University of Connecticut Athletics
Top-Ranked UConn Overpowers No. 15 Maryland, 97-72
11/19/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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UConn Head Coach Geno Auriemma
On junior guard/forward Katie Lou Samuelson
I never believe anything that the doctors say because I always assume the worse so if they say, well you know it's going to be a week to two weeks I go that's going to be a month. I'm Mr. pessimist. I want to be happily surprised when she comes back earlier but they're saying now could be 2 weeks, could be less, could be more, I just know she's not playing this week and who knows. I'm not counting on her for today and the next three days for sure.
On what he is hoping to see from different players
I don't know to be honest with you. I'm guessing that the five starters that we have, I think we have a pretty good idea of what we're going to get from them. Obviously were a little bit different now than we were without Lou. It was great to see [senior guard] Kia [Nurse] step up there and knock in a bunch of threes because without Lou that's a big part of our game that's missing. It was great how aggressive we were defensively and how many turnovers we forced to get out and transition so that we didn't miss Lou as much on the offensive end. As far as what our bench can provide, I'm not sure. Based on what I saw in the fourth quarter, not much. So I don't know, we'll see.
On the teams scoring
That's kind of the way it's been for us. I think [senior forward] Azurá [Stevens] is an element that we didn't have last year so that changes some things. [sophomore guard] Crystal [Dangerfield] is a little bit different than Saniya [Chong] was last year so that gives us a little bit more offense on the floor. It is disappointing that Crystal isn't going to shoot 92% from the three-point line I thought that from everything I've seen and read that's what we were headed for. I'm glad that she got them all out of her system today and she goes back to being somewhat in between on Tuesday but we've got some scorers on our team and we share the ball pretty well and sometimes we try too hard to share the ball. [senior forward] Gabby [Williams] is a perfect example of that today.
On the upcoming traveling
It depends what kind of travel. If you're fortunate enough and you can just charter and get a nice big plane and you can kick back and relax, that's one thing. If you have to sit in an airport and wait and wait and then get on a plane and you have all these big kids jammed in there in a cross-country flight, that's a different thing. And then it's a matter of being mature. Age has got nothing to do with it, it's are you mature enough to take care of yourself and do what you need to do to travel successfully let's put it that way but there's no way to go around it. We have to go 3,000 miles so we'll get there and we'll practice and play the next day. Nothing we can do about it.
Maryland Head Coach Brenda Frese
Opening Statement
I mean obviously we knew coming into this game how talented UConn's roster was going to be and I think that when you look at all five players in double figures there's not a consolation obviously when you lose but I'm actually pleased I guess would be the word when you talk about such a young team to be able to come in and do some of the things they did. I thought we grew as a team with very inexperienced freshman, sophomore back court to be able to force UConn into 25 turnovers I thought was extremely positive for our group to be able to get 72 points up against the defense that they play for 16 steals. So, some positive things for our young team to be able to build off of. We knew that the waves were going to be coming and I think their experience really showed especially in that first quarter but when you look at the last three quarters we were minus four so definitely some things for us to be able to build upon.
On rebounding
I know that's an area that was a concern for me going into the season so when you talk about losing Brionna Jones that's something we've spent a lot of time with but their length, it's not surprising just given the size that they have and the athleticism.
On Maryland's growth
I told them. Obviously South Carolina was a closer score for us but just in terms of where we're at as a team in our program before we get Eleanna [Christinaki] eligible and again, a new point guard this season again for us is just the area to be able to compete for the three quarters. I thought we went from competing to 12 minutes against South Carolina to 30 tonight. Our starts obviously this is all new uncharted territory for a lot of our players when you look at kind of the minutes that they are having to play that they've never experienced.
Senior Kia Nurse
On Katie Lou's Injury - "When we have someone go down as good as Lou is, it's a matter of everyone stepping up in their own way to make up for it."
On Dangerfield's Play - "When your point guard does that good of a job taking care of the ball it really helps all of us. She is also really good at getting the pass through a bunch of people and getting us open shots."
Redshirt junior Azurá Stevens
On Improving her play - "It has been a little hard persevering through getting back but I have to remind myself that I have been out for a whole year. It's definitely fun getting back in the groove out there."
Senior Gabby Williams
On Defending Maryland - "It's a fun challenge, you kind of have to have that mindset and not back away from defending them or else they will take advantage."
On Playing Without Katie Lou - "We did not get as many outside shots as normal so we definitely missed her, but I don't think we were complacent about it. Azurá did a great job helping to fill that role."
