Washington-Colorado Postgame Quotes
December 21, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2004
HEAD COACH June Daugherty
General Comments: "I was really proud of the team. We were down six and able to get back and force overtime. I thought we had the momentum and the kids showed a lot of toughness tonight. I'm sorry for them that they didn't get the 'W'. To lose that way in overtime was a tough thing. We have to bounce back; we had a lot of good things tonight. Preseason is over now and we know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel after playing a very tough competitive schedule. Now we have a chance to turn our thoughts to the Pac-10 and the challenges that that's going to bring."
On lineup change: "We're trying to shore up some things defensively and we're trying to reward the people who are playing with intensity and getting it done in practice, so we wanted to give those people a chance to do it in the game. The other thing that was important was to get Kristen (O'Neill) at the four. She gives us better rebounding and has the size to play down there. With Kristen at the one she does not get the ball back in her hands. Tonight she scored early and that was good to see. I think it's important to get Kristen more touches, that's important to this team right now offensively."
On Dominique Banks: "The think I like about Dominique is that she's fearless. She's going to give it all she's got and she doesn't worry about things. I thought she shot some big free throws down the stretch, took some big shots for us. She's a real exciting player and I'm happy to see her have a breakout game like this. Hopefully we'll continue to see that kind of effort from her."
On non-conference schedule: "I think it was an incredibly challenging schedule. The good news is that these guys have learned and grown a lot because of it. The other thing is that they don't know any other way to play, but to play against great competition and that's very important for this team. That's what being at Washington is about - great competition and wanting to be the best. I like the fact that these guys have not shown any fear and that these guys are improving. We're going to keep plugging away because we know we have the talent, we're getting the experience, and our day will come."
FORWARD Jill Bell
On if her play was in response to being benched: "No, not at all. Maggie (O'Hara) did a great job starting off the game. She took some changes and got to the free throw line later in the game. So I was just there to keep up where she left off when I got on the floor and I just tried to continue my intensity throughout the whole game."
On end of nonconference play: "This was the end of preseason and we have a whole new second season to play in the Pac-10 season. So we've just got to learn from this and I think that we've taken tremendous strides in this game in some areas and we just have to build on it and carry it thorugh the Pac-10 season and take the Pac-10 season with no fear."
On Dominique Banks: "Dominique always has a spunky personality. She was even more spunky today and it showed on the court."
GUARD Dominique Banks
On pregame preparation: "I've been excited since probably the end of practice. We had a chance to sleep in but I woke up kind of early this morning. I was just excited the whole day. When I got here everyone told me to calm down and sit down. I was all over the playce, jumping around, screaming. I was ready for the game. I've been on the go all day."
