Pitt vs. Cincinnati Quotes
2/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2007
"I thought this was a great battle tonight. It was a battle of resiliency and I think our team really stepped up. It was a tough game to get into with the lack of fans and the lack of noise. We were coming off some games where we had some great crowds and a lot of fan energy. We had to make our own energy tonight. For the fans that were here tonight, however, we're very grateful. Thank you all for coming. Everybody that was here tonight saw a great offensive performance from Shavonte Zellous and a great performance by the Pitt women's basketball team. We were a little off kilter offensively, but it was great to get to 20 wins. We've really come a long way in only a few years."
On the 20 win regular season:
"We wanted 20 wins for us. The main reason we wanted to get that 20th win tonight was just to get the next win, because we're greedy. I came here to change this program. These student-athletes came here to change the past and to break records."
On Pitt's maturity and not letting up on Cincinnati:
"We were scared to death of Cincinnati. If I told these girls once, I told them 500 times, 'Do not overlook Cincinnati.' Even coming out of the warm-ups I was questioning the girls. I didn't feel like we were ready. Tonight they really were ready and that shows maturity, but we've still got a long way to go."
On 20 wins locking up an NCAA tournament berth:
"I'm not sure. We're just trying to get win number 21 at UConn. We feel from looking at our schedule that we can get more wins as the season goes on, but tonight was an important win for us. Now I feel like we can go into UConn and play with some heart."
On getting the ball to Shavonte Zellous:
"We went to the hot hand. I'm not too proud to admit it. I just wish she wanted it more, but, yes, the plan was definitely to get it to Shavonte."
Pitt sophomore guard Shavonte Zellous
On Pitt's maturity:
"I feel our team has matured a lot. It was tough when Marcedes [Walker] fouled out and we had to get some energy back and put Cincinnati away with her out of the game."
On the crowd:
"It's hard. From game one there's been a big crowd with lots of energy and that just wasn't there tonight. There were a few people in the stands, but the energy just wasn't there so we had to build our own emotion."
On her scoring streak in the second half:
"I feel like it's one of my roles on the team, especially when one of our other big players, Marcedes [Walker], goes down. But, yeah, it's something that I feel I can do and my teammates look for me to score."
Cincinnati Head Coach Laurie Pirtle
Opening Statement:
"I don't have to say much beyond we certainly had a lot of trouble stopping Shavonte Zellous tonight. It seemed like whatever we tried on defense, she found a way to beat us. She's a heck of a player who can score in multiple ways, and I think it's indicative of her play that every time Pitt needed a score, they went to her. She's just having an incredible year."
On how this Pitt team differs from last year's team:
"Well obviously they're more mature for starters. I actually think if they had Mallorie Winn healthy they would be unbelievable. I'm a big fan of hers and the way she plays the game. Outside of that, they have better depth at guard, they don't have to ride Marcedes Walker inside all night. Also, as the final score showed they're a pretty good defensive team as well."
On Cincinnati's defense:
"When you're on a roll defensively, there's always a fear that one player can take over and kill your momentum. That happened a couple times tonight, particularly with Shavonte Zellous. However, Marcedes Walker also battled to finish a couple times when we really needed a stop. We just weren't able to get the stops when we needed to, but I give a lot of credit to them."