St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: #6 ST. JOHN’S WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. #11 XAVIER BIG EAST FIRST ROUND
St. John’s Women’s Basketball Head Coach Joe Tartamella, junior guard Brooke Moore and sophomore forward Sa’Mya Wyatt spoke to the media after defeating Xavier, 53-48, to advance in the BIG EAST Tournament on Friday
Head Coach Joe Tartamella
Opening statement…
“Proud of our group. We have been resilient pretty much all year in terms of games, but we were struggling early to kind of find ourselves. I thought, obviously, we still were struggling in the third. I wasn't sure if we were going to get out of there. But the fourth, we were able to do a lot more in a lot of areas. Just proud of their resilience. And when you get in this tournament, seeds really don't matter in a way, but you're playing a team for the third time, everybody knows what you're doing, you know what they're doing, for the most part, and you're going to have games like this that you've got to be able to gut out.”
On preparing for Seton Hall in the next round…
“They're very talented. Certainly, our two matchups were grind-it-out games, as they always usually are. They're certainly -- they have the ability to be explosive. But at the same time -- we played each other twice -- this is the first time ever, I think, we played each other twice in the last month. They're the only team we didn't play early. Usually, we have an early game. But they provide different challenges in how they play, and they do a great job of putting their players in positions to be successful.”
Junior guard Brooke Moore...
On the team's key moments and momentum in the second half…
“I would say that, yeah, we had some big moments. We understood that Xavier's a great team, so we had to turn the momentum some way. So I feel like we just did a good job of being more aggressive on defense, moving the ball, and attacking the paint and just finding the open person. That's what led to all those good looks in big moments.”
On advancing in the tournament…
“It means a lot. We have one goal, to get that championship, so every win counts. I'm just happy to be here with my team competing and just working hard. So it's been fun.”
Sophomore forward Sa’Mya Wyatt...
On her offensive rebound and putback late in the game…
“I would just say feeling the moment, crashing the boards. Me and Coach [Vanessa Abel] and Coach Steve [Pogue], we always work on put backs, layups, just having that soft touch around the basket, so I just felt like it just implemented at that point in the game.”
On recording a double-double and focusing on rebounding…
“I would just say just focusing on rebounding. I have been really trying to work on that. Honestly, I would just give all the credit to my teammates, having that trust to give the ball to me and just have me go to work.”
Opening statement…
“Proud of our group. We have been resilient pretty much all year in terms of games, but we were struggling early to kind of find ourselves. I thought, obviously, we still were struggling in the third. I wasn't sure if we were going to get out of there. But the fourth, we were able to do a lot more in a lot of areas. Just proud of their resilience. And when you get in this tournament, seeds really don't matter in a way, but you're playing a team for the third time, everybody knows what you're doing, you know what they're doing, for the most part, and you're going to have games like this that you've got to be able to gut out.”
On preparing for Seton Hall in the next round…
“They're very talented. Certainly, our two matchups were grind-it-out games, as they always usually are. They're certainly -- they have the ability to be explosive. But at the same time -- we played each other twice -- this is the first time ever, I think, we played each other twice in the last month. They're the only team we didn't play early. Usually, we have an early game. But they provide different challenges in how they play, and they do a great job of putting their players in positions to be successful.”
Junior guard Brooke Moore...
On the team's key moments and momentum in the second half…
“I would say that, yeah, we had some big moments. We understood that Xavier's a great team, so we had to turn the momentum some way. So I feel like we just did a good job of being more aggressive on defense, moving the ball, and attacking the paint and just finding the open person. That's what led to all those good looks in big moments.”
On advancing in the tournament…
“It means a lot. We have one goal, to get that championship, so every win counts. I'm just happy to be here with my team competing and just working hard. So it's been fun.”
Sophomore forward Sa’Mya Wyatt...
On her offensive rebound and putback late in the game…
“I would just say feeling the moment, crashing the boards. Me and Coach [Vanessa Abel] and Coach Steve [Pogue], we always work on put backs, layups, just having that soft touch around the basket, so I just felt like it just implemented at that point in the game.”
On recording a double-double and focusing on rebounding…
“I would just say just focusing on rebounding. I have been really trying to work on that. Honestly, I would just give all the credit to my teammates, having that trust to give the ball to me and just have me go to work.”