March 22, 2010
Recap | Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery
Georgia Tech Head Coach MaChelle Joseph
Opening statement:
“Well obviously we’re highly disappointed in the way we played tonight. We didn’t feel as though we gave our best effort. I give Arkansas-Little Rock credit. They came out very strong, especially their shooter. I thought for a senior she really stepped up. Eighteen points in the first half was huge and really carried them with Chastity Reed in foul trouble. I was really impressed with them, but unfortunately it was too little too late for us. We decided to start playing hard when it was a little bit too late for that. Hopefully this young team will learn a very valuable lesson. Everybody but two players will be back next year and hopefully have an opportunity to learn and grow from this experience. Brigitte Ardossi has been so big for us for all year long. She has led us in so many ways, on the floor and off the floor. Obviously we’re going to miss her tremendously.”
On the defensive pressure:
“I didn’t really feel as though we had an inability to press them. I think we had a back line miscommunication. They had 17 turnovers and 15 assists. I don’t know how many times this year they’ve had a negative turnovers to assists ratios this year but tonight was one of them. I really felt as though when we did switch presses we were able to disrupt them. But it wasn’t defense. It was offense. You can’t score 53 points and win. We need to score more than 53 points and we’re not used to only getting to the free throw line eight times. That’s very unusual for us. We probably average getting to the free throw line anywhere between 15 and 20 times a game and for us to get to the free throw line, those are the points that we usually score by being aggressive and getting inside. That didn’t happen.”
On ULAR’s first appearance in the NCAA tournament:
“I think anytime you’re a first time team in the NCAA tournament, you have no fears because you don’t know what to expect. I think it’s a great position to be in. Obviously when we were in that position it was unbelievable. My hat is off to them. I said earlier, they’re a well-coached team. I think they have a very good team. I don’t think it’s a one-person team. Watching them on tape, I thought they were a very scary team. I was really impressed with (number) 35, the way the senior played, senior guard Kim (Sitzmann). I thought she was really good in the first half getting those threes and carrying their team when (number) 20 was in foul trouble. Outside of her, we did everything we wanted to do and we just weren’t able to stop her. That’s what you expect seniors to do. In the biggest game of their career, to step up, and she did that.”
Georgia Tech Senior Forward Brigitte Ardossi
On easy buckets for ULAR in the first half:
“I just think it was some miscommunication in the defense on the back line. I feel like we adjusted well when we went into a more full court pressure up on the ball. It was just something we needed to communicate a bit more about.”
On ULAR’s post play:
“I feel like we didn’t match up very well when the shot went up. I think if we had to box out, we would have been able to get some more rebounds. I said it yesterday, they’re dangerous. They’re a dangerous team and they came out and just wanted the ball more. It’s unfortunate.”
On ULAR’s transition plays:
“We weren’t surprised. They’re a small, quick team. We have to expect that they’re going to run the ball up and down and that’s something we’ve been used to this whole season.”
On playing in her last game:
“It’s very tough. I can’t hold my head down though. I love my team and I thank them for giving me every opportunity to have such a good year. Without them it wouldn’t have been possible. It’s unfortunate but there are bigger and better things for Georgia Tech next year and I think it’s left in good hands.
Georgia Tech Junior Guard Deja Foster
On easy buckets for ULAR in the first half:
“I felt like we should’ve pressured the ball a little bit more, made the ball handlers feel like they had pressure on them. We let them throw the ball through the press good and we put our post players in a bad position on the defensive end.”
