Feb. 17, 2008

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Nell Fortner, Auburn Head Coach

Opening Statement...
"It was an important win for us today to continue on with where we're wanting to go to accomplish our goals for this year. It was an important win and a great crowd and it was a big day for basketball at Auburn because it was a great cause. The promotion for the game, for breast cancer awareness, and to win an SEC game; it was a great day."

On DeWanna Bonner...
"For whatever reason, DeWanna doesn't play well against South Carolina. I'm not sure what the reason is, but I thought she came back in the second half and did a really good job of getting back to the free throw line. Twelve-for-thirteen from the line and 18 points is a nice day at the office. She just had to get her points a different way today. I thought she had to come back and be determined to do that in the second half and I'm really proud of her for that."

On support from the team...
"We almost had five players in double figures so that's a good day. I thought what was most important was how South Carolina was shooting the ball really great and that's probably the best South Carolina has played all year long. We've watched many a tape on them, but shooting the ball, they were just on fire so we had to shoot the ball well. I thought we knocked down some big three's in the second half. Every one of Tamela McCorvey's three's came at a great time. It seemed like she was a lot more than 3-for-5 today, but it was just a matter of us being able to match their runs. When they made runs at us in the second half, we came back and hit big shots so that was important. That was huge for the win."

On last five minutes...
"We weren't making stops. South Carolina kept hitting and we could not make stops. I would've sworn they shot the ball 80% today. Really, it seemed like every time they went down the floor they hit a shot, but we came back and hit shots and that's what has to happen. We just really answered any kind of run they made, we had an answer for it. That was important. They were 30-for-61 and we were 24-for-53. We just got to the free throw line."

Sherell Hobbs, Jr., Guard

On South Carolina staying in the game for so long...
"I really wasn't surprised because they were beating us on the inside. They had a 6'4 guard and obviously I am not 6'4, so it was difficult.The main thing we focused on was rebounding and making sure we were boxing out, because I think Demetress Adams had 6 rebounds in the previous game. So we focused on boxing out and not letting her get the offensive rebound."

On how Auburn was playing down the stretch...
"I think we just have to stay focused and take it one game at a time. Just know that we had goals in the preseason and we have to take it one game at time and focus on winning. Not worrying about what is coming or what is about to happen. Just take it one game at a time and it will take care of itself."

On the last five minutes of the game...
"We know that they had a good three-point shooter in Jordan Jones. So we just wanted to make her take two-point shots. Coach was just telling us we had to be aggressive and go to the basket because they had foul problems. We kept on attacking the basket and they were fouling us. They were fouling DeWanna and she was knocking down free throws."

On stepping up in the first half after DeWanna's slow start...
"I just took the shots that I had. They were focused on DeWanna and that opened up shots for me. I really don't think she had a bad game because it is hard to come out every night when you have three or four people on you. So she makes my job a whole lot easier then what people think. It is not like she was having an off night; South Carolina was just focusing on her, which made her shots difficult."

DeWanna Bonner, Jr., Guard/Forward

On points from the free throw line...
"That's where most of my scoring came from. I came out kind of slow today. I wasn't really focused on my scoring. I think I did a good job on the glass. Sherell Hobbs came out picking it up. She came out firing today, so I would look at her shot and just get the rebound. Sherell came out and did a good job today."

Head Coach Susan Walvius

Opening Statement...
"We thought our kids really battled today. The interesting thing that some of you may or may not know, and I am not sure if Auburn feels this way but I know we certainly do is that we have almost developed a rivalry over the last few years. They knocked us out of the NCAA Tournament two years ago, we probably knocked them out last year. It has been this way for the last couple of years. It has just been a battle. So our veterans knew that coming into the game. I thought Auburn did a fantastic job. They were extremely aggressive attacking the rim. I thought they had some good steals that turned into transition baskets. I felt as if their defense made us turn the ball over a few times. They also anticipated some things well. If I were to look at the stat sheets and see percentages and see that we were even with them throughout the game. We were even in rebounds, I knew that they would be strong, and in the past we have been better getting boards. But If I were to look at those two stats I would say that we won the game."

On shutting down DeWanna Bonner from the field...
"She got us from the line. She has been doing this for Auburn all year long. We knew about Bonner coming into this. We have watched enough film to know what she is capable of. Demetress Adams got left off of the USA team, and Bonner makes the team so there is a lot of motivation on Adam's part to get out there offensively and defensively to make a difference. We battle frequently in recruiting as well. Over the years Auburn has won a few and we have won a few as well."

On South Carolina holding Bonner...
"I think we matched up well. Demetress Adams is a good defensive player. She is probably the best defensive player that I have ever coached. She has the quickness, length, and ability to guard all five people on the floor. So I think she is long enough to match Bonner's athleticism and size. Very few teams have players that can do this."

On shooting percentage...
"We spent a lot of time on offensive work this week. We learned a lot about our self this week. We needed a bit more time on the defensive side."