Postgame Quotes/Notes - Sacramento 75, Storm 65
RELATED CONTENT | |||
| |||
TONIGHT'S NOTES | |||
|
|
|
ANNE DONOVAN:
On the game:
I'm happy that we made a surge late in the game. Against a team like Sacramento, when you get down by 17 it's tough to get back in the game.
On the Monarchs:
I've been impressed with Sacramento. They are a great team. Defensively they disrupt what you do.
|
LAUREN JACKSON:
On playing without
Betty Lennox:In terms of movement, she can create things that other players can't.
On the Monarchs defense:
We got a little bit flustered in the second half. We made some turnovers that we wouldn't normally make. I think that was from the pressure. They just wore us down. It's hard to stop everything.
On the loss:
It's a letdown, but we fought back. It's important for us at this time of the season to focus on the next game.
|
SUE BIRD:
On not handing out an assist:
You need to count on someone else to make a shot. Maybe I just wasn't creating enough.
On the Monarchs:
They are the best team in the West. People think that they aren't playing for anything because they've already clinched, but they are trying to get the best record in the league. Obviously they don't have DeMya (Walker). You wouldn't even notice that a starter is missing. They do a great job of the little things. They anticipate and do a great job on defense. That leads to their transition points.
On Sacramento's 13 offensive boards:
Offensive rebounding is something that they do very well. They're animals on the board. When you think you have them boxed out, they are just so athletic that they jump over and around you.
On Ticha Penicheiro's performance:
People knock her because she doesn't score that much, but she's still effective. She doesn't try to do anything she isn't comfortable with. She takes what you give her. She had some highlights out there.
SACRAMENTO HEAD COACH JOHN WHISENANT:
On the game:
This is a good win. This is the WNBA champion. In the first half in particular, we played well defensively. We did just the things we have to do to be successful in the playoffs. Seattle felt very confident against us during the regular season last year. So we wanted to win this one, obviously. It will be the same thing Tuesday night versus Phoenix.
On Yolanda Griffith's game:
Yolanda is Yolanda. Whether she puts up numbers or not, she's just the personality of our team. The young players look up to her in terms of determination. You wouldn't think she was hurt by the way she plays, but she is. I think the vote should go to a successful team, and it's not about stats. We don't believe that. We believe it's whether you win or lose. Certainly Yo is our MVP, no question. I wouldn't trade her for anybody, just the way she approaches the game she's a winner. Yo's determination and Ticha's leadership along with Becky (Brunson)'s and DeMya's athleticism and Kara (Lawson)'s toughness, they pass that all along to this new group, and that's why we've been successful.
On Lawson:
It just shows how hard it is to get into the rhythm of this game. Until you can go 100 miles an hour, and move and cut and get your body squared, you can't shoot well. Kara has always been a good shooter, I've seen her stats since high school and her and Nicole (Powell) have always shot the ball well.
|
On the stretch run:
There is no letdown; just because we're in first place doesn't mean anything. You can finish first and get swept in the first round. Every game is important, we have to win as many games as possible and keep the momentum our way, going into the playoffs is 0-0. Home-court advantage is important. The first game is also important, because we play against our opponent on their home court, and our backs are still against the wall.
On Ruthie Bolton's jersey retirement:
It was great. We got choked up at halftime, she mentioned me and Ticha, and Ruthie means a lot to me, she's an inspiration and a role model, and she's taught me a lot. Hopefully if we can win a championship she can get a ring, the first one. We have to take it one game at a time and not put pressure on ourselves.
|
On the game:
If everybody plays team defense, it's all about working as a unit. We forced turnovers and that gets our offense going. We can score in transition.
On the stretch run:
You can't afford to not play well going into the playoffs. Being a playoff team you want to go in there hot, with momentum. They're the defending champs. Even though we're the #1 seed the title goes through them. So we were excited to match up with them and see what we can do.
On playing hurt:
Injuries are part of the game. No one's going to feel sorry for us, so we have to go out there and play hard.
On having home court in the Western Conference playoffs:
Teams are going to have to come here to ARCO and get one game in the playoffs. You're going to have to come in with your 'A' game and play really well if you want to get a win her.
On Bolton:
She's been one of the role models we've had. She's definitely a player I look up to. Playing with her for two years here at the same position, she's taught me a lot about what it takes to be a professional, training your body and that it's a full-time job. It's really nice to be part of an organization that honors their players and someone like Ruthie that has meant a lot to the city and to the league as well.
