Wisconsin vs. Mississippi Valley State
Dec. 8, 2016
Madison, Wis. - Kohl Center

UW Head Coach Jonathan Tsipis 
Opening statement:
"I'm really proud of our team's response. You all know that Tuesday night was not our best performance and that part of moving forward started really quickly after the game. Our team's mindset and how they came in yesterday, prepared, with a quick turnaround. They were eager to get back on the floor, eager to learn from what had happened on Tuesday night and they took responsibility. It wasn't a long practice yesterday but I'd say it was pretty intense. But afterwards and today in our walk through they were really on-point with what we were trying to do today. When you look at the final box score, a team effort is something that shows when you have 28 assists. When you see that part of what I think is our strength on the glass. Just the balance, to have five people in double figures, to be able to keep everybody under 27 minutes, I really felt like when we subbed today there wasn't any part of things where it ever let down. Just really proud of our group for understanding the maturation of not allowing what happened Tuesday night to affect any part of what happened today."
 
On Suzanne Gilreath's play:
"With the way they changed defenses, we tried to not be robotic about what we were running. We broke the press where we tried to get the ball in certain areas to attack, the part that I really like about our team is they try to find her (Suzanne) no matter what we're running. One thing I know with Suzanne Gilreath is she's going to make herself available and she's not going to hesitate. Whether it's in transition, she puts a lot of pressure on the defense and as soon as she gets to the 3-point line it helps open the floor up as well. But how we ran the floor was the biggest thing to help Susanne get open at the 3-point line."

On having 27 steals in the last two games:
"I thought we had a lot more active hands in the zone tonight. In the second half, we felt like they got too much dribble penetration but when we play zone, we're really trying to be in two places at once. Kendra had six steals but it's also the deflections that really determine our activity level. We're constantly able to rotate people in so we always have fresh and active hands in the zone. Even if the ball did get through, I think we did a good job of making them shoot contested shots."
 
On Malayna (Johnson) and Taylor (Kuhn) getting their first career starts tonight:
"During practice yesterday, we talked about the energy that we came out of practice with and those people would start. I would say – since I've been here – that was the best practice I've seen Malayna Johnson have. I think it also carried into the game today. Taylor Kuhn is someone who leads us in our energy rating or is in the top two or three almost every single day. We feel like that is a part of our identity and our chemistry – win or lose. It's so important that Taylor carries that mantle and I think it needs to be rewarded. It is the foundation of our program and it will always be. She deserved to start today. I also thought it helped Courtney Fredrickson to get a little more comfortable coming off the bench. Courtney got on the glass as you can see with the five offensive rebounds. But I'm so excited; everyone that got a chance to play tonight scored. Going back to Taylor, her teammates want her to do so well. When she got in there I asked her if she was nervous and she said 'not at all, I want to take the first shot' which she did take the first shot. I think everyone knows how hard it is as a walk-on to put blood, sweat and tears into each practice knowing you don't always get an opportunity in the game. I think when we announced her in the starting lineup she may have been a little nervous but her teammates were really excited for her."
 
On getting post play going tonight:
"I think they ran the floor well and no matter what defense MSVU played, they were active. They looked for each other out of the high post. I thought Malayna and Abby (Laszewski) were ready to score the basketball on those catches. Kendall (Shaw) had 12 points and four assists but also no turnovers. I thought our guards did a good job of putting them in positions to be successful. I'm really proud of Abby for getting out of her comfort zone, keeping the ball high, and she shot three right in a row. I just want her to be comfortable out there. I was just really proud of that part of things. Even at the end, she was battling hard and got herself to the free-throw line. They just fed off each other well – which we had to when Marsha and Malayna both had two fouls in the first half. They took it upon themselves to make a difference in the game."
 
Freshman Kendra Van Leeuwen
On rebounding from Tuesday's loss:
"I think it all started with team chemistry. We decided to come together no matter if we turn the ball over or score, we were going to come out the same way. We were going to be there for each other, connect, and get it back on the next play no matter what happens."
 
On getting a lot of shots up and if it was part of her game plan:
"No, it just happens. It's really easy when you have other players around the court that can take the defense away. So, if I attack and say Malayna (Johnson) is boxing out her player, it's either I'm getting a shot or I'm going to make a pass for her to get a shot. But it's easier to work with the team out there."

On docking 10 assists on the night:
"It's really awesome to be able to take that away from the game with how many assists we had as a team. The girls are running the floor, attacking and looking to score. All the hustle on the defensive end really pays off on the offensive end."
 
Freshman Suzanne Gilreath
On rebounding from Tuesday's loss:
"Just encouraging each other when people make mistakes. In practice yesterday coach preached encouraging each other if we're down and things are not going our way, just come together. I think that was the main thing that clicked for tonight."
 
On having a good game and if she felt like tonight was going to click for her:
"Whenever my teammates give it to me, I'm ready to shoot. But I give props to my teammates for giving it to me because without them I wouldn't be able to do this so it's just about being ready when it comes."