UTEP Press Conference Quotes
March 21, 2008
UTEP Head Coach Keitha Adams
Opening Statement:
"We are excited to be here. It’s pretty sunny in El Paso, but I have to say it is pretty sunny in California and we are enjoying that. We are excited to have our basketball team here and we are looking forward to tomorrow against a good Western Kentucky team."
On Western Kentucky:
"You start off with the post player, (Crystal) Kelly. She is a terrific player, she scores and she rebounds. Obviously,rebounding is a strength of theirs and they get after it, they play hard on defense. We have watched them play quite a bit, we know they can press and half court trap. Their guards get after it and we understand that they are a quality team and we are going to have to be ready to play. There are some teams in Conference USA that are similar, but I think that their rebounding is impressive. We are looking forward to it."
On rebounding being a key to the game:
"We know that is going to be very important. We also know that they can slash and they can get to the basket. They have a sharp-shooter that can really knock down the three from deep. We are really going to have to guard the basketball, take care of the basketball, and obviously rebound the basketball. We want to go out and play hard and play up-tempo and continue to do what we have been doing all year."
On the experience that Natasha Lacy brings by playing in the tournament three years at TCU:
"(Natasha Lacy’s) experience has been really good for us. She is a tremendous player. I think that the thing that is also an added bonus is that (Jareica Hughes) has played for a state championship team and won the state. (Izabela Pickarska) has played for national teams in Europe for her home country of Poland. She has been in big games with big competition. We have players that have experience the big tournament and the big game. (Natasha Lacy)’s experience is huge and a lot of these players have experienced similar big moments, so they have been there before in a sense. They are used to the big stage and I am confident in them."
UTEP guard Natasha Lacy
On having tournament experience with TCU:
"As far as a focus aspect, we have played on big stages. I am going to take this as just a game. That way we won’t put too much pressure on ourselves. We have done a good job all year of being focused and following our game plan so we are just trying to do that tomorrow."
On taking her hometown school to the tournament for the first time:
"This has been a Cinderella year with the things that we have accomplished to bring a championship back to my hometown. Our goal coming into the year was to play in postseason and I think we are just excited. I had three years of experience of going to the NCAA tournament, but this is the most exciting year because of all the records that we have broken and making history in my hometown."
On playing a team that also plays fast:
"I think it will be exciting. I hope the referees brought their shoes, their burner shoes. I think we will both get up and down. The winner will be whatever team slows the other team down.
UTEP guard Jareica Hughes
On going to the tournament for the first time:
"It is very special, throughout my career, especially coming from high school, it is what you want to do, make it to the big tournament. It is personally very special to me. I am ready to be a part of it and ready to play on Saturday."
UTEP forward Izabela Piekarska
On going to the tournament for the first time:
I am really excited to be here at the NCAA tournament. It is the thing that you work all year for. As a team we are excited. I am glad I am here as it is my senior year.
On facing Western Kentucky forward, Crystal Kelley:
I think that she is really good player, a really athletic player. She can get to the free throw line. It think I will just have to play the best defense I can. I can help the team by slowing her down. If I rebound I can get it to our guards so they can get out and run.
