the media after St. John’s 63-45 win against Wake Forest
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella
Opening statement…
“I mean, look, I thought we did a really good job in the first half. I thought we missed too many opportunities to open the game. And it felt like the Harvard game a little bit at the start, because I thought we just had so many missed chances. I thought we had some pretty good looks and and opportunities to open the game a little more. But I thought our defense held us together through the first half and then obviously, the third wasn't our best and and then we found a way in the fourth which is more important. And I thought at that 4:57 mark, or whenever it was in the fourth quarter, I thought we decided to flip whatever switch it had to be, to lock in and play, which we needed throughout. I thought we got great contributions from these two. Skye [Owen] I thought took it over in the last part of the game, which was terrific for her and so. And then Phoenix [Gedeon] finished it in the last few as well and had to battle through trying to deal with their players inside. So listen, anytime you have a chance to play an opponent like this at home, you've got to take care of business. And we thought we did that, and then we had to get ready quickly for the next one back on the road.”
On how confident he is in the team to grind out wins in close games…
“You know, I think we've been in a lot of them, which is good and bad, figured out a way you can win these. We didn't get it done against Harvard, and that still will hurt us and sting still, but we did fight back to get back there, and I have to live with the last part of that game.. We've been in games now where we've had to execute in different ways at the end. I thought we, we did enough to push it to a point where I thought they thought they were out of the game. So that was good. We weren't dealing with timeouts that were left. And so look, it got to three. I thought we pushed it to 20 at one point when I looked up, which I try not to really look at anyway, but we're trying to manage the clock and then I thought we relaxed in terms of how we played. And then I thought we had the other part is we had more energy at the end. That was the help of having maybe a little bit deeper bench. We were able to get a few fresh legs in at times because they were tired. I have a lot of confidence in them because of the resilience they showed through every single game that we've played. Depending on being on the road or even at home, I'd like to see us play better here, as the last two games, we just have not played offensively the way that I would think we're capable of and what we've shown. So I would like to see this be better there. And yes, it was ugly and Lashae (Dwyer) was not good. Lashae struggled today. I mean, she had 14 points, but that at 14 points, and I thought she struggled. And I though guys stepped up and they all made plays. So, I think we've got a team that has been able to win in different ways. We're going to have to be better. It's just the reality. As we continue to move forward, but we're continuing to do things and be able to finish off games. That's the biggest part.”
On Skye Owen’s development…
“Skye's one of the most interesting kids I've ever coached. I'm very proud of her for where she is, because, I mean, she's a kid like Jailah Donald, who came here and their freshman year and really didn't play. They fought through it. They stayed, they've gotten better and, quite frankly, she's earning what she's getting…She's in the gym. Sometimes too much, but I'm happy for her You see what we look like too, when she doesn't play well and so we figured out a way to do it. I think she's certainly more comfortable…She competes and I’m really proud of her and I'm happy for her because she's earned it.”
St. John’s senior forward Phoenix Gedeon
On recording her first double-double at St. John’s…
“It feels great. Honestly, I was very happy. During the game, I'm not thinking about getting a double-double. I'm just playing my game, being aggressive and playing hard. I'm very proud of myself, my first double-double at St John's, so that's great.”
St. John’s junior guard Skye Owen
On her career-high 18-point performance …
“I feel like I always have fun when I play, but every time I go out there, it's the same. Starting or not starting, I just come out with the same energy
Opening statement…
“I mean, look, I thought we did a really good job in the first half. I thought we missed too many opportunities to open the game. And it felt like the Harvard game a little bit at the start, because I thought we just had so many missed chances. I thought we had some pretty good looks and and opportunities to open the game a little more. But I thought our defense held us together through the first half and then obviously, the third wasn't our best and and then we found a way in the fourth which is more important. And I thought at that 4:57 mark, or whenever it was in the fourth quarter, I thought we decided to flip whatever switch it had to be, to lock in and play, which we needed throughout. I thought we got great contributions from these two. Skye [Owen] I thought took it over in the last part of the game, which was terrific for her and so. And then Phoenix [Gedeon] finished it in the last few as well and had to battle through trying to deal with their players inside. So listen, anytime you have a chance to play an opponent like this at home, you've got to take care of business. And we thought we did that, and then we had to get ready quickly for the next one back on the road.”
On how confident he is in the team to grind out wins in close games…
“You know, I think we've been in a lot of them, which is good and bad, figured out a way you can win these. We didn't get it done against Harvard, and that still will hurt us and sting still, but we did fight back to get back there, and I have to live with the last part of that game.. We've been in games now where we've had to execute in different ways at the end. I thought we, we did enough to push it to a point where I thought they thought they were out of the game. So that was good. We weren't dealing with timeouts that were left. And so look, it got to three. I thought we pushed it to 20 at one point when I looked up, which I try not to really look at anyway, but we're trying to manage the clock and then I thought we relaxed in terms of how we played. And then I thought we had the other part is we had more energy at the end. That was the help of having maybe a little bit deeper bench. We were able to get a few fresh legs in at times because they were tired. I have a lot of confidence in them because of the resilience they showed through every single game that we've played. Depending on being on the road or even at home, I'd like to see us play better here, as the last two games, we just have not played offensively the way that I would think we're capable of and what we've shown. So I would like to see this be better there. And yes, it was ugly and Lashae (Dwyer) was not good. Lashae struggled today. I mean, she had 14 points, but that at 14 points, and I thought she struggled. And I though guys stepped up and they all made plays. So, I think we've got a team that has been able to win in different ways. We're going to have to be better. It's just the reality. As we continue to move forward, but we're continuing to do things and be able to finish off games. That's the biggest part.”
On Skye Owen’s development…
“Skye's one of the most interesting kids I've ever coached. I'm very proud of her for where she is, because, I mean, she's a kid like Jailah Donald, who came here and their freshman year and really didn't play. They fought through it. They stayed, they've gotten better and, quite frankly, she's earning what she's getting…She's in the gym. Sometimes too much, but I'm happy for her You see what we look like too, when she doesn't play well and so we figured out a way to do it. I think she's certainly more comfortable…She competes and I’m really proud of her and I'm happy for her because she's earned it.”
St. John’s senior forward Phoenix Gedeon
On recording her first double-double at St. John’s…
“It feels great. Honestly, I was very happy. During the game, I'm not thinking about getting a double-double. I'm just playing my game, being aggressive and playing hard. I'm very proud of myself, my first double-double at St John's, so that's great.”
St. John’s junior guard Skye Owen
On her career-high 18-point performance …
“I feel like I always have fun when I play, but every time I go out there, it's the same. Starting or not starting, I just come out with the same energy