Jan. 22, 2017 Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery 
Opening Statement:
"Virginia's defense is very disruptive. I think we were very fortunate having a bye week this week. Our practice guys did a great job simulating what Virginia would throw at us. How they would defend the 2-on-2, extended zone, the man and how they switch left screens. Players, the prep going into this game was really important. We made plays and got a lot of good shots. I think the biggest thing that I was proudest of with this team is basketball is a game of runs, Virginia made their run in the second half and got their lead but the team we never quit. We made plays and continued to fight. A sign of growth for our team is making plays down the stretch. Brenna [Wise] hit a big three, Alayna [Gribble] hit a big three, Kauai [Bradley] hit a three. Jasmine [Whitney] hit that pull-up jumper. We went inside to Brenna [Wise]. Defensively we switched to our three defense and our players were active and aggressive and Virginia finished 1-for-7 from the field. We did this without one of our starters too, in Aysia Bugg, who we lost earlier this week with a concussion. Jasmine [Whitney] was impressive with how she managed the game and controlled the basketball. They sent double teams at her the entire second half and I was very proud of the way she handled the ball, made plays, and got us into our offense. Brenna [Wise] was huge, she continued to make plays over the course of the game and stayed aggressive and we were able to pull this one out by getting to the free throw lines and hitting our free throws."
On the impact the energy of the crowd had on the game:
"This crowd was amazing. They are like a sixth man on the floor. You can see that when Virginia had the ball they got loud and they would run their offense but couldn't hear. When we were on offense they just gave us energy. Every time we made a play this crowd erupted. Every time we made a shot the crowd gave us energy on defense. They continued to give us energy down the stretch and we love it. Our players love to play in this environment and I was excited to see a big crowd. It was a fun game to be a part of, it really was."
On the surge of 3-point shots in the fourth quarter despite struggling from behind the arc earlier in the game:
"As long as a shot was within rhythm [I want them to take it]. I think what was happening was they were pressuring us full court, double teaming Jasmine [Whitney], taking the ball out of her hands. We had Brenna [Wise] we had Destinie [Gibbs] we had Kauai [Bradley] and we became very hesitant in trying to attack. We were taking quick shots and sometimes not shots within our rhythm. Down the stretch we were able to execute, I think running the pick-and-roll and the down screen on the back side that got Alayna [Gribble] her shot. We were going inside to Brenna [Wise]. It was just executing down the stretch, these players know they have the green light to take the shot when they're in rhythm."
On picking up their third conference win early in conference play:
"It's not too bad for a team that was picked to finish last in the conference. We just take it one game at a time and our players are resilient. They continue to believe in themselves and continue to believe in each other. So much within this conference is who you play, when you play them and where. We've had three teams right in the same area as us, the bottom half and we've had them at home. We've been able to come away with wins. When you go on the road it's a different story. We look to close the gap against the top teams and we look to compete and come away with wins against the teams that are right in the same situation that we are."
Pitt Sophomore Forward Brenna Wise
On the 3-point shooting at the end of the game as well as scoring a career-high:
"Well these two [Alayna Gribble and Kauai Bradley] shot phenomenally from the field. I came down and hit a three, then Alayna, then Kauai, and then Alayna again. I just exploded, I was so excited. They make it easy to score points when you have a threat from everywhere. On any given night, any one of us can have a career high."
On the crowd energy:
"We had a great crowd. We had a great turnout, I think it was Girl Scout Day. It was phenomenal to have everyone here and to have that energy. We feed off that energy and the energy from each other. After that fourth three, wow, we were buzzing. It was great."
On Coach McConnell-Serio's message about closing out the fourth quarter strong:
"Usually in those moments, players get uptight. You want a specific play or a specific shot. Coming out of the time out I remember her telling us, 'you shoot the shot or you drive.' She didn't want to pull in the reigns on us. That gave us a lot of leeway to know that our coach had faith in us.
On what the team did defensively to force fifteen turnovers:
"Not necessarily anything different. I think that it's important for us to get better every time we practice so it's a testament to us and our growth."
Pitt Freshman Alayna Gribble
On missing Aysia Bugg and the importance of other players stepping up:
"Obviously we lost our point guard in Aysia Bugg, so we needed both of them [Jasmine Whitney and Cassidy Walsh] to step up. I definitely think that both of them stepped up. Jasmine had a great game and was very confident. She led our team and was very poised out there."
On how practice prepared them for Virginia's defense:
"We had our men's practice players come in and for the past three days they have been simulating Virginia's defense. That really helped us today."
On shooting well in the second and fourth quarters:
"I think we were taking better shots and we weren't rushing. We were taking good three point shots, but making sure we got the ball inside too."
Pitt Sophomore Forward Kauai Bradley
On what Coach McConnell-Serio said during the turning point in the fourth quarter:
"We had a run, they had a run. She just told us to relax and compete. That's what sparked us to go and then after we had those four threes back to back with the energy of the crowd. That really got us going."
On approaching last season's win total:
"We just continue to work hard. We don't give up. We come to practice and work every day to get better."
