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Stanford University vs UTEP Post Game Quotes
March 24, 2008
Stanford
Head Coach Tara VanDerveer
(Opening Statement) "I’m really proud of our team. I thought our team came out really focused and worked extraordinarily hard at the defensive end. UTEP has a really explosive team and they’re very capable. I thought our team worked really hard defensively and that set the tone for the game. Candice (Wiggins) had just a spectacular game. I thought at the last Pac-10 she had a great game, so her last game in Maples she just wanted to top it all off. What an absolutely phenomenal player and person. Jayne (Appel) going 9-for-9, Kayla (Pedersen) rebounding the way she rebounded. Our big three really put the team on their back and other people made some nice plays for us: Jill (Harmon) rebounded, JJ (Hones) hit a big three, Ros (Gold-Onwude) played great defense for us. It was really exciting and we’ve been a year waiting for this to happen and we’re really excited to go to Spokane."
(On keeping the team motivated): "I don’t think that’s a problem with our team. I think the best thing we have going for us is that they really enjoy playing with each other. You know that if we don’t play hard, if we don’t play well, then it’s over."
Candice Wiggins:
"I think our whole team was excited about this game. I think Tara hit it on the head when she said this has been a year in the making. We were just really excited. Me personally, I know this was my last game in Maples, I had a surprise that my high school coach came in the stands and waved to me. I almost had tears because she hasn’t seen me play in Maples in a few years. You could look in my teammates eyes and tell that they were ready to go. It’s just a great feeling."
(On the UTEP defense): "Our team offense was able to execute. It’s not just me. The offense isn’t run through me. We look inside. You have to respect Jayne inside, you have to respect JJ on the perimeter, you have to respect Kayla at the high post. When they focus on those players, I have the opportunity to score. It’s really about being patient and letting the offense work for me instead of forcing things."
(On being in company with some of the greatest names in the game): "It means so much. You don’t really go into a game thinking you’re going to score a bunch of points. I think the greatest feeling the feeling with my teammates, just the excitement of Maples. It’s been four tremendous years, and I’m more excited about that, that this is my lasting imprint on my experience. It just summarizes the experience, the feeling that I had when I played at Maples."
Jayne Appel:
(On Candice’s talk before the game): "Before the game, Candice just gets us really focused and really gets our team in the right mindset, telling us this is another step and we’ve worked really hard all year to play in this game. There is no tomorrow so leave it all on the floor."
Kayla Pedersen
(On being under pressure from last year’s loss): "I think that overall everyone was really calm. I didn’t feel the pressure. I think Candice did a great job of keeping our heads straight and just keeping it like it’s a normal game."
