Postgame Quotes/Notes - Sacramento 77, Storm 76
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TONIGHT'S NOTES | |||
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ANNE DONOVAN:
On the game:
We have to be able to finish a game. I was frustrated that we didn’t do that. There are so many things that we can pick apart that we didn’t do. Thank goodness this one doesn’t count. We gave up 10 offensive boards that they converted into 17 points. They killed us in the paint. They just pounded it inside. Shooting just 60 percent from the free throw line. We did a great job of getting there. Those are just some of the half-dozen things that we had to do to come out on top.
On putting 
Sue Bird and 
Betty Lennox in the game with 1:32 left:
A minute and a half left was probably too late. I was into evaluating and I was telling myself not to put them back into the game and then I wanted to win the game just like everybody else here. Unfortunately, it was probably a little too late to ask them to go in and save the game.
On 
Janell Burse's foul trouble:
JB getting six fouls in 10 minutes is rough for us. JB did an okay job, but I’d like to see more of JB on the floor. She didn’t play a lot last year and didn’t play long stretches at a time, so the officials have to get used to the way JB plays and JB has to get used to the officiating as well. JB is a very physical post player. Sometimes she has the tendency to hold.
On the number of fouls called:
It was a free-throw fest.
On Tanisha Wright's performance:
I thought she did outstanding. She gets to the free-throw line 15 times in 18 minutes. She is great off the dribble and gets to the rim. Defensively, she does some nice things for us.
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On the game:
It wasn’t just the end of the game. If we had played the whole game the way we played the last 10 minutes of the first half, we’ll be in good shape. At least we see that now and we can try to work towards that.
On what the Storm needs to do:
For us as a team, it’s no secret, when we play well defensively, forcing them into turnovers, taking bad shots, getting out on the break and getting some easy shots, that obviously gets you into your flow. I think we really need to concentrate on our defense.
SACRAMENTO HEAD COACH JOHN WHISENANT:
On the game:
That was a competitive basketball game. This was the world champions we were playing on their home court where they hammered us pretty good in the third game of last year’s playoffs.
Lauren (Jackson) is not in midseason form, but still managed to get 18 points and do some really good things. They’re having the same problems we are - this time of year your timing is not right.
On the Monarchs:
I saw some good things from our team. I really like the way we competed with about eight or nine players in the second half … they got out and competed on the defensive end. When you get down like we were at halftime (by 12), the only way you can get back in it is by getting stops. Our defense turned it around for us and our players got some confidence in the offense later in the second half. They began to run the offense with some patience.
On the importance of a preseason win:
It was just an awesome win. This is the first of our four preseason games and scrimmages that we’ve had where we haven’t played all 15 players in equal amount of time – we played this one more like game action. Even though we still played everybody, it just wasn’t equal time. I didn’t necessarily think we had to win, I just wanted to compete and I was happy that we did compete.
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NICOLE POWELL:
On being in Sacramento:
It really is like I have a new lease on life here. I was so happy to get traded here – nothing against Charlotte, but it’s exciting to be with an organization that really wants you. It’s easy to fit in with what they’re doing here and it’s been really great. I’m happy to be here.
On the game:
It’s preseason, but it’s always good to get a win, especially with it coming in such dramatic fashion. It felt great to come from behind like that and everybody contributed. We have a really team-first attitude and that’s what you definitely saw tonight. Yolanda (Griffith) was scoring and I was scoring so that opened it up for other people. Our rookies, Kristin (Haynie) and Chelsea (Newton), both did a great job tonight.
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On her game-winner:
(Coach Whisenant) just said pick-and-roll and, if you get the lane, take it, and if not, just kick it to the open player … that was the play. It feels great! I’ve never hit a game winner in my life.
