Feb. 2, 2008

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PITTSBURGH -
Quoting Pitt's Head Coach Agnus Berenato

Opening Statement:
"What a great game. That's the kind of game that should make the Big East Conference and everyone watching on TV proud. We didn't come here for a great game though, we came to win. It's tremendously disappointing, but I'm not one of those people that thinks you only win if you come out on top on the scoreboard. The outcome is hugely disappointing but I'm not disappointed in my team. I think we showed our youth today, but we're getting close to being big-time strong players."

On responding to Marcedes Walker's injury:
"I absolutely think we can get through it. We're a really good team that's playing for the name on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back. We played the second half today without Marcedes and still came up just two possessions short against the 4th-ranked team in the country. We'll be ready to go on Wednesday night."

On Pitt's defense:
"I think you saw some of our weaknesses out there today. They had two very big and strong post players that they could throw at us, and we didn't really have an answer. We're getting there, but we just don't have the strength or experience to match up with that right now."

On how the game might have been different had Marcedes Walker played the second half:
"I don't think like that. It's not the kind of thing that matters to me, and it's not the kind of thinking that's going to win you basketball games. It's not how my team thinks either."

Quoting Pitt's Mallorie Winn:

On Rutgers defense:
"Rutgers is a great defensive team. They're athletic, they're quick, they're aggressive and they know how to put pressure on you. They can also change looks based on how an opponent responds to them. They're very tough to score against."

On the team's mentality after seeing Marcedes Walker injured:
"What we take away from that is that you have to be ready to go at all times. No one on this team is irreplaceable, be it on an off-night, or due to injury. You have to be prepared to step in and fill a role no matter the circumstance. If we can think like that, we'll be able to get a lot accomplished."

Quoting Rutgers Head Coach C. Vivian Stringer:

Opening Statements:
"Pitt is good. They played confidently. Our [team] stats are actually identical. We tried to attack the inside and Pitt created a problem for us. They [Pitt] played great defense. They blocked a lot of shots and that caused us to play hesitantly, but we adjusted."

On Playing Kia Vaughn and Rashidat Junaid Together:
"We needed to play them together to be able to play at the next level. We actually need Rashidat to be better than Kia at the five position so that we can move Kia to the four. We need to be able to play the two posts at once."

On Pitt's defense after Marcedes Walker went out of the game:
"Pitt has a nice group of freshman. Their guards are bigger than ours but also strong and skilled. They have a slew of great guards. They are big but a different kind of big. Chelsea Cole was very tall and also athletic."

On the game being a "Must Win" Game:
"We needed the confidence. It would have been devastating for us to lose this game. We are happy about the upcoming games."

On Pitt's Improvement since last year:
"They are much improved. They are not the same team."

On the difference between the first and second half:
"In the first half we were rushing to move. There was not much of a difference in the second half; we were just a little more tentative."

Quoting Rutgers' Kia Vaughn:

On Rashidat Junaid's play today:
"She [Junaid] played great. She is obviously taller than me so she sticks out more and can score."

On herself and Junaid being in the game together:
"When I am in the game alone the four and five tend to double team me. When we are in the game together it's difficult for the other team to guard us both."

On the difference between the first and second half without Marcedes Walker:
"I think it was a bigger change for Pitt than it was for us. It was a red alert for us to go down inside. The girls that came in though were much faster. We got it done by attacking low, but I think we would have if she [Walker] were in or not."

Quoting Rutgers' Rashidat Junaid:

On stepping up after not playing for a while:
"I was a little rusty the first half, but I took my time and did what I had to do to for us to get the win."

On the difference in physicality after Marcedes Walker came out:
"Marcedes has a bigger and stronger body, but the freshmen did well. They were a little easier to push around."

Quoting Rutgers' Essence Carson:

On this game being a "must win" game:
"We needed redemption after our last loss. We showed ourselves, coach and everyone else what we're made of. We dug ourselves a hole in the first half but we got out of it."

On Rashidat Junaid's Play:
"She stepped up to the plate today and many times before. She would have played well if this was a big game or not."

On the difference between the first and second halves:
"We knew we needed to execute. The only way you can execute is if you have the ball and execution was the key down low. We also cut down on turnovers and were more aggressive."