Postgame Quotes vs. University of North Carolina
Dec. 1, 2016
Kohl Center - Madison, Wis.

Head Coach Jonathan Tsipis
Opening Statement:
"You break a game into two halves and then I just felt like our team was what you saw in the second half from an effort and an ability to compete. I think in the first half we made a defensive decision, but I don't think it would have mattered. Any defense in the world that when you don't play defense with a great activity and effort you end up on your heels a lot. I thought the things that we're pulling from this game, we were plus 13 on the glass in the second half, we only turned it over three times. We gave ourselves a chance to get back into the game and I think that part, a lot of that was our kids and trying to challenge them at half time, but they took it upon themselves. I think we look at that as a great learning example, but we can't wait until there's 20 minutes on the scoreboard in half number two. I think North Carolina came out and went right at us and put us on our heels, even off the tip. I felt like in the second quarter we got good shots, we didn't take great care of the ball. In the third, we didn't shoot it necessarily great, but we were on the glass and we did just a great job. You can shoot 33 percent and still outscore somebody. You know, when you hold somebody to 21 percent in the third quarter and you know they were 10-for-36 in the second half. So, we're never satisfied losing and I think a goal of our team is to be competitive and continue to put those pieces together for longer periods of time and I'm proud of our group, of how we finished. We've got to grow and be able to go from start to finish."
 
On teaching the team the importance of the rebound battle:
"I think that's something we talked about as a staff is we had 16 offensive rebounds and 11 second-chance points and they had 12 and 18. I think that part we at least have to get to the line. I think that's where we've been really aggressive and one of our strengths is that we have gotten to the line a lot through the first six games of the year. Even if you don't get it in the paint and go back up with it, we got some long rebounds, we've got to be in a position to attack whether it's to spot up for a three, put it back on the ground or get it back inside, as soon as you get that rebound. I think we caught ourselves sometimes with settling to just run the offense and I think that was an issue in the first half when we broke the pressure. We didn't get into things quick enough to take advantage of angles and maybe bad closeouts or mismatches that we had. So, we'll continue to work on that. I think that part of when you get it in deep, you have to get a high percentage shot. You've got to get squared. You've got to get the ball up on the glass to maybe give yourself, even if you miss it, that your teammate gets another opportunity, but it's something that, again, we work on in practice every day in our position work, on taking hits and being able to score with contact, but all five on the floor have got to be able to execute it better."
 
On being able to rely on the bench:
"We talked about that afterwards. I'm really proud of Suzanne Gilreath because coming into this game [her] shots have not gone in and she's undeterred. She's always in getting extra shots up. She understands her role. She played 21 minutes tonight, took 10 shots, nine from the arc. There's no hesitation. I think that helps so people on the floor understand that when she gets it and she's outside the arc and she's open, she's going to play her role. I thought Marsha (Howard) and Malayna (Johnson) off the bench gave us toughness around the rim. We were able to score it, obviously both of them rebounded the ball well. We need to do that for bigger stretches of time. We got in a little bit of foul trouble with Avy (Young). I put her back in with two because I just felt like the game was starting to get away and I'm going to do that. I think that part of the bench stepped up in that area and we need that consistency every game because if I think that if we want to play with that effort and energy level we are going to need to have people off the bench ready to come in and not just spell people but be productive."
 
On Young's rebounding:
"I think the impressive part, nine defensive rebounds is a season high. Avy got some rebounds out of position, some loose ball rebounds that helped us get out in transition in the second half. We've talked about that, that she wants that number to increase so people aren't getting second opportunities. I was really happy because there were some that did not come right to her she went and tracked down. Maybe a couple people had tipped them and we were able to get it so we could so we could get it in motion so we could attack."
 
Freshman G Suzanne Gilreath
On how she was able to be productive off the bench:
"Just be ready and have confidence in your shot. I know I get in the gym a lot, so just being ready and having the confidence and the momentum going in off the bench. Just being ready when my name is called. That's really it."
 
Senior F Avyanna Young
On improving her rebounding after each game:
"Just to do it all the time. I just have to stay consistent with it because I know that's what I have to do to help my team, to help us to win games. We have to stay on the boards."