George Washington University Athletics
GW/Richmond Post-Game Quotes
1/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2011
NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
January 8, 2011
Richmond 68
@GW 55
Post-Game Comments
GW Coach Mike Bozeman
Opening statement
"If you look at the stat sheet, it was a fairly even game. The difference is 12 3-point field goals. I thought we came out in the first half with the energy we need to be successful in this conference, and be successful as a team. In the second half, their stars really shined. Brittani Shells is the best player in our conference, and one of the best players in the country at her position. Today, you have to give credit to Richmond to how they executed their game plan. They took us out of our rhythm in the second half."
Brittani Shells and Abby Oliver troubled you last year as well. Did you have a specific plan to attempt to slow them down?
"We had practiced for hours and hours going over how we were going to defend them. So give them credit for sticking with their game plan and executing it. We had probably five too many lapses on defense as it relates to those two. I'm a little disappointed about our retention of the scout, but I think we've taken steps forward. We just have to take more."
After struggling with rebounding, you were fairly even with Richmond today.
"Yes, we've been spending a lot of time on it. We did a great job against Rutgers and carried it over to today. The improvement is across the board; it's just the mental lapses. We can't allow them in games that we are in. This is the first conference game, and I'm very confident that we're so close that Monday's practice will get us over the hump."
As the team heads into A-10 play, what's the team's mindset?
"It's a new season. It doesn't matter what happened in the 14 games prior to this. Today, we're 0-1, and this is the most important season. We've had some tough battles, still fighting injury. Tara fights through her injury every day just to practice. These girls are fighting, and giving their all. We just need a skillful focus."
Junior forward/guard Tara Booker
What goes through your mind when the other team is going on a scoring run?
"Mainly, we think about what we need to do to settle everything down, and stop committing mental lapses. We want to try and get everyone back on the same page."
You've hit a lot of three's this season. Are you feeling any pressure to be the go-to player?
"There's definitely no pressure. The coaches have a lot of confidence in my shot; it's just up to me to step up and make it. So there's no pressure."
As the team heads into A-10 play, what's the team's mindset?
"It's a fresh start. Everyone in the conference has about the second record. We all play the same number of games, and everything before this has been forgotten."
