UConn head coach Geno Auriemma
In Paige Bueckers:
“It has been difficult in some games to see where we can help Paige to be better. I think the most impressive thing about Paige is that she plays at the same pace throughout the game. This usually comes a little later for most players, but she did it at such a young age. She slows down the game for her. I’m always surprised when she shoots and he doesn’t come in. “
On the impact of young players:
“There is something about what Nika [Muhl]doing this adds to the game. Aubrey [Griffin] will do ten things in the first fifteen seconds you are in the game. You want players to impact the game, and our young players definitely do that. “
In the instability of the game:
“Today we were the Broad Street Bullies. It’s easy to win games that are fun and fluid. Tonight was not one of those games, but we have to win those games.”
In the defensive efforts of the team:
“We are improving defensively, but there are things we cannot deal with. When we really needed to stop, we got one, which is a good sign.”
Junior Forward Olivia Nelson-Ododa
When winning teams # 1:
“It feels great, especially with the energy of the game. We went out the way we should and that went into overtime. So it was clear.”
To maintain power without fans:
“I think we were all stuck and on the same page, this was how the whole game looked. I think everyone really felt that even sometimes we had our downfalls here and there, but we really kept our composure tonight. That was the main thing that really led us to victory. “
On the team showing resistance:
“Definitely, the guards and the posts there were big clashes tonight. I think people were able to handle their jobs well and do the best they could, especially just by bringing that extra layer of resistance that we know South Carolina usually play and that we know he is capable of. This is something that we have improved with each game, especially our defensive effort and you can see that tonight. “
Freshman Guard Paige Bueckers
By scoring the team’s last 13 points:
“We were struggling to score at certain times. It was just my teammates who really opened up to me … setting a million screens for me. Screens down, spherical screens, flare screens. Everything they did for me is just incredible. and it’s just my teammates and my coaches wanting me to make those pitches when it’s open. So that’s what I tried to do tonight. “
In its bouncing three points:
“Yes, I felt good when he left my hand. So when I saw him hit his back and shoot straight up, I said it had to come in. It looked good, it felt good, but yes, I would say it is just a good jump. “
In the game:
“I would say it was a very physical and exhausting game. You had to give everything on both sides of the floor. A very fast and long game, but we had to give everything on both sides of the floor. We didn’t shoot very well in the attack. , but I think our defense really caught on tonight. It was a very low scoring game, but I’m very proud of our defense and the advances we’re making in this ending. really fun… I wish the fans were there, but it was a really fun atmosphere just for being part of that game. It was just a very fun and competitive game. “
Nika Mühl, freshman guard
In Paige Bueckers’ last picture:
“About the last shot, we just knew it was happening. It was no surprise that Paige is what she does, she does it every day in practice. But I think that in this game we fight very offensively, we have a lot of mistakes that we need correct and she really stood up and helped us a lot, she was amazing. “
About playing a great game:
“I knew what I was getting into, I knew that they were good and that the games would be very physical on both sides. I kind of mentally prepared for it. I feel that defensively we did a great job today, but we have a lot to fix. That was a lesson as good as a victory for us.
South Carolina Head Coach Dawn Staley
Activated if UConn did something defensively to slow the USC’s fast attack and offensive pace:
“I mean, Destanni Henderson doesn’t turn the ball like it did. She doesn’t lose control of the ball like you saw her do tonight. She just did it too much and didn’t make the adjustment to play with the ball and hit our foot, because we’re usually getting at least one chance to give rebound players the opportunity to hit the ball for second chance points. I don’t think UConn did anything different than what we saw other teams do, we were different with what we did against UConn, as much as the transition. “
About South Carolina’s struggle to make layups throughout the game
I mean, we’ve been losing layups all year, you can attribute that to UConn’s defense and to the defense of everyone else we’ve played against, that we haven’t been able to get the ball into the hole … it’s what it is, we have to move on front. All of our goals are still ahead of us. Would we like to win the game? Yes. There are some quality things that we can take away from this game. We went down seven and fought back and took the lead for three and then I thought we just made the wrong decisions. Aliyah’s retreat 3, the fast kick, dribbling in traffic and losing the ball. All contributed to not taking care of the moment, these are moments that we need to have back and get more expected looks on the floor.
In Paige Bueckers’ performance:
“She is a player, she makes great plays when her number is called over and over.”