20070208 Arizona vs. Oregon State Postgame Quotes

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arizona</st1:place></st1:State> Women’s Basketball<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Oregon</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> vs. <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arizona</st1:place></st1:State><o:p></o:p> Feb. 8, 2007<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Arizona Head Coach Joan Bonvicini<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Opening statement on reaching 600 wins...<o:p></o:p> “I’m happy and relieved to be at 600. I’m very pleased to share it with the team and staff. They have worked so hard and it’s been a tough season. Their confidence is higher than it’s been and they are having fun again. So many people have been instrumental in my life. I have been fortunate to have great players and great coaches. I’m thankful for my family because they have always been behind me and that is as important as anything.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On the emotions after the game...<o:p></o:p> “I didn’t think about it until then. It just hits you. I don’t think about that kind of stuff but I’m happy and ready to win 601. It’s something you think about at the end of your career or after the season.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On the confidence this win builds...<o:p></o:p> “It’s a big thing. We are playing with a lot more confidence. We did a great job on Casey Nash. She is the Pac-10 leading scorer and we held her six below her average. It’s our first opportunity to sweep at home this season. <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State> is a good team but we’re getting better.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On the play of Ashley Whisonant...<o:p></o:p> “Ashley was very intense. I wasn’t pleased with our defense in the first half and I wanted us to play tighter in the second. Ashley did a great job. She was much more vocal. She was the epitome of a great point guard tonight. Ashley started the season great. Then she went into a slump mentally and emotionally and the team reflected that. Malia (O’Neal) did a great job of taking over. Ashley is a great player and now the pressure is off of her.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On being a coach to the players...<o:p></o:p> “It’s like being a parent when you raise kids. They really appreciate it when they come back. No matter how far away they are they are always Wildcats and always welcome back.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arizona</st1:place></st1:State> Player Quotes<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Senior Forward Joy Hollingsworth<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On Coach Bonvicini’s 600th win...<o:p></o:p> “I was looking at the list of other coaches who have reached that many wins and it is definitely a wonderful honor for Coach B. It feels great to be a part of it and give something back to her.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> “We knew that this season would give her the 600th win, but we were not really thinking about it. But our confidence is back and we are looking for a sweep this weekend.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On the team’s confidence...<o:p></o:p> “We know we are a good team and we are definitely better than our record shows. Our confidence is coming back.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On the play of Ashley Whisonant...<o:p></o:p> “Ashley is an energy player. The fact that she had six assists is great, but it is not surprising that she stepped up. She is a great leader.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On the defense of Linda Pace and Rheya Neabors...<o:p></o:p> “Rheya and Linda stepped up on defense tonight against Casey Nash. Rheya did a great job for a freshman and Linda showed her senior leadership and toughness.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Junior Guard Ashley Whisonant<o:p></o:p> On giving Coach Bonvicini her 600th win...<o:p></o:p> “It feels really good. We have been trying to get this win since Christmas. I am glad that we finally got it for her. She is proud of us.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> “Not only is getting the win important, but we have come together and figured out how to win. There was a lot of pressure on us for awhile and I think that we handled it well.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On the team’s confidence...<o:p></o:p> “This win definitely gives us confidence going into Saturday’s game against <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Oregon</st1:place></st1:State>. We know that they are beatable.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On her play tonight...<o:p></o:p> “I got lucky tonight. The players were moving really well and I was able to find players that were open. I just wanted to step up defensively and offensively.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Oregon</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> Head Coach LaVonda Wagner<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On giving up a 34-30 halftime lead...<o:p></o:p> “We turned the ball over a little too much in the second half. We had 12 turnovers (in the second half) that really hurt us and we missed some free throws that hurt us. They (<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arizona</st1:place></st1:State>) did a good job of playing steady. Joy Hollingsworth had a great line.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On UA head coach Joan Bonvicini’s 600th career coaching win...<o:p></o:p> “Congratulations to her. She has done an outstanding job in women’s basketball. It is great for her.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arizona</st1:place></st1:State>’s adjustments in the second half...<o:p></o:p> “They attacked us on the offensive end and did a good job on the boards. They came out with an attacking mindset. Joy Hollingsworth took over. They played a great game.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On the play of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Arizona</st1:State></st1:place>...<o:p></o:p> “Their entire team played with a purpose. They attacked in the second half.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> “To me, rebounding is the key. They were able to get their hands on some balls and get some loose balls in the second half.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On senior guard Casey Nash shooting 5 of 13 from the field...<o:p></o:p> “She has done a lot for this program. It was one of those games for her. We have another game on Saturday and she’ll be ready.”<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p>

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20070208 Arizona vs. Oregon State Postgame Quotes