POSTGAME QUOTES: ST. JOHN’S WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. RHODE ISLAND
St. John’s Women’s Basketball Head Coach Joe Tartamella, graduate student forward Daniela Abies and junior forward Sa’Mya Wyatt spoke to the media after the Red Storm’s 68-51 win over Rhode Island
Opening statement...
“I was very pleased with how we were able to disrupt and take away from Rhode Island and what they like to do. I was hoping we finished the fourth a little stronger. I thought we started the game great, taking the air out of them, turning them over like we did, creating opportunities and points. I wasn’t sure how today would go, so I’m pleased with how we showed up when the lights went on.”
On the defense…
“I thought we certainly stayed pretty connected through the game, especially at the start, which I think set the tone for the day in terms of trying to put them into positions that Rhode Island maybe hadn’t been in during the previous games. I thought our ball screen defense was much better than it’s been in terms of where to be in certain situations. I thought we were effective in taking certain things away. Our pressure overwhelmed them a little bit; they started to get comfortable, but I feel we did enough to shut them down offensively.”
On starting 4-0 and continuing momentum…
“Just get ready for the next game as we always do. We haven’t really accomplished anything; we’re trying to make sure the next game is the most important one. Our team understands, in no way do we know what our final product is going to look like yet, we’re not there. We have a stretch of games here on the road at Oklahoma State and then two neutral sites, then it’s BIG East play, it comes quick. You just try to work the right way and practice the right way, you try to keep momentum by practicing and showing up every day, the way you’re supposed to, being better than you were the day before.”
“We have to play the way we’ve been able to, continuing to try and create an identity. We’re playing a team that’s been ranked the last couple of weeks; we have to try and continue doing the things that have made us successful, in terms of creating possessions and guard and play quickly. Today we didn’t get to play as many players from a depth standpoint, but to continue to try and dip into that when you can. It’s hard when players are playing so well to shuffle guys in, but at the same time knowing you have that cushion to get up into people.”
Graduate student forward Daniela Abies
On her impact…
“We have a new group; we have aggressive players. We’re still learning each other, but we help each other every day in practice; I feel like that has shown in these last couple of games.”
“Coach says every day to crash the boards, so I always try my best to do that in the game. That’s part of my role, so that’s what I’m supposed to do.”
Junior forward Sa'Mya Wyatt
On URI defense…
“It was me trying to focus on being aggressive for my team. I focused on shooting.”
On maintaining aggressiveness in the second half…
“The key was being aggressive and finishing the game. I had my support staff behind me; Coach D [Daynia Benton] told me to continue to be aggressive, finish on two feet, and be balanced.”