POSTGAME QUOTES: Mercer 64, Houston 60
11/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Head Coach Ronald Hughey
Opening Statement
"It tough. It's tough when you know your team is prepared. The fundamental things they've been doing since they started basketball: taking care of the basketball, not turning it over and shooting free throws, those things hurt us tonight. We were a team that averaged 16 or 17 turnovers a game, and they forced us into 28. Most of them were unforced: we walked, traveled, kicked it off our feet and threw it in the stands. And then free throws. It's a free throw. You have to step up to the line and shoot the free throw.
Everything has to matter. You have to care about your day, and you can't waste any time. If you want to be the best, committed or have a great career, everything has to matter. From schoolwork, parents, relationships, friendships and the way you treat your coaches all matters. I'm still trying to get this bunch to understand that."
On the how the girls fought to the end
"I love it. The thing about it is they have it in them for 40 minutes. We had it for 33 minutes today. Coach Vicki (Assistant Coach Victoria Picott) said we just gave up on possessions and let people have straight line drives to the basket, or they communicated the switch and gave a wide-open shot. If we go down swinging and contesting, riding them and trying to get back in front of those drives, I'm completely happy with that effort on everything, but we didn't get that for 40 minutes. We got it for 33-35 minutes."
On the freshman players performance
"The freshmen are really coming around. Costa Rica helped in all the early practices. I can't say enough about Dorian Branch who comes to work every single day, and she makes everyone else better. Jasmyne Harris, who can get up and rebound with the best of them, she needs to focus on shots a little bit more. Angela Harris who normally makes shots, but again, was on the downside of that. Quatera Limbrick, who we kind of hand feed a little bit because she was the one who was behind the most, but she has come a long way as well. It's a good group. They just have to understand how hard they have to work. This time last year they were playing high school basketball. At some points during the game they think they can go back and do those things, and that's when the charges and turnovers happen."
