California vs. CSUN

Dec. 30, 2015 | Haas Pavilion | Berkeley, Calif.

Head Coach Lindsey Gottlieb

Opening Statement:

"That was a really positive away to end nonconference play. Obviously the numbers are great and our offensive efficiency was really good, but moreso I challenged our team to raise the bar ourselves before the game and not need some outside influence to challenge us…just to say 'We want to be at a higher level than we've ever been,' and for a young team that's sometimes hard to do. I don't know if we have successfully done that against opponents that we were expected to beat. The best part of our performance tonight is that that they understood the message and they really took it to heart. I thought our efficiency was terrific -- 33 assists on 45 baskets is how we want to play. These two sitting here (Green and Anigwe) were unreal. Kristine's finishing doesn't stop amazing me with how well she catches and finishes in traffic. If this wasn't one of the most incredible performances we've seen from any guard -- and there are a lot of good guards who have been through this program – but I thought Gabby just controlled the game and 14 assists and 2 turnovers and doing a lot of other stuff was the signature part of the game. I'm happy to make a lot of baskets but more importantly for our team to do what they were asked them to do and I think this gives us momentum going into a very, very tough weekend."

On rest in between games:

“This was the same amount of time between our game against UCLA and today and the time between Nebraska and UCLA.  Basketball has an opponent, and teams are trying to stop you from doing what you want to do. I think our team is understanding you have to create your own looks and get out in transition to make the ball go in the basket. We're learning that if something isn't going the way we want it to, we need to make it happen, and I feel like I used our timeouts effectively and they responded well, creating the run that snowballed into the win.”

On Pac-12's depth:

“I have told these guys 50 million times in the past few days that the Pac-12 is really good this year. We could be first, but if we don't get it together, we could really be at the bottom. The league is that good, so I think people know. With our game against UCLA, the feedback I got was that people were shocked we were the fourth and fifth best teams in the Pac-12. It's great that teams are coming in with great records into our conference play, and you have to start out with wins to get that national media attention. When we start beating each other in league, it will be quality wins, not bad losses. We're proud of the Pac-12's non conference records, and now the real fun begins.” 

Freshman Forward Kristine Anigwe

On the college game slowing down:

"I just feel like every game I'm just coming out and it's all just new. I am still in awe of just the game, college, everything is just new to me. Every game I just come and I try to play my best and just whatever happens, happens."

Sophomore Guard Gabby Green

On Pac-12 play:

“It's a different type of game because we have all played each other so many times and know each others strengths and weaknesses so well. We have to be a tougher team coming into that, and that really helps our play knowing that we can be aggressive.”