University of Houston Athletics
Houston vs. East Carolina Postgame Quotes
2/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2011
HEAD COACH Todd Buchanan
Opening Statement
"I'm very, very proud of this basketball team. I'm very proud of every single person, coaching staff to player. The thing that makes me the proudest is where we were to where we are with the growth of this team. From day one, I said I wanted to come in and change the mind set about championship style of basketball and the mentality. The thing that I am most proud of is that we are on the course of destiny, but really truly we are a family. The kids have bought into the knowing that it isn't talk with me but it is what I want and how being a family is part of my philosophy. You have to walk the walk and you have talk to the talk and deliver. Everyone has absolutely bought in. The team knowing we are appreciative of them has led to the success on and off the floor. What an incredible gutting effort that this basketball team showed today, given the fact that Courtney (Taylor) couldn't stay out of foul trouble. I'm very pleased of where we are at right now."
On Jasmine Johnson's defense today
"It was great. The more athletic and up-tempo pace suits her very well. It's more of her game and style. She came and took two dribbles to the basket and scored."
On the spark Jasmine Johnson provided when the team couldn't make a basket
"I thought it was immediate and perfect timing. She really got us going. It really gave her and us as a basketball team a lot of confidence. We really started locking up and defending then. Our defense for the most part the entire game was good. I thought it was what kept us in the game and gave us that nine-point cushion at half."
On any improvements that need to be made
"We need to become a better rebounding team. Ashley Clarke had 10 rebounds at the half from a guard's standpoint and we addressed that at the half that it couldn't happen anymore. I'll take the 13 turnovers with the pace and play of today. I truly feel we can be 12 or less but I'll take 13. I still think we are an 80 percent plus free throw team. I know if we are truly going to achieve our goals we needs to shoot 80 percent."
On the Hoops for the Cure game today
"It's a terrible disease and today was more than just basketball. This was a great cause. Zalika's (Dyson) mother and my grandmother are breast cancer survivors and so it hits close to home in both of our families. When it hits both of our families if affects our basketball family. When they hurt, I hurt. I couldn't be happier with what we did off the court then on the court."
SENIOR FORWARD Lesslee Mason
Thoughts on today's game
"I think we're starting to show some depth. It's been a rough week for Courtney (Taylor) and I scoring-wise, and we've been in foul trouble, but we've still won both games by 20. That just shows it can be anybody's game on any given night, and that's how good of a team we really are."
On how the team was able to come back from a slow start
"I think every team goes through a down time, but everyone just had to stay together and get in a rhythm."
On the defensive effort of the team
"We knew they were going to be really tall in the post. We really put a lot of emphasis on telling our guards to put a lot of pressure on their guards, so they couldn't just lob it over and score on us. I thought we did well though."
On grading the teams performance today
(Laughing) "As a team, it's a win, so it's an A."
On the depth the team is showing
"Coach basically said we have our five starters but we can't play 40 minutes every night and not get burned out. Our bench is coming in and giving good minutes."
SENIOR GUARD Jasmine Johnson
On how the team was able to come back from a slow start
"Our main thing is to be aggressive and attack the basket, because whether you are on target with your shot or not, you can still get to the basket."
On her defense
"I love defense and I take pride in defense. I feel like that is my role. To stop the ball or stop the shooter, so I take pride in that."
SENIOR GUARD Brittney Scott
On seemingly taking over the game
"I was feeling it so I shot it. I think that's one of my roles on the team so that's just what I was trying to do at the time."
On being able to finish games
"In the first half the coaches look and see what we need to change, and at half time we talk about it. We just listen to our leaders and we get the job done."
On being the first Houston team to start 11-0 in C-USA play
"It feels great. I think it's an honor, especially for the five seniors to get to go out on a winning streak."
