University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina vs. Purdue Post Game Quotes
March 26, 2006 | Women's Basketball
March 26, 2006
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North Carolina Press Conference
Head Coach Sylvia Hatchell
Opening Statement
Survive and advance, right? First off, you have to give a lot of credit to Purdue. I thought they played a really good game. We're just happy to survive that game and hopefully we'll play better on Tuesday night. I'm proud of these ladies, they played hard and we did what we needed to do down the stretch and of course, Ivory (Latta) at the end there, she did what she she was supposed to do. Like I said, it was a great game and we're just happy to be playing on Tuesday.
On La'Tangela Atkinson's baseball pass near the end of the game
I about fainted (when she threw the pass). Thast wasn't the play and when I saw that pass, I though "ah, man." She threw it so hard, I thought she was going to throw it out off the court. If she (Little) would have made the lay-up, I would have been happy. My philosophy is to give the players a lot of reads and opportunities to see situations and to read them out there on the court. La'Tangela is a senior and Camille (Little) is a junior and they saw something out there- and they do that a lot. We talked in the lockerroom at halftime about what they were seeing on the floor and they gave a lot of feedback. They're really smart. Maybe it would have gone in or maybe we get fouled there.
On the lessons of the game and Purdue's performance
Purdue is a good team. They were well prepared and shot the ball well. For about three minutes in the second half, it seemed like they (Purdue) played on a different level. They got every rebounds and when we did manage to get one, the stripped it away, taking it out of our hands and scoring. I just thought that when we got that lead, they toughened up and went to another level. I was upset that we weren't holding onto rebounds and not making good decisions. Again, everyone is playing for their season not to be over.
On Latta taking the final shot
She's our point guard, our leader and she's a winner. She took that shot mainly because she's a winner. The kid's tough, we knew she'd go in there and make a good decision. She did what we've been doing all year and she's just a tough kid who finds a way to win.
On turnovers/sloppy play
It was a physical game from the beginning. I was upset that we didn't start better, especially when we usually start pretty well. We were sloppy and that really set the tone for the whole game.
On playing Tennessee Tuesday night
I hadn't really thought about it, to be honest. I told our team earlier this season that we would probably end up playing them a some point, I just didn't expect it to be this soon. They're very big. I thought we'd be playing them in the final four, not the regional. It should be a great game.
Junior Guard Ivory Latta
On the game-winning shot
Camille Little gave me a great pick, I saw an opening and I just made the shot. I'd say it is one of the biggest shots I've made. If It hadn't been for Camille's screen though, I couldn't have made it.
On her injury
I just got a really bad cramp. I didn't even get to celebrate (the win).
On Playing Tennessee Tuesday night
It's going to be a great game between us and Tennessee. It's like a championship game, in a way, because our (regional) bracket was like a Final Four. We've just got to regroup and get our focus back and be ready for Tuesday.
Senior guard/forward La'Tangela Atkinson
*On cleaning up the sloppy play earlier in the game
We realized we need to have each other's back. We stayed focused and intense and when opportunities to score came open, we just took our time. We didn't rush things and just played Carolina basketball.
On her baseball pass to Little
I've got a pretty good "baseball arm." I tossed the pass and I know it was good that it got to Camille. When we had to take it out of bounds, I thought that was even better because that's closer.
Sophomore forward Erlana Larkins
*On Purdue not going away and continue to battle them
You always hope a team is going to just go away, but we didn't expect them to. Purdue played us tough and prepared us for Tuesday.
On playing a close game
Today gave us an opportunity to show our heart. We knew they woudn't go away and we showed that we stay close as a team when the game gets tough.
On her thoughts during the last play
We run that play a lot when the clock is winding down. I fully expected (Latta) to take it, I was just positioning myself in case she missed for a rebound. But, I was really excited when it went in.
Purdue Press Conference
Head Coach Kristy Curry
Opening Statement
There are no moral victories in this. Our team expected to win today when nobody gave us a chance. We are hurting, the kids are upset, but I could not be prouder of this team or the season we have had. It came down to who had the ball at the end. You have to give them credit on making a play at the end.
On Wisdom-Hylton's Performance
She continued, this last month of the season, to be an impact player for us. We asked her to make herself more available, don't disappear. We feel she is the best sophomore in the Big 10 and one of the best sophomores in the country. She's the greatest, most sweetest kid and you want her to have a little meanness about her and an ability to take over a game. She is so selfless sometimes, that is her worst enemy, but at the same time that is what makes her very special
On Trying to Contain Erlana Larkins
We did a better job in the second half. We tried to double her better. She got too many easy catches. They are so balance they are more than Larkins. They are so good if you can keep her off the glass and make her earn everything in the half court. That where she really hurt us was on the glass.
On Her Coaching Future
Right now it's about this team. I'm doing the best I can for them today and making sure they are taken care of today. There is now question that the past seven years have been incredibly special and we have given everything that we have. We just have to sit down tomorrow and figure out as a family where we are going to go from here. Whether it will be it here at Purdue or wherever we will give it all that we got. Today is about this team and these kids who I love an awful lot.
On Second-Half Adjustments
We wanted to make sure we were attacking them and coming out and being aggressive. There was no question we felt like we could score against them. It was a matter of making plays down the stretch. We just didn't get a stop and we were one stop away.
Junior Guard Katie Gearlds
On The Way Purdue Played
I thought we put ourselves in position to win. We came here thinking and knowing we were going to win. Give North Carolina credit they made the play when they needed to.I thought we played well enough to win.
On Next Year's Potential
We are losing four very special people in Sharika (Webb), Aya (Traore), Ashley (Mays), and Carol (Duncan). Carol was always coming in and making a play for us. Ashley is so huge for our team beyond being on the floor. We have big shoes to fill but right now this is going to hurt for awhile.
On North Carolina's Defense
They are just so athletic and we knew that coming in here. We had 23 turnovers but it seemed like we did a good job of taking care of the ball. You have to give them credit. They played hard and got stops when they needed to. You have to like their chances of going all the way.
Sophomore Forward Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton
On Her play today
I am very proud of myself and my teammates on how we played today. We knew we had to come out and play our best game in order to win. If we had a couple more minutes we could have pulled it out but they were able to make a last-second shot.
Junior Forward Erin Lawless
On Purdue's Play
I think we came out from the very beginning with heart and hustle. We weren't giving up. We came into this game with confidence. Nobody believed in us but ourselves. We knew we were going to come in here and play the best game we ever played. They kept firing at us and we kept firing right back.
On Next Year's Potential
I thought we had potential this year. We have a lot of talent on this team. Purdue is rich in its basketball tradition and it's hard to look at next year right now.
