University of North Carolina Athletics
Postgame Quotes - North Carolina 71, Liberty 65
March 21, 2015 | Women's Basketball
2015 NCAADivision I women's basketball championship
First Round · North Carolina 71, Liberty 65
Carmichael Arena • Chapel Hill, N.C.
Saturday, March 21
POSTGAME QUOTES – UNC
Sylvia Hatchell, UNC Head Coach:
Opening Statement
(On Liberty coach Carey Green) “I don't know whether there's anybody I have more respect for than I do him. He's had lots of opportunities to go to other schools but he's stayed right there and built a dynasty, really. And he's just a great, great guy. I have the utmost respect for him and his players. They do everything the right way.
“We're happy to come out with the win. It's been a couple weeks since we've played. I thought we were very rusty at times. Our rebounding was … I don't know how to describe it but it was pretty bad. We've got to do a lot better job with that. But I was proud of these kids for pulling it out. It got a little wild at times out there but Latifah (Coleman) settled us down, and we kept trying to go to these two (Allisha Gray, Stephanie Mavunga). Stephanie was overplayed a lot. But a couple of the others knocked down some shots. They work hard and pulled it through for us. I knew it was going to be a tough game because Liberty is tough. Its just typical of these first round games we've been seeing in both the men's and the women's tournaments. But I'm just happy for the win and look forward to playing on Monday night.”
Latifah Coleman, Senior Guard
On being motivated in this tournament by the fact she's a senior and it's her last tournament
“This is the most motivation I've had by far in my career. The fact that this could really be it just motivates me and keeps the wheels turning. I'll do whatever I can to survive and advance.”
On being further motivated by Coach Hatchell's return after missing last year's tournament while battling leukemia
“Every time we think about the tournament and last year we get filled with emotion. Now that Coach Hatchell is back it's just great. It's just more fuel to the fire.”
On withstanding Liberty's surges:
“We just kept talking to each other and we had confidence we were going to win this game. Our motto for this tournament is “finish” and that's what we're trying to do.”
Stephanie Mavunga, Sophomore Forward
“We knew we really have to focus. It's anybody's game, especially watching the men's games you really see that, and watching some of the games yesterday. Teams played really close to one another. You can't take anyone lightly. We knew we had to focus and it was going to be a game of runs. After we had that 14 point lead in the first half, we knew that Liberty was going to come out and attack hard. They kept chipping away at the lead but we know basketball is a game of runs and we really had to buckle down. “
Allisha Gray, Sophomore Guard
On how UNC finished out the game
“We definitely picked up the defensive tempo – at the end you noticed they turned the ball over a lot.”
On playing with Latifah Coleman.
“I love playing with Latifah. She's a great distributor of the ball. She's going to find when you're open.”
