From The Locker Room
2/25/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
MICHIGAN STATE VS. MINNESOTA
February 25, 2001 -- Breslin Center
Michigan State Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie:
On Today's Game: "I was excited for the team, especially for the seniors. It was an exciting game to watch, especially with almost breaking a school record (for three-point field goals). It was nice to see us come out as a house on fire (14-0 run), since it was unusual but great to see. I am glad we sent the seniors off with such a great game."
"We could see the urgency and emotions of this game coming out in the seniors in practice and before the game. The seniors did great they were aggressive to the end."
On the Big Ten Tournament: "This win is a great lift going into the Big Ten Tournament. There is a lot of balance in the Big Ten once you get past Purdue and Penn State. It is a tough conference and it has been shown that anybody can be beaten on any night. All the teams will be fired up for the tournament we just need to keep focused on what we can do and what we can control."
On what is lost with the seniors leaving: "We will lose leadership and commitment. These seniors are leaving a legacy of defense behind. It is amazing that with our record we are still leading most of the categories in defense. (Christie) Pung, (Erin) Skelly and Donita (Johnson) have left a legacy of defense and rebounding for our program to build upon. They have really set a high standard for the players coming in, in the following years."
Minnesota Head Coach Cheryl Littlejohn:
On the Game: "I was really pleased with the last 15 minutes of the ball game. If you take the last 15 minutes, then I think we changed the momentum and a lot of good things happened - we picked up our intensity on defense, had a lot of stops and we got the ball inside and shot it pretty well.
On the First Round of the Big Ten Tournament: "We don't have any pressure on us and we could be the spoiler team. You never know - we just plan on putting our best foot forward and competing to hopefully stay alive for Friday."
Michigan State Seniors:
Erin Skelly: "I was excited that we played well for our last home game, that is what I wanted."
Christie Pung: "It was nice to get all those three's but I just took what was given to me and my team did a great job of setting me up for them. I wanted to go out on a positive note and I need to thank my teammates for coming ready to play and playing such a hard fought game."
Becky Cummings: "I was happy to be here and be a part of this team, I am only sorry I had to watch from the sideline. It is shocking to believe that I am a senior. I have watched this same kind of tribute for the seniors the past three years and it is just weird to be up there as one of them - it is shocking to believe that I am a senior and will never play on this court again."
Donita Johnson: "I just wanted to go out to play for a win and especially for Becky and Nikki who were forced to watch from the sideline."
Nikki Davis: "With playing with this group of seniors I just could not walk away. I was brought up that once you commit yourself to something you need to see it all the way through and so I just could not walk away from this team after my injury."