Jan. 28, 2007
Head Coach Susan Walvius
On Kentucky’s Senior Forward Jennifer Humphrey:
“Kentucky is a very good basketball team, as everyone knows. So we knew that we had to do the job in the post. What (Jennifer) Humphrey does so well is rebound the basketball offensively, she always gets position, she always works her lower body to get position. She brings a lot of emotion to her team, and I thought we did a good job rebounding and keeping her off the boards today.”
On one of South Carolina’s advantages over Kentucky:
“I think that one area that we have an advantage, and Tennessee and Auburn have had an advantage, is that we are big at the three guard. Melanie Johnson played the post in high school, Kellindra Zackery played the post position in high school, so they are comfortable with their back to the basket. It gives us an opportunity to post up smaller guards.”
On Senior Forward Melanie Johnson:
“Everyone can appreciate what Mel does for our scoring, but it is her rebounding that is really special. She can get out and transition and make some things happen. She can get her hands on the ball. She is a competitor. I’m real pleased with her efforts today.”
On facing Tennessee next week:
“Tennessee is one of the top teams in women’s college basketball. They just have such a tradition and Thompson-Boling will probably have up to 15,000 fans there. It’s a big-time environment there, it always has been. Every game in the SEC is important.”
Senior Forward Melanie Johnson
On the team’s second half performance:
“We just took advantage of the mismatch; they had some smaller guards on me. By taking advantage of the mismatch we were able to make some of the shots that we missed during the first half.”
On representing the school and state:
“I feel like when you step out on the court every game you have South Carolina’s name on your shirt, so you are representing your team and the state of South Carolina.”
Junior Guard Stacy Booker
On playing without teammate Lea Fabbri:
“I’ve been put in that position before. It doesn’t matter what position that I am put in, I am going to be able to play it, whether it is Lauren (Simms) or Lea (Fabbri) out there.”
