March 19, 2007

Marist Red Foxes

Head Coach Brian Giorgis

(Opening Statement) "It was a battle of strength versus strength. You can see how we were near the best in the country in preventing turnovers. We are also able to keep them off of the offensive glass as they only had 10 offensive rebounds. We said if we could do those two things we'd be in it right at the end and it is tough to find words, this is unbelievable.

(On doing anything different) "I'm not a big person on trying to do something during the game. We wanted to force the issue have two people on the MTSU guards to add pressure. We had people slashing into the right positions where we could find them. I have three point guards here and I think you can see that especially in Alisa who set the all time assist record today. She doesn't panic with the ball and knows when to force the issue and when not to and that helped us in the game.

(On his defense) "We did things in our man where we try to take things away. We didn't do anything new, these are extremely intelligent kids, we came up with a game plan and we stayed with it.

(On what this means to Marist) "This is unbelievable, we are living a dream. This is probably the biggest win in the athletics history. We have a lot of supportive fans in Poughkeepsie and they will definitely enjoy this win.

Marist Guard Julianne Viani:

(On where this game ranks) "I don't think coach slept the past 40 hours, he prepared us so well. We knew they were very athletic and we had to protect the basketball, we had to have patience and find the right pass and find the open man.

(On MTSU's press) "I don't know if they have ever seen a team as patient as ours. They were running all over the place and I think they did get tired throughout the game.

(On when MTSU backed of the press) "I took it as a compliment, we took them out of what they do best which is the press. They are ten times as athletic as us and we got them out of their press.

Marist Guard Alisa Kresge

(On MTSU's press) "I don't know if they have ever seen a team as patient as ours. They were running all over the place and I think they did get tired throughout the game.

Marist Guard Nikki Flores

(On going to the Sweet 16) "I think I cried on national television, words can't describe how happy I am, no one expected us to go this far. We worked extremely hard to get to this point to get a moment like this.

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

Head Coach Rick Insell:

(Opening Statement) "We're disappointed we didn't win, but we're happy about the year that we've had. I'm very proud of our young ladies. They played hard all year long in some adverse situations. These two right here (Krystle Horton and Chrissy Givens) carried the load all year. We hate to lose them, but the reason we're here is because of them."

(On his team went with the triangle and two defense) "We knew their little guard was going to penetrate. We felt like we didn't have to give help on her. When you played one way all year long and you teach it everyday in practice, you develop habits. When they (Marist) started penetrating, we'd take that step towards the basketball and give some help. Take the charge like we've been doing. They were able to throw the ball up to those two big kids and they did a good job finishing. They got some cheap baskets early. We were having to work for our baskets. Then they got some cheap baskets in the press. We had a couple breakdowns in the back of the press, where they threw a diagonal over us, where usually we've been taking care of that. Tonight, we didn't. They were able to take advantage of it. They did a good job preparing and breaking the press. They did as good a job as anybody we've played all year long. They're very intelligent. They shoot the ball well. They know exactly where they want their people to get the basketball. We gave up three threes early on in the first half that we normally don't do. Chrissy's our best defensive ballplayer and she was playing what we call statue defense and the kid just hit the basket. It was a big shot. Three big plays."

(Overall thoughts on the season) "I'm ecstatic about our program. We've got more than just a team. We've got a program of teams that have won. This program has been that for the last four or five years. We've got a great foundation built. We're going to back and go recruiting tomorrow and build from this. We don't like it. None of us do. But, they did a great job. You need to pat them on the back. He did a good job coaching and his kids played hard. I wish them all the luck in the world. We'll come back. We're not through. We're just pushing the car out of the garage right now. We didn't even get to the race track."

(On why he feels Middle Tennessee can compete with the top programs) "I don't use the word mid-major. We're the largest university in the State of Tennessee. We're Division 1. Don't take me wrong in that. Our attitude is we're going to build a program and get to the Final Four. We're going to compete with the Tennessees and the Connecticuts. We knew going in that we would not be able to do it in tow years. Our administration knew that and our athletic director knew that. We're very fortunate that we had some young ladies buy into overachieving this year. They've done that. They've had a great, great season. They've brought a lot of positive publicity to our university, not only on the floor, but off the floor. We've got one of the most beautiful campuses in America. Once we get young ladies on that campus and what's taking place there, the excitement and enthusiasm that we've got, they'll stay there. That's why we're so high on what's going on at Middle Tennessee."

Krystle Horton:

(On Marist breaking their press early on in the game) "We're going to press every single game. We went into a triangle and two and it worked pretty well. They seemed to have some problems with it, so we stuck with that."

(On if this game put a damper on their season) "Not at all. This is only our fourth game that we lost. We've had a great season. We wanted to make it past the sweet sixteen, me and Chrissy both, because we've always made it to the second round and not been able to surpass that. We've done a great job this season. We've had great careers."

Chrissy Givens:

(On the defense Marist played against her) "Every time I drove, they did a good job of packing in the lane. Two of them are 6'3" and it was hard for me to shoot over them. I missed some shots that I shouldn't have missed and maybe should have took some I didn't take."

(On getting within in two at the beginning of the second half) "We came out with the press. The defense was on and we were hitting our shots. You have to give them credit. They came down. They weathered the storm. They did what we do. They took their time and knocked down some shots and took the game right back up to 9 or 11 points."