St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John's Women's Basketball vs. Seton Hall
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella, guard Unique Drake and forward Jillian Archer speak to the media after 68-57 win over Seton Hall
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella
Opening statement…
“ Obviously coming off a game Friday night where we didn’t really answer the bell well on the road. I thought we responded. I thought the first half we struggled mightily. To their credit, they kind of had their way whether it be [Kae] Satterfield and even [Savannah] Catalon at times so they really hurt us. I thought our defense was not as good as it needed to be. I told them at half we needed to be much better defensively and I think they really did that. I think we really controlled what really went on in the second half. That’s a credit to all these guys. The physicality of the game and being able to push through that and get to the line like we did to score 17 that helped manufacture points for us. We ended up giving up five threes, we made three which five is their average we hope to be even there. Really pleased with our effort coming off a game that was a difficult on for us on Friday. And obviously we turn around quickly and have to play in three days so we have to get ready for that as well. Really good job by them and just proud of how they played.”
On the defense in tonight’s game…
“ Defensively, when we can play like the way that we can we are getting steals. So that’s what happened. I think today was one of the first days we were able to convert on a lot of those whether we got fouled or we were able to score. Whether it was Ber’Nyah [Mayo] or Tara [Daye] early. We are not a high-scoring team – that’s not a secret. We have to be able to manufacture points like we did today. Seton Hall is very good at what they do on both ends of the floor so they are going to make it hard. But I thought we were very much more disruptive in the second half than we were in the first half. The number of points off turnovers is probably pretty high for us considering the game. Which results in more paint points, which results in more free throws, which results in those points being higher. To have 20 fastbreak points is probably pretty high for us in a game.”
On Unique Drake’s offensive game…
“She’s always been a great scorer. But for me, the thing that pleases me the most is what she is doing with the opportunity she has right now. She’s had a few games in which shes struggled, but in the way that she’s been guarded now, she’s adjusted to her credit. For her to be in that spot where she has to come through and people are counting on her – to see what she’s doing is truly a pleasure. She’s wanted this for a long time. Think about last year when I asked her to come off the bench and she could of started. It’s a different feel when you have to be that guy. For her to do it in different games and she’s going to have to continue to do it to have that on you. It’s one thing to be in that position and it’s another to be successful in that position. So, just really well done by her and her teammates as she said. I’m just really happy for her because I think for her it validates what she knew she was.”
Redshirt senior guard Unique Drake
On being a main part of the offense this season. …
“First off, I couldn’t do it without my teammates. We just stick together every night. Knowing that they trust me and I trust them it just allows me to put the points on the board. And when they are open I find them.”
Graduate Student forward Jillian Archer
On reaching 750 career rebounds…
“I was super happy to hit that milestone in my career. To be able to do it at St. John’s is really awesome to me. After transferring here this really became my home last year. Just being able to finish out my career here and have things like that happen just adds to my experience. Really just trying to play to my strengths and do what I can to help my team win. I tell them all the time, ‘If you shoot it, I’m going to go rebound. I got your back.’ And that’s just what I keep trying to do.”
On what allowed her to play a great defensive game tonight …
“I think just having my teammate’s backs, I knew that they had mine. That was the biggest thing. We just talked about communicating and giving all that we had. And just knowing that if I messed up with my help and vice-versa.”
Opening statement…
“ Obviously coming off a game Friday night where we didn’t really answer the bell well on the road. I thought we responded. I thought the first half we struggled mightily. To their credit, they kind of had their way whether it be [Kae] Satterfield and even [Savannah] Catalon at times so they really hurt us. I thought our defense was not as good as it needed to be. I told them at half we needed to be much better defensively and I think they really did that. I think we really controlled what really went on in the second half. That’s a credit to all these guys. The physicality of the game and being able to push through that and get to the line like we did to score 17 that helped manufacture points for us. We ended up giving up five threes, we made three which five is their average we hope to be even there. Really pleased with our effort coming off a game that was a difficult on for us on Friday. And obviously we turn around quickly and have to play in three days so we have to get ready for that as well. Really good job by them and just proud of how they played.”
On the defense in tonight’s game…
“ Defensively, when we can play like the way that we can we are getting steals. So that’s what happened. I think today was one of the first days we were able to convert on a lot of those whether we got fouled or we were able to score. Whether it was Ber’Nyah [Mayo] or Tara [Daye] early. We are not a high-scoring team – that’s not a secret. We have to be able to manufacture points like we did today. Seton Hall is very good at what they do on both ends of the floor so they are going to make it hard. But I thought we were very much more disruptive in the second half than we were in the first half. The number of points off turnovers is probably pretty high for us considering the game. Which results in more paint points, which results in more free throws, which results in those points being higher. To have 20 fastbreak points is probably pretty high for us in a game.”
On Unique Drake’s offensive game…
“She’s always been a great scorer. But for me, the thing that pleases me the most is what she is doing with the opportunity she has right now. She’s had a few games in which shes struggled, but in the way that she’s been guarded now, she’s adjusted to her credit. For her to be in that spot where she has to come through and people are counting on her – to see what she’s doing is truly a pleasure. She’s wanted this for a long time. Think about last year when I asked her to come off the bench and she could of started. It’s a different feel when you have to be that guy. For her to do it in different games and she’s going to have to continue to do it to have that on you. It’s one thing to be in that position and it’s another to be successful in that position. So, just really well done by her and her teammates as she said. I’m just really happy for her because I think for her it validates what she knew she was.”
Redshirt senior guard Unique Drake
On being a main part of the offense this season. …
“First off, I couldn’t do it without my teammates. We just stick together every night. Knowing that they trust me and I trust them it just allows me to put the points on the board. And when they are open I find them.”
Graduate Student forward Jillian Archer
On reaching 750 career rebounds…
“I was super happy to hit that milestone in my career. To be able to do it at St. John’s is really awesome to me. After transferring here this really became my home last year. Just being able to finish out my career here and have things like that happen just adds to my experience. Really just trying to play to my strengths and do what I can to help my team win. I tell them all the time, ‘If you shoot it, I’m going to go rebound. I got your back.’ And that’s just what I keep trying to do.”
On what allowed her to play a great defensive game tonight …
“I think just having my teammate’s backs, I knew that they had mine. That was the biggest thing. We just talked about communicating and giving all that we had. And just knowing that if I messed up with my help and vice-versa.”