Friday, June 30, 2006 at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
Detroit Shock 70, Connecticut Sun 64
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Shock 70, Sun 64
Boxscore
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Recap
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June 30, 2006
Mohegan Sun Arena
Uncasville, CT |
| Points: | (DET) K. Smith, 21
(CON) A. Jones, 16 |
| Rebounds: | (DET) Two Tied, 8
(CON) McWilliams-Franklin, 10 |
| Assists: | (DET) Two Tied, 4
(CON) L. Whalen, 5 |
| Blocks: | (DET) Two Tied, 1
(CON) M. Dydek, 7 |
| Player of the Game |
Katie Smith
Points: 21
Assists: 3
3PM-A: 3-6
Minutes: 34
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| POSTGAME QUOTES |
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Shock Head Coach Bill Laimbeer
On the Shock’s win:
“It’s strange how when we have these back-to-back games this year we always
seem to play Connecticut but we came through and this was a very good win
for our ball club. We played hard tonight and it was a great performance
for us.”
On Katie Smith:
“Smith was big. She was struggling offensively so she tried to run the team
in other ways but when she had to go score some points at the end, she
can.”
On Swin Cash:
“Swin Cash took over in the fourth quarter. When we needed big plays, she
did it. They were taking away Ford so we needed her and she delivered.”
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Shock Guard Katie Smith
On how the Shock played:
“We were able to maintain our lead down the stretch tonight against a good
ball club. They battled and we battled back and I am proud of how we really
stepped it up in the second half mentally in with our effort. We were a
little more focused than we were last night. It was good to get back on the
court right away after last night and have a chance right away to right
your wrongs.”
On playing the top four teams:
“All of the top four teams in the east are tough. We can all beat each
other. It is a matter of stepping up and having the people around you step
up too.”
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Shock Center Ruth Riley
On how the Shock match up:
“These two teams play similar games with similar matchups. We’re physical
in the post, play great defense and have good guard play. It always makes
for a good battle and tonight was no exception.”
On Katie Smith:
“Katie stepped up big time. She was someone who could be counted on late in
the game tonight. She hit a big three, all of her free throws and just
played great down the stretch when we needed it.”
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Sun Head Coach Mike Thibault
Opening Statement:
“It seems like a couple times every year I walk in here and say when you
shoot 33 percent I’m not sure how you can expect to win in pro basketball.
We did, and we had a chance. We played even on the boards. We played even
on turnovers. We played even on free throws pretty much. They shot a better
percentage than us, and we made mistakes. People were in the wrong spots,
and we didn’t execute a couple other times. We ended up fighting the shot
clock.”
On the energy in the game:
“They (Detroit) walked it up and tried to slow the game down, which they
did. It’s hard to keep that pace going when you miss that many shots and
you’re always scrambling just to get back. I think the other thing is that
we played better for a while in the first half when the game was slower
because we were able to run some of our pick and rolls and get in the lane.
Our decision making…that’s the part that kind of boggles my mind about
tonight. The good thing is that we can go make up for this by getting a win
tomorrow night. I told our players that it is over and done, and there is
nothing we can do about it now. We cannot let it have a carry-over effect
tomorrow. We have to go play tomorrow.”
Did you think to sit Nykesha (Sales) toward the end of the game because she
seemed to be having an off night?
“No because I think it’s too early in the season to do that. I think you
have to let your veterans sometimes play through games like that. It’s
easier to say that sometimes. We got a lead late in the game and Kesha has
a knack for making big shots even on nights when she has been struggling.
You have to give her the benefit of the doubt on that some nights.”
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Sun Forward Asjha Jones
On what the Sun did well:
“We just didn’t get the offensive scores that we needed. I thought we did a
pretty good job on defense and we did a pretty good job of rebounding. I
haven’t seen the stat sheet yet, but overall I thought we did a pretty good
job with that.”
On how the team will adjust for tomorrow’s game:
“We’re going to think about it over night. Get our legs back. Refocus. It’s
a totally different team tomorrow. We’re going to have to keep working on
our rebounding because tomorrow will be more of the same. That focus will
be the same.”
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Sun Guard Lindsay Whalen
On what went wrong:
“We just had a night where things didn’t click. That’s just how it went.”
On how Detroit won:
“They’re a great defensive team. They’re going to keep making you adjust.
You’ve got to give them credit, they got in the lane and in the way of our
drives.”
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Sun Forward Nykesha Sales
On her 1-for-9, 3-point performance:
“It was one of those days when nothing went right for me personally. You
try not to have too many of them. It was just how it went down today. I got
some decent looks but they just didn’t fall.”
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