Pitt Women's Basketball Postgame Quotes
2/9/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 9, 2017
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Pitt Head Coach Suzie McConnell-Serio
Opening Statement:
"Disappointing performance offensively. Once again we didn't take care of the basketball, we missed layups and open shots. It's a disappointing performance offensively. We can't beat anyone in this league scoring in the forties. We have to be able to put points on the board. We ran things for different people to get them shots. We tried a five-out, we tried our motion, we tried running all different kinds of offenses. It's just disappointing and frustrating. Give Clemson credit, they're a team that has won three out of their last four. They're a young team that is growing as the season progresses. They hit shots down the stretch when the needed to and got stops when they needed to. The disappointing part was that we have two, two-on-one situations, when it was a three-point game, and we turned the ball over both times. We didn't make good decisions in transition once again."
On Clemson's second half adjustments:
"They didn't run anything different then what we had predicted and defended in practice the past two days. For some reason, we came out flat to start the third quarter again. They hit shots and we didn't. We got looks in the first few possessions and we got stops. Our defense isn't the problem. We held them to fifty-four points and twenty-three points at the half. It's our offense that's the problem. We play a zone, we play man-to-man, but our defensive effort has never been in question. Other than giving up offensive rebounds and having breakdowns, those are the only issues we have. That's why we started three post players tonight. We tried to play zone and take care of getting defensive rebounds and not giving this team second chances. They continued to make plays. We just continue to make mistakes and that's unacceptable.
On making adjustments for Duke:
"I've seen Duke play a lot by watching their game tape. They're really tough defensively and they have a really great point guard in Lexi Brown. We have to shoot the ball well. You have to be able to put points on the board to compete with Duke. Right now scoring is our biggest struggle. We'll just mix up our combinations to hopefully fix that. Right now we're an underdog in every game we play. We were picked last in this league. We go into every game with the mindset that we have everything to gain and nothing to lose. I think that we've gotten away from that mindset. Our players are now playing tight, hesitant and afraid to make mistakes. I think that our biggest problem is not having a go-to player, someone you're putting a ball in their hands to make plays. I think that's a factor of our inexperience as a team."
On your expectations coming in to the game:
Based on how we practice and how we compete, I fully expect our team to play well at both ends of the court. I expect them to score and I expect them to defend well. We've had some great practices over the past few weeks. We're a team that I thought was making progress and improving each and every day. I go into every game with the mindset that we expect to win, because of the way we prepare and how hard our players work. For some reason, offensively, it's just not transferring to game situations."
Pitt Forward Brenna Wise
On what changed between the first half and the second half:
"I think they made adjustments. We were keeping up with them in the first half. Obviously, you go into the locker room, you make adjustments and say 'what can we do to extend the lead'. I think at that point they made adjustments that we could not respond to. But, at the end of the day, it comes down to hitting our shots."
On how they are going to prepare for Duke:
"Tomorrow is a bounce back day. Tomorrow is a day that we get better collectively and we come together and respond to this loss tonight. We have to bring the intensity. We have to prepare just as hard as we do for Clemson for Duke. It's the ACC."
On the little mistakes that they made:
"They doubled our offensive rebounds. That's just possessions in a game. It's tough. It comes down to us seeking the ball, boxing out, and finishing the play."
Pitt Forward Kalista Walters
On what changed between the first half and the second half:
"I agree that we made a lot of little mistakes that got us down, and by the time that we had a chance to come back it was late in the fourth."
On how they are going to prepare for Duke:
"We're just going to push this game behind us. Focus on Duke. Come in tomorrow and focus on the little things that we messed up this game and make sure that we don't make them next game and go from there."
On the little mistakes that they made:
"I think that we gave up a lot of points off of turnovers and offensive rebounds. When I say the little things, I'm talking about that. Just going harder. Setting the screen where we need to, getting people open, and putting the ball in the basket."
On her success in the post:
"It's the flow of the game. Coach puts us in the best positions possible to get points on the board and if there's an advantage in the post were going to try to exploit it."
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard/Forward
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