USF vs. Ole Miss
WNIT Sweet 16
Post Game Quotes
March 26, 2009
USF Sun Dome
Head Coach Jose Fernandez
Opening Statement
“I was very proud of our players ? how we came out in the second half. I think we just came out and really guarded, (Jasmine) Sepulveda and (Jasmine) Wynne did an excellent job on (Bianca) Thomas ? held her scoreless in the second half. Throughout the game we had a lot of players make different runs, (Janae) Stokes had a great first half, Shantia Grace down the stretch made big baskets - those two threes that she hit were big ? Porche (Grant) having a double-double, Brittany (Denson) and (Jessica) Lawson having a good second half. I'm really proud of these players ? the big thing is I told (Jasmine Sepulveda) to go tell the seniors don't let this be the last 20 minutes of your career especially on your home floor. They came out and took care of business in the second half, it's a good win.”
On how the team has responded
“They've gotten past it, there is nothing we can do, all we can do is just play basketball. The one thing I told these kids was that their playing would speak for itself, right now in the two tournaments there are 16 left in the NCAA and 16 left in the WNIT ? we have eight teams from the BIG EAST Conference still playing out of 32, that's a fourth. BIG EAST got seven, ACC got seven, SEC got seven ? there is one SEC team left in the tournament and one ACC team left in the tournament. It speaks for itself how strong this league is in how many teams are left. We played Florida Gulf Coast and we haven't played in a week and a half ? the pain of not going we put it past us because there is nothing we can do, everybody forgot about it, no one else is going to talk about it ? it's done, it's over with. We told our team there are only two teams that finish the season with a win ? the NCAA champion and the WNIT champion ? lets go out and win the whole thing.”
On playing on the road
“We'll practice tomorrow at 1 p.m. and leave Saturday, just like any other road trip. It's not different than going on the road in the BIG EAST, we've gone to Chicago to DePaul, Marquette and it is going to be colder than it is right now.”
On Janae Stokes
“That's Janae, she is a shooter, it is just keeping her focused, keeping her head in the game. She is the type of kid that can get on a roll and she just thinks that basket is four feet wide and everything she throws up goes in. In the second half she had great looks but they were different type of shots that she took, they were wide open and a lot of the shots she hit in the first half were on the move and in transition. Credit our team, we had 21 assists to 12 turnovers ? we shared the basketball real well.”
On if the NCAA disappointment is gone
“We haven't really talked about because if you keep talking about it you start thinking what it could've been and should've been. I think it is always going to linger ? years ago I felt bad for that senior group of Miller, Sheets, Dixon, that they didn't get in with a 31 RPI. It is about the student-athletes and I feel bad for them because I'm 37 and I figure I'm going to continue to coach for a long time ? I'll have a lot more chances to go to the NCAA tournament ? for this team that chance is over so the only chance they have is to win the WNIT.”
Senior Center Jessica Lawson
On playing her last game at home
“It is definitely a blessing ? it is a blessing just being here. The good thing about it is that we're a good road team, we've been on the road and played some good games so we're not concerned about going on the road because we are a good road team and we're focused.”
On whether Janae Stokes scoring rhythm motivated the team
“I think Janae gave us momentum ? I really do ? she came in and gave great energy, not just great shots but she just gave great energy so it opened it up a little bit more. They were doubling the post and by Janae coming out and just hitting it made them play everybody honestly and widened things out. It opened a lot of opportunities ? in the second half they started trying to deny Janae which opened up for (Shantia Grace) or opened up for (Jasmine Sepulveda) and they knocked down a three-point shot. Janae just came in and gave great energy, her coming in and knocking down shots was the key for us because that is what opened up everything.”
On having the most wins in USF history for a men's or women's team
“It is a blessing ? it is a blessing to still be playing and it is a blessing to be here. Coach always asks how we want to be remembered and I feel great being a part of this team that has the most wins for men or women. I'm just enjoying the moment, it is a blessing right now just to be here.”
Senior Guard Shantia Grace
On the run to open the second half
“The key was just playing hard ? like coach said he told (Jasmine) Sepulveda to come and tell us that we don't want this to be the last 20 minutes of our college career for the seniors. We just came out of halftime with heart, once one person stepped up the rest of the team stepped up.”
On her shooting in the second half
“I felt good, in shoot around earlier today everything I threw up I was making so I thought I might make some in the game. Coming into the game I started feeling it more in the second half, once I hit one I kept shooting and that got me going.”
On Janae Stokes scoring run
“Janae was shooting, she does that in practice against us and we get mad but that's our teammate. She can do that, she is a great shooter. She can shoot with her eyes closed I think so once she gets in that zone we just keep feeding it to her just like earlier in the year when she had 30 something points. She can do it because she is a great shooter.”
