University of Houston Athletics
Houston vs. St. Thomas Postgame Quotes
11/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 7, 2011
HEAD COACH Todd Buchanan
On his thoughts on the game...
"Their coaches did a really nice job. They came in and did a nice job and played extremely hard. They were very well coached. They executed their game plan extremely well. To be honest, I don't think we matched that very well early on. For us specifically, I was very disappointed with the way we did not rebound the basketball, especially early. I know at the half they out-rebounded us by three. A majority of that was due to all the hard work that Sheila (Onyekwere) did. She had 11 by herself at the half. That is totally unacceptable for us no matter who we're playing. We cannot allow one individual to dominate us in any category, much less from a rebounding perspective. Our execution was on and off. Right now most every coach in the country will say they're lack of consistency is a problem. We were the epitome of that tonight."
On what was said at halftime...
"I really challenged them at halftime. For the most part, the biggest thing was we can't have one kid dominate us on the glass. I challenged our basketball team to get after it and to do the things we've worked so hard on in practice. A lot of my disappointment at halftime was because I didn't feel like we played very hard. We just sat back and got pushed on our heels and allowed them to dictate the way the game was being played. I was not happy with our tempo at all. Those were the two or three main areas of my concern."
On the energy freshman guard Mileka Loydrake brought to the team...
"The energy she brought was good. She brought some energy and excitement. Right now Mileka has to learn options. I always break it down with the point guard being just like a quarterback. You have your reads and then you have to audible down. You go first option, second option, etc. We have that same process. You have to see it, read it and then you have to either do it or move on to the next one. Right now that's the process that we're in. We're trying to get her as well as Tasha and even Rox to a certain extent, to go through every option and really understand it. It's her first college game. Her decision-making process isn't where I would like it to be right now, but she showed a lot of heart. I'm not making excuses, but without Porsche we are a completely different basketball team. When you have our situation and you don't have your senior all-conference point guard and you are trying to replace that by committee, that's easier said than done."
On the play of freshman forward Terran Alford...
"Terran was really good. I've been proud of that kid since day one. For somebody who has only been playing basketball for three or four years, nobody works harder or stays later. She always gets in her extra work. She was a really bright star tonight. She brought a lot to the game when we really needed it. She has always practiced hard and tonight she brought that to the game. I tell them all the time to take a deep breath and let it go. Once she did that, she found her way. After she caught that first pass and got that lay in, she settled down and was very productive."
On what sophomore forward Mae Woods brings to the team...
"Mae could be a huge part of this. I've thought that ever since she walked on campus. She didn't have to do as much a year ago with what we already had. She got some incredible practice experience last year. When you have to guard Lesslee Mason and Courtney Taylor everyday, you're going to have to get after it. With her size, she has a chance to come in and dominate games. Right now her demeanor isn't always that way. She has an incredible amount to bring to the table, she just has to make up her mind to bring that demeanor."
SENIOR GUARD Roxana Button
On playing without senior guard Porsche Landry...
"It's weird for me. We played together for three years. It's just a part of the game. You take hits and get injured, and that's just how it goes."
On how the team did as a whole...
"I thought we did some good things with the press but we also have a lot to work on. We are going to get back at it this week and get ready for New Mexico State on Friday."
On the things the team needs to work on...
"Communicating is probably the biggest thing we need to work on and getting quicker. We had those first game jitters. We got them out so Friday should look much better."
On freshman forward Terran Alford...
"I'm proud of her. She stepped up. We needed rebounds and she got them. She had seven. She shot over 50 percent from the field. I'm very proud of her."
On the halftime talk...
"In a nutshell, we had to step it up."
JUNIOR GUARD Tasha Tubbs
On getting in a groove early...
"I was very nervous but I think you just have to go out there and play. I had to step up with Porsche out."
On being aggressive...
"As soon as the ball tips off the jitters leave. When the ball tips off it is time to play."
On the strengths of the team...
"Our defense. It's harder to score 5-on-5 for us, so we're going to use our defense as a transition. I think that is how we are going to score most of our points."
FRESHMAN FORWARD Terran Alford
On being nervous...
"I was nervous in the beginning, but as Tasha (Tubbs) said, once the ball tips off the nervousness leaves. I was ready to execute and prove to our coaches that we were able to execute. I think I did ok. I still have a lot of things I need to work on."
On the positive aspects of the game...
"I think we did well with listening. Like I said, we still have a lot of things to work on."
