Quotes: Silver Stars @ Lynx: 8/4/11

"Real defensive battle today. I was pleased with our effort. I don't think either team offensively was very precise about anything they did, but I was just really pleased with our effort. I wish we could have gotten one more stop, but good battle. Two good teams. Give them credit, they've hit timely shots with a second left in two straight games."

On the shooting:
"Two good defensive teams, but I think you're having two teams with a third game in five days. There's a reality to how much basketball we're all playing right now with travel and all the different things that are coming to it, and I think that has an impact, too."

On the schedule:
"I think it's something that we're kind of adjusting to right now. You play through it, you get used to it, but I think it'll probably have an effect on some of the ability to shoot the basketball and something that I think fatigue comes into play. We're all dealing with it. It's going to be a matter of dealing with it and getting through it, but both teams competed hard. It wasn't a pleasing offensive game but a lot of effort on both teams defensively."

On the offensive struggles in the first half:
"You're talking about two very good defensive teams. They're very dialed in, they're a very focused team defensively. Their coach gets them very prepared. Cheryl Reeve is probably one of the best at scouting and getting her team to execute the defensive game plan, as is our coach -- a defensive coach. That's where you see the clash. It's hard. Every player is working really hard to get everything. It's not easy for their players to score and it's not easy for us to score. Those are kind of like playoff moments in the middle of the season. We learn and we grow and we go on."

On the matchups with Minnesota:
"We're just going at each other. This is fun basketball. I think this is what everybody wants to see. I don't think everybody expected it. This is two great teams going at each other's heads. Minnesota's 2-0 on us, so we're going to have to figure it out. We've got to move on now. We've got a game Saturday, so just learn from this and keep going."

On adjustments that need to be made:
"I think we're playing good, so I can't really say what adjustments we're going to make right now. We've got a game Saturday so we've got to kind of put this in the back of our memory zone and get ready for Tulsa."

"Now, I do think that there were some opportunities in the paint that I think we should have converted. We were 8-for-35 in the paint. We can do a better job finishing down there. It is difficult when Maya goes 0-for-7, just couldn't find shots. The difference in the game for us was Wiggins. If Wiggins didn't show up tonight, we wouldn't be out of here with a win."

On winning ugly:
"Exactly what I told them... Not our best performance. Not one that we will watch again, more than likely. All that matters is we got out of there with a win, that you found a way. Whether it was Seimone's offensive rebound on missed free throws -- that was big. Some pretty good defensive possessions down the stretch. We were solid defensively; we held them to 38 percent... it just pales in comparison to the 27 percent we shot. Winning the game no matter what it took, or how it looked. Getting out of there with a win is the most important thing."

On McWilliams-Franklin:
"I told Taj she drove me crazy today. I was really surprised when I saw the box score it seemed pretty good. The five turnovers are uncharacteristic of her. Her sixth straight double-figure game, obviously the game-winner. That shot was big. Whalen sort of found her on that drive to the baseline. I just don't think Taj can retire. I just think that she is having too much fun. Those competitive juices, I don't know if you saw her reaction to hitting that shot. She is just having a blast with this team. Hopefully she has got another 10 years in her."

On McWilliams-Franklin:
"She brings great veteran leadership. She is like another point guard on the floor. She knows the ins and outs of every play. It's like having another coach on the floor. She was just awesome tonight, with the game-winning shot. Just everything she has done for the team has been great. I played with her for three years, so I know what she would bring just from that experience with her. I knew her style and what she was about and the difference she could make on this team. When they got her to come here I was really happy, because I knew the positive impact she could have on the team. She has been positive all season."

"It's a blessing I am still able to play and contribute. I am happy just to contribute to the team. Doesn't matter if it is one game in double figures. I am just happy to be here with Cheryl Reeve and the Minnesota Lynx."