University of Connecticut Athletics
Practice Day Quotes - UConn (March 20, 2015)
3/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
2015 NCAA Division I women's basketball championship
Practice Day
Harry A. Gampel Pavilion · Storrs, Conn.
Friday, March 20
PRACTICE DAY ONE QUOTES - No. 1 Seed UConn
Geno Auriemma, UConn Head Coach
On what this venue means for women's basketball:
"I remember in 1995 we played UVA here in regionals and one of their kids told one of our kids that playing here was like playing at Cameron Indoor Stadium for men's basketball, that this was that for women's basketball. I don't know if that's the case now but I do know that everybody that plays women's basketball around the country- especially those that are in the NCAA Tournament- when you say Gampel Pavilion, they know exactly what you are talking about. Whether it translates into anything I don't know but it is a pretty special home court."
On the idea of a neutral site:
"I think any coach if you ask them and if they are honest with you, they would say our chances of beating Connecticut would be better in a neutral site. But if you do beat us here it is a hell of a win. Some people experience that and they still talk about it to this day."
Senior forward Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis
On playing at Gampel Pavilion:
"I don't see other players looking around and stuff like that but I think we catch ourselves still looking up at the banners and looking up at the other players that came before us. It definitely is a place that could be intimidating and gets you in the mindset like `whoa I am playing at Connecticut, there have been a lot of great players here' and it is a little nerve wracking."
On tournament time in March:
"It's the most exciting time of the year, it's the time you wait for once you start basketball season and once you start your basketball career in college you kind of dream about making it to March Madness and being a part of it so it is definitely a part that I feel I get most excited for. It's the time where whatever you have been working on it's a chance to perform."
Junior forward Breanna Stewart
On goals for the tournament:
"I think just really making sure we are focused and our mentality is in the right spot. There are three weeks left of the season, hopefully. We want to make sure everyday- whether it is a game or a practice- we are getting better and getting ready to continue throughout the season."
On playing a No. 16 team:
"We are focused on winning so we aren't treating it as a practice; we are treating it as a game because we know that if we were to lose then our season is over. We want to win but at the same time we are going to make sure that we are getting better at the things we need to get better at."
