Dec. 16, 2004
South Carolina Head Coach Susan Walvius
Opening Comments: “We knew we had a tough game because NC State is very much improved from last season. They have players who can penetrate, post, and shoot the long ball. They scored 24 points off turnovers, and had 17 second chance points. We gave up 41 points that way and need to work on that. We got on our heels and they made a run. We had one day to prepare for NC State but I like that because I want players to be challenged. We are a very young team and we are looking for leadership. You learn more from losing than you do when you are winning. We have great women on this team and one of them will step up to be the vocal leader that we need. We will continue to play good teams and help us to get prepared for SEC play.”
On NC State forward Tiffany Stansbury: “We did a great job on her in the first half, but in the second half sometimes our defense was a little lacking in half court. We took away her right shoulder and did a very good job of that the first half but the second half was another story. We didn’t match well out of the press and we are going to look at the second half film.”
On being physical: “We wanted to be aggressive. They did a good job of taking Lauren Simms out of the game. You have to give NC State’s defense a lot of credit for their job tonight.”
Angela Hunter
On getting into a rhythm: “I feel more comfortable, but I really want to come in and contribute any way that I can. We are trying to feel each other out and try to gel.”
NC State Head Coach Kay Yow
Opening Comments: “We seem to start slow in the first half. I liked out determination and our ability to step it up to the next level in the second half. South Carolina is a tough place to play. They have several players that we have seen and recruited so we know they have talent. We were fortunate to open up the game like we did in the second half. We gave tremendous effort on defense and offense.”
On Tiffany Stansbury: “She played in the second half like I know she could play and I love how she plays. Tiff was right about being soft. We got contact and crumbled. We are physically stronger and had to play. In the second half we looked much stronger.”
Tiffany Stansbury
On second half performance and USC height was a concern in the first half: “We came out more aggressive. In the first half, I was being soft. The game in the second half really came to me as we hit that run.”
Monica Pope
On the final 12 minutes of the game: “We were really aggressive on defense and everyone was fired up and ready to go.”
