Louisville vs. St. John's
February 18, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 18, 2009
Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery 
Head Coach Jeff Walz
(On Louisville's team effort)
"I thought the kids did a very good job. I know when Angel (McCoughtry) went out at about the six minute mark; I think we extended the lead. For us to be able to do that is something we have really been working hard on. We have been trying to get our players to understand this team is more than just Angel. Angel does a lot for us, there is no question about that, but we need everybody to understand the importance of every minute they get."
"I really thought tonight everyone stepped up and played well. Tiera Stephen played 14 minutes and had seven assists. Her and Des (Byrd) together had 13 assists and one turnover. If we can continue to get that kind of play from our point guards we have a chance to do some special things."
"The frustrating thing is when we turn the ball over 18 times. We have really been stressing that. I will show it to them on film, there were probably six turnovers that were just careless. Those are the kind of things we are going to have to take care of. I told the kids we have four more games and after that it is one and done. We have to start to figure things out. Once you get to the BIG EAST Tournament and you lose you are done, there is no `hey I am sorry that was a bad pass.' "
(On earning BIG EAST tournament double bye)
"It is very important. It is nice for us to have an extra day for the kids to heal. We have some bumps and bruises so it will be nice. It will be nice not to have to play our first game until Saturday."
(On playing Villanova on the road)
"I think it is going to be a tough one. They are defending as well as anyone in the league right now. The thing that they do so well is that they will run the shot clock down to about four or five and wait for you to breakdown. We are going to try to speed the game up and try to press and create turnovers. We are going to play at our pace. They have done a great job of keeping the score low. They are doing an outstanding job on defense."
(On Louisville's defense)
"That is what we talk about and what our program is known for. I think we had 30 points off their 19 turnovers. Our goal was to try to force 22 turnovers and get 22 points. For us to force 19 turnovers and get 30 points off their turnovers is a good stat for us."
Senior Forward Angel McCoughtry
(On tonight's victory)
"I wouldn't consider this another double digit win. Every game we want to come out and play better. I thought this was a game where everyone got better because we played hard. We started off slow but picked it up in the end."
(On the overall team effort)
"That is what we need, we need the other girls to step up. Who knows if I get into foul trouble or Candyce gets into foul trouble, girls have to step up. We have three more games left and everything after this it is one and done. So we need everybody to step up and play hard."
(On team finishing in the top four of Big East and obtaining a bye)
"It is a good feeling, I was always wanted to have that bye where we could just sit and watch the teams play, like UConn and Rutgers were doing. I have always dreamt of that and it looks like it may come true."
(On being senior leaders)
"I just hope that Candyce and I have been good role models and they keep the tradition alive."
(On next home game being her last home in Freedom Hall)
"It is a good thing. It is a happy moment. People keep telling me I am going to cry but I am not."
Senior Forward Candyce Bingham
(On the team's ability to play as a unit)
"People are stepping up which is what coach wanted. They have been doing a good job with it."
(On team's mentality of receiving a double bye at the conference tournament)
"If that does happen it is a stepping stone. We aren't going to settle. A lot of times teams have those two byes then lose in the next round. We are not trying to do that. We are trying to take these two byes and run with it."
(On next game versus Villanova)
"It's a very big game. They are always cutting and we are going to have to play defense. This is the game where we have to focus on playing defense. They have a great team and they are very good at home."
(On next home game being her last home in Freedom Hall)
"I am not going to say that I am not going to cry. I may cry. Honestly it kind of hit me when I was sitting on the bench (in the second half)."
(On taking better care of the ball in the second half)
"It seemed like we struggled in the first half with turning the ball over a lot. But I think it was more that we were focused in during the second half, coach got on us during halftime."
Freshman Forward Janae Howard
(On tonight's game and prior practices)
"I've tried to step up in practice by talking more, and get a better feel for what we're trying to do. Practice comes a lot easier so that means games come a lot easier, it pays off."
(On getting accustomed to college basketball and coaching staff)
"There were plenty of times (I would get frustrated). I have a big support staff; all the people within the program that have helped me to see that my potential wasn't there yet and I thought it was, and it was bad."
(On what has changed off the court and on the court)
"I think I have a better attitude. I just take things as they come. I do not just look at the problem I try to solve it. I've opened up more and I usually keep it all inside. I talk about it, and they let me know what happened last year. I feel that has helped out a lot."
