Post-Game Quotes
12/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2006
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Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie
Opening statement...
That was quite a defensive battle. It was an excellent basketball game in so many ways. Very physical on both sides, both teams played with heart. Wisconsin did a great job, they played very hard, I thought our team played very hard also. You just have to keep attacking in this type of game. Offensive rebounding was very important to us. A very different game from Thursday, almost a polar opposite. I just love the fact that our team is being exposed to so many different kinds of games because you really have to be able to adjust and work within a game. And that was definitely blue-collar with a lot of heart.
On the crowd...
The crowd was absolutely terrific. I just can't thank the crowd enough for coming out, they were very, very loud and very into the game and that was certainly motivating for our team.
On adjusting to a Wisconsin team without (Danielle) Ward in the second half...
Well, we had a lot to worry about ourselves, in terms of how offensively we were dealing with some things. Ward is an excellent player, I'm just happy that she came back and nothing was severe.
Wisconsin Head Coach Lisa Stone
Opening Statement...
I just told my basketball team how proud of them I am, I certainly am. I thought we came in this arena with a very high regard and utmost respect for Michigan State. Our team battled, they really battled. We struggled shooting in the first half, we lose Danielle Ward to an injury in the first half and we're still right in it.
I thought we came out of the locker room with a lot of fire power to start the second half, but I thought the difference in the game was a couple of things. One, the second chance opportunities that we allowed Michigan State in the second half, they did a great job on the offensive glass, got second and third opportunities and we ended up playing from behind. Again, I give my team a ton of credit. They really, really competed. We didn't shoot the ball real well, but defensively I thought we did a nice job. DeHaan is a great player, obviously without any question. (MSU has) two tremendous senior leader guards and when you look at our team out there from size to youth and experience. There were four freshmen on the floor for quite a period in the second half and I thought they represented themselves pretty well. They were feisty, they were competitive, they played the whole entire game and it's just unfortunate that we couldn't come out of here with a win because we came in here very excited about what we had done this far in the season and where we're going to go.
On Danielle Ward's injury...
I thought it was the knee, then it was the ankle, I thought it was her back. It's still yet to be determined, she should be okay. The fortunate thing for us is that we don't play again until Sunday. So this is our bye week, it comes at a good time. But it appears to be an ankle injury and not as severe as it could have been.
Danielle scores 10 for us and only plays 17 minutes, obviously almost all in the first half and maybe a couple in the second half. It made a big difference for us. Her speed, her quickness around (the basket), defending inside. Also she's a rebounder for us. A junior, a very talented player on the bench, not being able to rebound for us. So we missed her a lot and hope for happy health for her real soon.