George Washington University Athletics
GW/St. Bonaventure Post-Game Quotes
2/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 21, 2009
NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
February 21, 2009
@GW 66
St. Bonaventure 60
Post-Game Comments
GW Coach Mike Bozeman
Opening statement
"I thought the first half was more conducive to how St. Bonaventure wanted to play early in the game. In order for us to win, we had to start getting a lot more people involved in the offense, and we're a lot better when we rotate the ball the width of the court. We didn't need to win the rebounding game, but we had to turn it up a little bit and get some offensive rebounds. I thought the penetration was key, and our seniors stepped up right there. Jazmine Adair played only seven minutes, but those were valuable minutes...and Stefani Munro played a phenominal game. She gave us stability, she finished with six assists and only one turnover. That was crucial....St. Bonaventure played a pretty good game, but my girls were hungry."
What did you tell the team to help get them fired up?
"At halftime, we talked about what we've been doing in practice. We've been doing a lot of scrimmaging, and there was one instance where we had the `home team' down by nine. That led to some very heated, very intense play, and they wound up winning the scrimmage. That's what I drew on, and it's the same thing today. It's about competing and wanting it, and that's exactly how they played."
Was there any added intensity because of the league standings going into the tournament?
"GW's used to being at the top of the conference every year. My goal was to not have a drop-off. These girls were part of those back-to-back Sweet 16 teams, so there's some pride coming out now. We've stumbled some, we've played a tough schedule, but now all that's on the back burner. Now it's about everybody is 0-0, and we need to win these games and play up to our potential. And I believe that's where we're heading. You haven't seen the best yet."
Talk about how your seniors stepped up big to lead the comeback.
"They're showing the freshmen how to do it. They do the same thing in scrimmages. They're teaching them what it takes. We're fighting for a seed right now so we can position ourselves to make a run at the NCAA tournament."
You've had two second-half comebacks in a row. What helps make GW so successful in the second half?
"It's adjustments. I credit our coaching staff with realizing what is and isn't working, and really staying in my ear about the charts they keep on the bench. You can't win a game in the first half. You can set the tone, but that's the best thing about sports--you have the second half to make adjustments. And we're really getting adapted to each other and making great adjustments at halftime."
Senior center Jessica Adair
It looked like you turned up the intensity in the second half.
"We were down, and wanted to make a run going into the second half. We still had a bitter taste in our mouths from last year when we lost to the Bonnies by three. We didn't come out strong in the first half, so we had to work harder in the second."
Was there some extra intensity given the importance of this game?
"Every game is important. We want to come out and play strong. This game is as important as the first one of the season. It's come down to--we need to win games now so we want to play hard."
Senior forward/guard Antelia Parrish
You've struggled some this season. What did you different today?
"I knew this was a game we really needed. My coaches and teammates tell me when I become aggressive, I help the team. I knew I had come out and be aggressive in the second half, and that's what I did."
With just a few games to go, were there any extra motivations for you today, especially with the tournament seedings?
"We struggled throughout the season, so we know if we make a good run at the end, we'll come in second in the A-10."
How important are these final games?
"The rest of the season is very important, as important as any other game. This is my last year, we have a pretty good team and we can go pretty far. So I want to stay aggressive and finish up the season strong."
St. Bonaventure Coach Jim Crowley
Opening statement
"We knew they were a very good second half team, and we certainly knew they wouldn't be happy with the way the first half went. They made that run late in the half to close the lead and get some things going. I still felt alright where we were, and then we just got away from what was working for us. We started to shoot fast, we started to try and challenge Adair, which was a bad decision and led to some run-outs and some easy opportunities by them. And then, they made plays. [Yolanda] hits a big three as the shot clock is winding down, Parrish makes a couple of threes with people right on her. As it came down close, their people were ready to make plays. They made big shots and we didn't."
St. Bonaventure has never won here. What is it about playing at the Smith Center that is so tough for you guys?
"I think there are only 3 teams [ed. - 4] in the league that have won here. It's as difficult an environment as there is. The biggest thing is the exceptional confidence their players have here--the shot confidence. There was no doubt in their mind at all on some of those shots that they were going in. Even with us defending well and challenging them, they just made the plays."
Did your standing going into the tournament have any impact on things today?
"It's had an impact the last two weeks. It's a new world for us. We're making some steady climbs as a program, we've had a very good year so far, but it's a new world for us. We tighten up a little bit when it kind of might come crashing down. We did that Wednesday, and we did that a little bit here in the second half. That's something we have to work through. Even though GW has a lot of young players, they've been through it. I think they've had a bye in the tournament since `86. That's where they expect to be, and right now we're hoping to be there instead of going to get it. We have to correct that next week."
