(On the outcome of the game) Looking at the stat sheet, it seems as if we won this game. We out-rebounded them by eleven, and shot 43 percent from the field. I told the ladies that we had to pay attention to detail in this game. This is a totally different team then the one we played in New York. They have been playing very confident and very scrappy as of late, and they have different players who have gained confidence. (Erin) Thorn has been playing good the past four or five games. We understood that going into this game, and we still weren’t able to contain them. We did a pretty good job against (Cathrine) Kraayeveld. We knew that she and Thorn was a big key to this game. We just didn’t bear down. The team we faced today scored 69 points per game, and gave up 80. We got the 80, but couldn’t hold them to 69, and that was the big difference in the game tonight.
(On the importance of the game) We should have had a sense of urgency, especially when playing at home. We just came off a big win on the road, and we knew the importance of this game. We knew that a win would get us closer to Washington. We just can’t keep putting ourselves behind the eight ball like this. It’s frustrating, but we have to keep playing and go up to Washington and handle our business on the road. We have to hope that these games on the road will be good to us.
(On the window of opportunity to get into the playoffs) The window of opportunity is closing quickly. With seven games remaining, you pretty much have to win out, with Washington losing the rest of their games. We really have to just take one game at a time. We have to keep building. Not just for this year, but for next year as well. That’s been a process for the whole year. I’m trying to get them to understand my philosophy, but we just haven’t been consistent enough or carrying it all the way through.
(On offensive balance) We had three scorers with double-digit scoring (Tangela Smith, Tammy Sutton-Brown, and Monique Currie) and one coming off the bench (Kelly Mazzante). That is good balance, but it’s the defense that hurt us. You just can’t allow a team to get confidence, because once they get confidence it’s difficult to guard them. We allowed them to get that confidence. They started to believe in themselves and started playing very aggressive.
INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM
TAMMY SUTTON-BROWN
(On comparing the first and second halves)
Our defense slacked off in the second half. We just have to understand personnel and who we are guarding. I don’t think we did a good job of that tonight. Our defense is what starts our offense, and our defense keeps us in a lot of games. It just wasn’t our night tonight.
(On the importance of the upcoming road trip) It’s extremely important. This loss really put us behind for the playoff race. We have Washington tomorrow, who we are still chasing. I know they are currently playing right now, but I’m not sure if they are winning. But, we have some winnable games coming up, and we really need to win them.
(On the continued success on the inside) Tangela [Smith] is a great player. She has really been doing her thing this year. She makes it easier for me and a lot of our guards on the outside. I think we’ve been working really well together. I think we have the mindset that we want to dominate each game.
TANGELA SMITH
(On the importance of the 11-1 run by New York in the third quarter)
It obviously changed the game. Their run really hurt us, and it was hard after that to fight back in the game. Basketball is a game of runs, and we just couldn’t get any in the fourth quarter. Overall, they played more aggressive than we did.
(On the importance of the upcoming road trip) Every game from now on is important, not just being on the road. We just have to get this loss out of our heads, and just focus on what we have to do. Even though Washington is ahead of us, we need to focus less on them and more on our game.
(On another great inside performance) I think that’s where it starts. We have two dominant post players in Tammy and myself, so we need to get the ball inside. When that happens, that opens up the offense for everybody. I think it’s very important that Tammy and I dominate, especially at the beginning of each game.
