George Washington University Athletics
GW/Saint Joseph's Post-Game Quotes
1/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 14, 2009
NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
January 14, 2009
@ GW 66
Saint Joseph's 60
Post-Game Quotes
GW Coach Mike Bozeman
Opening Statement
"We made a lineup change to try and alleviate the double-team off of Jessica [Adair]. In the first half, you saw some success with that. I added Tara Booker to the lineup, who's our best outside shooter, with Antelia Parrish. Tiana Myers is also in the high 30s in three-point percentage also. Once I can get them to stop the double-teams, Jess can go to work on the inside."
"The biggest tell-tale sign of this team is that Ivy had her best game as a sub. The attitude was great. Throughout this miniature losing streak we just ended, I thought the spirit of the team was pretty high, the comeradery was good. They understand the quality of the schedule--or the punishment of the schedule--so they're raising their level of intensity. I'm a little disturbed about the lack of focus at the end of the game, but Rome wasn't built in a day, so I'll take the win."
How does it feel to have your first conference victory?
"I just wanted a win, I didn't care who it was against. I didn't look at it as a conference game. We were playing so many tough games, I just wanted to win. The team's intensity is really impressing me. It felt good."
What's the importance of a solid point guard in your offense?
"It's great, especially one of Yolanda's caliber. I don't know if people realize how hard it is to sit out a year and a half, and then come back. She still has some rust she's getting off, but she's comfortable with the team. When she's fully back, and I think that will take two or three more games, her value to us will be even more evident."
Talk about Ivy Abiona's role on the team.
"She's a special player, a special athlete. She's making a big-time adjustment. She played very little her first year, sat out last year, so in essence she's a freshman. She works so hard....She's one who truly worked her way back, and you're seeing the fruits of that labor."
Redshirt sophomore forward Ivy Abiona
What clicked for you tonight?
"This past week, we worked a lot together as a team. We put in a lot of effort at practice, and tried to get our intensity level up. I think all that came together and clicked for us tonight."
Senior guard Yolanda Lavender
What's the adjustment been like with you joining the team in mid-season?
"The team welcomed me with open arms. Having the ability to practice and watch from the sideline really helped me. It's been pretty easy."
Do you think you've assumed a leadership role playing point guard and playing a lot of minutes?
"Definitely. That's what the point guard is, and I welcome the challenge. Coach challenges me every day, and the only thing I can do is pass it down to my teammates. It's hard now because it's a grind and we want to win."
Do you still feel like you're getting comfortable with the team?
"It's coming along. I think I'm there now, having two conference games under my belt. It's been a year and a half off for me, and the team is helping me and the coaching staff is working with me. All I can do is keep playing hard, and it will come along."
Saint Joseph's Coach Cindy Griffin
Opening Statement
"It was a tale of 38 minutes of playing good basketball. And for two minutes at the end of the first half, we self-destructed. We spent a whole lot of energy in the second half trying to come back. I thought we fought, but it wasn't enough. It was too much of a deficit to overcome with a team like GW. When you get looks and you don't shoot well, it becomes more of an uphill battle. I don't think our kids wavered, but it would have been different if a couple of those shots went in."
How much of a factor was GW's size?
"I thought we got some pretty good looks despite their size. It wasn't a huge factor; we didn't choose to go inside a whole lot with [Brittany] Ford getting hurt in the second half. It was more of the perimeter misses."
Do you attribute the misses to their defense or something else?
"You always want to take responsibility for your own actions. There were so many what we call `chippies' that could have gone in and there was nobody around us. So I think we rushed. The energy coming back and going from defense to offense...we were playing at 100 miles an hour on offense and that's what hurt us."
