Lynx vs. Monarchs quotes
Published on May 29, 2005 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Minnesota Lynx News Release
Minnesota Coach Suzie McConnell Serio:
"It doesn't get more heartbreaking than this. To come down to an official's decision and come away on the losing end is very disappointing. But we talk about the game being played for 40 minutes, and making better decisions early on and not being in the position where it comes down to a last-second play. We just had too many missed opportunities, too many missed layups. We made some poor decisions. We gave up offensive rebounds down the stretch that would've given us the ball. We didn't do what we needed to do, obviously."
(On the last play) "We wanted to get the ball inbounds, first of all, and we wanted to get Katie coming off of a screen. If they both went after Katie, we would've had Ohlde slipping to the basket. Ultimately, we wanted the ball in Katie's hands. Three players went after her, she had to give it up, and AJ found a wide-open Tamika who probably could've shot the ball. It was just players trying to make a play in a last-second situation. We got the shot off; it just wasn't in enough time."
"Stacey did a great job off the bench. She's definitely instant offense for us. She can get her shot off and looks to be a scorer. She has great size and is able to defend other perimeter players, but also gives us the opportunity to maybe post her up. She's done a very good job for us and makes things happen when she's out on the floor."
"It was one of those games where it's missed opportunities early in the game that allows an opponent to hang around until they find a way to win, because we didn't convert on the easy opportunities that we had."
Minnesota Guard Katie Smith:
(On the last play) "It was a flare pick. I got the ball (to) either put it on the floor or whatnot, but three of them came at me and I gave it up and people were open. We just didn't get a shot off in time... It was really close, I mean, I saw it and it was borderline."
"It felt really good in the first half, and then we lost a lead and I don't think we took a lead until maybe two minutes left in the game. Defensively we didn't get stops and offensively we didn't execute as well, but defense was our biggest weakness throughout that period. We've got to find a way to get it done. They got some easy buckets on missed communications and in transition. It's just a matter of buckling down and getting it done."
Minnesota Center Nicole Ohlde:
"We've played ball for so long, you've just got to let your instincts take over and do what comes naturally. I didn't feel terribly bad. You had Katie knocking down shots in the first half and doing the things that she does. When you have a player who can do those things, you just give her the ball and feed off her energy. It's one of those games that you wish you could play (again) tomorrow... My play definitely needs work. I can take from this, look at film and get better."
Sacramento Coach John Whisenant:
"I did think (the final shot) was late. I said that right off the bat. I was looking at the light and it was in her hand. I told Bryan (Enterline) that, and he said, "No, I think it's good." I said that I saw the red light... Usually, the official is right and I am wrong. That was one time that I disagreed."
"The bad thing is that our defense broke down to give them that shot... There wasn't supposed to be someone open under the basket. They were setting a series of screens that we had to get over without fouling and still keep pressure. They had all of their shooters in. Amber Jacobs is a great shooter and so is Stacey Lovelace. Obviously, Katie is a super shooter. So they were running them over a series of screens, and we didn't want to foul them and put them on the line. We had some switch help. We were supposed to switch and give help under the basket. Yo helped on a player and they got it over to Ohlde. Fortunately the light did go off before it left her hand."
"We played great defense and got stops, and then we blew our free throws. We struggled some late, but our defense for the most part pulled us through. We always tell our ladies that to win on the road in any league, and the WNBA is like the rest, you have to play defense and you have to rebound. They're a good ballclub and they are hard to beat here."
"I outwardly said that we would be happy to go 2-2 (on the road trip), but I always don't feel that way. The truth of it is that I expect to win all of them. This WNBA is such an evenly matched league that just a break here and there wins a lot of games. We believe in defense and that you have to have stops."
"Maiga's job is to play great defense. She is our defensive stopper. I've told Maiga that she reminds me of Michael Cooper, who I coached. She has long arms and athletic feet. She can guard a guard, she can guard a big because of her length. She is just now coming into her own. She still makes mistakes. She was a college post player, so we are converting her to a wing that can guard."
Sacramento Center Yolanda Griffith:
"This year, everyone is playing as a team and we help each other. If we continue to stay focused and play as one, we will be okay. Our attitude is that being on the road is much easier. We're relaxed and the focus is not directly on you. I felt that starting on the road would benefit us. Phoenix, they didn't have their bigs. Then at San Antonio, that was a big win. Toward the end, we kind of let them get back in the game. At the end of games, we are starting to learn what's more important, and that's defense. The offense is going to be there. Tonight we got away with this one, but we can't break down defensively like we did. It was a close call, but we will take it."
"The ball came to Williams and I rotated over to her, and she passed it to Ohlde who was under the basket. I wouldn't say it was a defensive letdown, but we got away with this one. The next time a situation like that happens, we will be prepared for it."
(On the winning basket) "DeMya penetrated and everyone came over on her. Actually, they forgot about me. She passed it to me and I scored. I was just trying to focus (so that) if I caught the ball, I would be ready to go to the free-throw line."
Sacramento Guard Ticha Penicheiro:
"It's good. Obviously, we are 3-0 on the road and we can't complain about that. We are winning, and that's the good news. We have seven new players, so this gives us the confidence we need. Our relationship off the court is great, and that carries over to on the court. Playing on the road helps that. We get to know each other better. We have one more on the road and then we are at home for a stretch."
"I think we did (let down) because we didn't keep our lead. We know that a lot of teams are never going to quit, but we had a 10-point lead and we let it get away."
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from May 29, 2005
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