March 27, 2008

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- St. John's Head Coach Kim Barnes Arico
Opening Statement:
"We played them [Boston College] incredibly hard and that made the difference in the game. We were able to set the tone from the beginning of the game. In the second half we still need to learn how to put people away a little bit. That was the hardest and the toughest I've seen us play all year long."

On playing NC State this Sunday:
"They are going to be fired up, I'm sure they will want that win after what happened earlier in the season. On their home court I'm sure they will have a great crowd, so it will be a tough game for us. At least we have the confidence going in to know that we can compete with them if we play our game."

On still coaching this late into the postseason:
"There are only about 20 teams in the country left playing right now. I think it says a heck of a lot about our conference. Our conference is doing unbelievably well. We have five teams in the Sweet 16, we have at least two in the final eight of the WNIT. Next year maybe we will have more than eight teams in the NCAA tournament."

On getting this far into the WNIT tournament for the Red Storm seniors:
"It is really great for Kia [Wright] and Tiina [Sten], too. I wanted them to go out on a real positive note. They came into the program and they really built it and they got the foundation started and I wanted them to leave on a great note. I want them to still be playing."

Senior Guard Kia Wright
On how it feels to be playing this late into March:
"I have a sense of urgency, any of these games could be my last at St. John's. I don't want to stop, I want to win the championship game. That's how I want to play every night. We have come this far we might as well take the whole thing."

On being at the foul line a lot in the second half :
"I just wanted to keep being aggressive and keep driving. I told my other guards that, too. We were into the bonus early into the second half and that's all I thought about."

Sophomore Forward Recee Mitchell
On guarding taller opponents:
"The game plan was pretty much keeping them out of the paint and double teaming them. They can't score if they can't get in the paint. `I kept thinking you have to do this Recee, just play like you are the same height as she is.' As long as I have that mind set I'll be ok."

Junior Guard Monique McLean
On playing this late into March :
"I want to keep playing hard. I'm not really ready for it to end either, even though my career won't end this season."

Boston College Head Coach Cathy Inglese

On its third round game vs. St. John's:
"I'm very proud of our team. Nobody expected us to get this far and it has been great. We played well and have been practicing really well, but we just came out flat. I am disappointed for them, that they did not show what they are capable of doing."

On the team's experience in the WNIT:
"It was really nice for us to play it the WNIT even though we were on the road. The two and a half weeks off was the hardest part and it really felt like a new season when we started playing again. I did wish we played at home, but at the same time we are a young team and need to get as much experience as possible."

On the season as a whole:
"I cannot be any happier about the season. We had a chance at the NCAA tournament and winning 21 games was great. To do as well as we did in the ACC with so many question marks at the beginning of the season was amazing."