POSTGAME QUOTES: Houston 77, Columbia 53
12/28/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
COLUMBIA LIONS (6-7) at HOUSTON COUGARS (11-3)
Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017 • Health & PE Arena • Houston
HOUSTON HEAD COACH Ronald Hughey
Opening Statement
"Columbia is a very good team. Their team didn't play the way they normally play and I think we had something to do with our pressure. I think you all saw in the first half that they had the ability to come back if we didn't get up and defend like we normally do. I'm proud of the group for turning it on when we needed to, making key baskets and playing hard to come out with the win."
On how the defense played in the first quarter
"I'm glad you said that, because at halftime all we talked about was playing our pace and do whatever we need to do team wise to get it going. We only had two traps the first half and we need to take more chances."
On how close Jasmyne was to a triple-double
"We tried to get her to get it but she pressed a little too much. I was trying to get her to get one more assist and a couple other rebounds, but she told the girls in the locker room I still have two more years to get one."
On the turnovers
"We just talked about that. We had 17 unforced turnovers against a team that doesn't pressure, we have to get better ball control and go through the contact on layups to get and-1's. We will rectify those.
On conference play starting
"ZZ our strength coach has done a hell of a job to get them in shape to play this pace and they did a tremendous job of buying into it. We've got to get the mentality that the first season is over and now it is 0-0 going into conference. We have to go back out and prove ourselves to everyone else because we still have people that doubt us. If we keep our trust and responsibility, we will be just fine."
HOUSTON SOPHOMORE GUARD Jasmyne Harris
On biggest difference between the first and second half play
"The first half we were playing sluggish. The Christmas break might have had something to do with it. We weren't playing with the energy that we needed to. During the start of the second half, we picked up our tempo and played the way we usually do."
On the key to winning conference games
"Defense. Defense. Defense. I believe we are ranked fourth in steals per game in the NCAA. We need to come prepared for every game and keep pushing the tempo throughout each conference game."
On still playing with a chip on shoulder
"At first I felt like I was, but now not so much. Coach always make a point to tell me that there is no pressure, so I am able to just play my game and no one else's."
