St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John's Women's Basketball vs. Georgetown
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella and guard Janeya Grant spoke to the media after St. John’s 83-49 win against Georgetown on Senior Night
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella
Opening statement…
“The first half was kind of how we looked in a lot of our games…Coming out of the half, it was probably the best 20 minutes we have played, I might say all year in a 20-minute half. In terms of executing, making shots, making it hard enough [on defense]. Great effort from our guys. To see Lashae [Dwyer] and [Ber’Nyah Mayo] do what they did in possibly their last game here…The third quarter was really good and in the fourth we kind of stayed with it. I thought Janeya [Grant] really showed what she is going to be capable of here. Really proud of how she came out today and we are going to need that moving forward. Really proud of her and all of them. The fact that we were able to do what we did and get our seniors in during the fourth to kind of give them a little bit of moment was great.”
On what changed in the second half…
“We talked before the game, I think we felt we had an area where we could exploit some things in transition. I thought we passed up some opportunities. Sometimes, we weren't taking the first best shot, which for us, we kind of have to take. Otherwise, we are not getting a shot off. I thought we played with the same confidence, charisma and energy we showed in the first half of the season, and that we have shown in flashes. Making shots helps with energy. I thought we got woken up a little bit with some of the competitiveness which was good. We were able to stay consistent with how we were playing. We didn’t take as many bad shots or drive into as many bad spaces as we did in the first half. When Lashae [Dwyer] and Ber’Nyah [Mayo] are under control and balanced, they are such different players.”
On the shotmaking today…
“At the end of the day, it becomes contagious when the ball is going through the net, but I also think we have been a little passive in other games when we had a lead, and I didn’t want to be passive tonight, considering the pace they play at. They would score, and we would answer. I thought we did a good job of not trading buckets in the second half, and I think that's how the game really opened up.”
On the graduating seniors…
“You learn every year; everyone’s story is different in terms of how they got here. Whether they started here or came from other places, whether it's been a good journey for them or a journey that went a little different, they are all quality individuals, and I think that's the best part about them. Jade [Blagrove] is probably the best teammate we have on the team, who is banged up and really wanted to get out there today, but someone who was only here a year, but they look up to for her demeanor. You don’t really know when you recruit players, but it's been a joy with a lot of these guys.”
On the joy of seeing his players graduate…
“Every group is so different, and just good to see the joy they had today, that’s the best part about coaching. Every kid’s last home game is a big deal, and some of them don’t even understand it until they leave.”
On the remainder of the season…
“Hopefully, we can carry the effort over, we have one more on the road against a quality team, and then we have to get ready for the tournament.”
St. John’s guard Janeya Grant
On what it felt like to make some big-time shots tonight…
“Last home game for my freshman year, so I just wanted to go out there and have fun. Last home game playing with some of the seniors, so I just wanted to have fun with all of them and get the win.”
On what she has learned during her freshman season…
“Next play – don’t dwell if I turn the ball over or miss a shot, just next play and get back on defense.”
On what she learned from the graduating seniors…
“To always be aggressive and just be you. Always play your game.”
Opening statement…
“The first half was kind of how we looked in a lot of our games…Coming out of the half, it was probably the best 20 minutes we have played, I might say all year in a 20-minute half. In terms of executing, making shots, making it hard enough [on defense]. Great effort from our guys. To see Lashae [Dwyer] and [Ber’Nyah Mayo] do what they did in possibly their last game here…The third quarter was really good and in the fourth we kind of stayed with it. I thought Janeya [Grant] really showed what she is going to be capable of here. Really proud of how she came out today and we are going to need that moving forward. Really proud of her and all of them. The fact that we were able to do what we did and get our seniors in during the fourth to kind of give them a little bit of moment was great.”
On what changed in the second half…
“We talked before the game, I think we felt we had an area where we could exploit some things in transition. I thought we passed up some opportunities. Sometimes, we weren't taking the first best shot, which for us, we kind of have to take. Otherwise, we are not getting a shot off. I thought we played with the same confidence, charisma and energy we showed in the first half of the season, and that we have shown in flashes. Making shots helps with energy. I thought we got woken up a little bit with some of the competitiveness which was good. We were able to stay consistent with how we were playing. We didn’t take as many bad shots or drive into as many bad spaces as we did in the first half. When Lashae [Dwyer] and Ber’Nyah [Mayo] are under control and balanced, they are such different players.”
On the shotmaking today…
“At the end of the day, it becomes contagious when the ball is going through the net, but I also think we have been a little passive in other games when we had a lead, and I didn’t want to be passive tonight, considering the pace they play at. They would score, and we would answer. I thought we did a good job of not trading buckets in the second half, and I think that's how the game really opened up.”
On the graduating seniors…
“You learn every year; everyone’s story is different in terms of how they got here. Whether they started here or came from other places, whether it's been a good journey for them or a journey that went a little different, they are all quality individuals, and I think that's the best part about them. Jade [Blagrove] is probably the best teammate we have on the team, who is banged up and really wanted to get out there today, but someone who was only here a year, but they look up to for her demeanor. You don’t really know when you recruit players, but it's been a joy with a lot of these guys.”
On the joy of seeing his players graduate…
“Every group is so different, and just good to see the joy they had today, that’s the best part about coaching. Every kid’s last home game is a big deal, and some of them don’t even understand it until they leave.”
On the remainder of the season…
“Hopefully, we can carry the effort over, we have one more on the road against a quality team, and then we have to get ready for the tournament.”
St. John’s guard Janeya Grant
On what it felt like to make some big-time shots tonight…
“Last home game for my freshman year, so I just wanted to go out there and have fun. Last home game playing with some of the seniors, so I just wanted to have fun with all of them and get the win.”
On what she has learned during her freshman season…
“Next play – don’t dwell if I turn the ball over or miss a shot, just next play and get back on defense.”
On what she learned from the graduating seniors…
“To always be aggressive and just be you. Always play your game.”