WBB12/6/2015 1:12 AM | By: Cal Athletics
Saint Mary's at California Postgame Quotes
California vs. Saint Mary's
Dec. 5, 2015 | Haas Pavilion | Berkeley, Calif.
California Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb
On today's game:
“I'll tell you what I told them in the locker room and first off let's credit Saint Mary's -- they came excited, ready to play and made the plays to win. They do a great job and I know they were disappointed in their recent loss and they were going to come out here looking for a big win. For our team, losing feels like crap. It just feels horrible. It feels especially bad to lose a game that we should be expected to win but what I'm most concerned about is how we respond. I know that sounds like such a cliché but we have a young group and there are no other nine players I'd rather be with whether we win or lose. There's no other group I'd rather come to work with. I'm not making any excuses, we should have played better and we should have won. I'm more worried how we respond and are off the court and there is no other choice. I'll watch the film and see where we went backwards. I'm much more concerned with how we carry ourselves and what we do going forward. You don't want to have to lose a game to learn those lessons but if you do and you do learn those lessons you're better off for it. It's humbling. We'll all feel like crap for while and then we'll be back at it.”
On what changed towards the end of the game:
“I just felt like we didn't make their life difficult enough on the defensive end. When we're getting stops we're getting whatever we want -- transition looks. We're more in a flow. I know they didn't score 80 but it still felt like they were too comfortable. When they're scoring baskets they have a chance to set up their defense and do all that. Kristine (Anigwe) had a little foul trouble so when she's not in, we're not looking to go inside quite as much, but we trust our whole offense. We have a lot of scorers and a lot of people making plays. I thought a lot of people made good moves to the basket and we just missed, and that's frustrating and when that's happening you have to get stops on the other end. So I just felt like we missed too many good looks and weren't getting enough stops.”
On Anigwe's performance:
“I think she impresses us more every day. I thought she had a great week of practice. She's clutch in big moments. She's impossible to stop with one defender, really hard to stop with two or three defenders on her. I think she did an unbelievable job finishing and with her intensity level. But I don't think there's a better freshman in the country. I've said that and I think it's great she wants to be back and be better tomorrow and her team is better because of it.
Freshman Forward Kristine Anigwe
On her double-double
“I thought our team had a really good week of practice leading to this game. But as far as my individual performance I had 21 shots. But I feel as if I could have passed it out better. I could have been smarter on defense. So overall I don't think my individual performance was spectacular.”
Saint Mary's Head Coach Paul Thomas
On the game:
“Super pleased with the collection of individuals we have in uniform. They did a great job, stuck with the game plan and made shots when they needed to. We got stops when we needed to, as it was an extremely physical game, which I think players on both sides would say. To come out on top, we're very proud. I'm proud of the players, coaching staff and everyone who is associated with our program.”
On lack of free throw attempts:
“We expected to go to the line 30 or more times, as we average almost 30 free throw attempts per game. It's been a part of our program for the last 6-7 years and it was frustrating in a manner that we couldn't do the job as well as we hoped. However, with saying that, the team in the white uniform (Cal) has a lot to do with that (not getting to the free-throw line). I'm sure that was part of their strategy, not putting us on the line because we manufacture so many points and for that I give them credit.”
Freshman Forward Sydney Raggio
On game-winning shot:
“We called a timeout and the coaches pulled us over and said we were going for the win. We drew up a play, and they said they were going to give the ball to me. I got the ball, shot it and it went in. The shot felt good as it left my hands, and it was my first game-winning shot.
Senior Guard Lauren Nicholson
On the game:
“As coach said, it was a really tough loss on Thursday (to UC Davis), so we made Friday a really good preparation day. We really had the mentality that we could win that game (against Cal), from the beginning. Even though we went down a bit at first, we all made plays and everyone stepped up, even our bench players, to do some great things for us and win us the game.”
