March 21, 2003
2003 NCAA First Round
Ted Constant Convocation Center - Norfolk, Virginia
Friday, March 21, 2003
Wendy Larry, Old Dominion Head Coach:
"We are very excited about hosting the first Women's NCAA BasketballTournament at the Ted Constant Convocation Center, but we mostly want toshowcase to the nation that women's basketball has made it here through theyears. Our women's basketball program is important and has survived amongsome of the bigger conferences and big schools."
"Throughout my coaching career it has always been presented to me that youwork hard for a higher seed so that you are able to host. Thepre-determined site has to do with attendance and support from the area andwe are pleased that we were selected among the sixteen schools."
"At the beginning of the year, defending our home wasn"t a team goal. Aswe started winning we became more comfortable in the Ted and defending ourhouse has now become a team goal and it is very important to us."
On the war:
"Being here in Norfolk, such a military based city, we are very much awareof what is happening in the war. It becomes a statement of sport, that weare somewhat of a release and a distraction, but we have not forgotten ourservicemen and we know who the real heroes are."
On tradition of having fans sing National Anthem:
"We just wanted to start a new tradition in our new home to have our fanssing along with the national anthem before the game. This is only arequest. It is a personal choice whether or not to participate. It is astatement about how strongly we feel about our military home and about howstrongly we feel about being free."
On Boston College:
"They have great senior leadership. They are very methodical anddisciplined. They have played together for quite a long time and they knoweach other very well."
On team pressure:
"We have to take the next step. There was a lot of pressure in winning ourtwelfth CAA Title and now I would like to see our players a little morerelaxed than they were during the (CAA) tournament."
Kim Giddens, Old Dominion Senior Forward:
On defending their home court advantage:
"Getting a feel for our home was a gradual process, but now we are morecomfortable. The Delaware game in the (CAA) tournament made it feel likeours and we have to continue to work hard to defend it."
On pressure:
"This is a whole new game, everybody is starting 0-0, so now we can go outand just play ball."
Boston College Head Coach Cathy Inglese:
"We are very excited to be here in the wonderful facility and we arelooking forward to an exciting weekend."
On the war:
"The focus has been on the tournament, but there are a lot more thingsgoing on. But at 11:10 tomorrow morning, all we can focus on is what wecan control on the court."
On playing on the road in Norfolk:
"This is a great facility. Traditionally you play for home courtadvantage, but we aren"t really focusing on that. Our players like playingon the road and this is a great environment here."
On this weekend's competition:
"Anybody beating anybody is possible and our conference schedule has beengetting us ready for this tournament. We just have to do what we arecapable of doing."
On Old Dominion:
"They certainly have some tradition here and I love watching Wendy ontelevision. They play well together and are pretty well balanced. Theyhave the versatility to get inside and they are a great rebounding team.They have quick guards and nice size inside, especially their 6-6 center."
Becky Gottstein, Senior Forward Boston College:
"We like playing on the road. I think we had the fourth hardest schedulein the nation and the Big East conference has different levels of play.Scheduling has definitely been a positive for us this season. UConn playsup and down the floor, Villanova plays a slower, half-court style, andRutgers is a great defensive team. We've played against so many differenttypes of teams and that definitely makes up prepared."
Liberty University Head Coach Carey Green:
"We are very excited to be here. Coming from a conference where you needto win your tournament to get in, it means a lot to get here. Our heartsare heavy with everything going on, but we are focused on our goal."
"We have a very talented and deep team. All we can control is our abilityto play the game and we realize that we are playing a good Vanderbiltteam."
On the neutral site:
"That is one thing that I am very thankful for, the biggest and greatestpositive for the tournament this year, is to have our fans close by. It isdefinitely an advantage to be playing in front of your home fans."
On practice:
"We use guys in some of our practices. They are typically quicker,stronger and better at running the floor. Our girls are glad to competeagainst somebody else instead of each other all the time."
Kristal Tharp, Sophomore Guard, Liberty:
"God has really given this team amazing ability and depth. We are able togo fourteen strong while Vanderbilt only goes about seven deep. It is likegoing out there and playing with your sisters.
Meribeth Anderson, Senior Center, Liberty:
On advancing:
"It has been frustrating going into previous tournaments and not advancing,but I am confident this is the best team I have been a part of."
Katie Feenstra, Sophomore Center, Liberty:
On Vanderbilt's Chantelle Anderson:
"We are just going to have to stay with her. We feel confident and knowwhat we have to go out there and do. We have some very talented athletesand I am excited to play against her. She has some experience with being asenior, but I am going to work hard and see what I can do. "
Vanderbilt Head Coach, Melanie Balcomb:
"Like everyone else this time of year, we are just happy to be here. It isa beautiful arena and we are just happy to play."
On Liberty:
"We know a lot just from watching tape, but until you play each other, younever really know what is going to happen. I can say that I think bothteams are prepared for each other."
"Our goal is to play Vanderbilt basketball. We are taking this as oneseparate tournament and trying to win each game in it. Our primary focusis to do what we do."
On playing at a neutral site:
"It is all about how you go into it. Some of our best games are on theroad. It is something that you go into that you can"t control and so youcan"t focus on it."
Chantelle Anderson Senior Center, Vanderbilt:
"Our last six practices have been the best we have had all season. If wecan continue to play hard everytime, we can go all the way."
On inside play:
"It is going to be a great game on the post. I feel very confident in thismatch-up and I think that my game has really stepped up at the end of theseason. We are a five person team and it will be our five against theirfive. As far as the one on one match-up goes, I feel very confident. Wehave faced big players all season and I"m used to playing tall postplayers, so I am not going to change my game plan too much."
Ashley McElhiney Senior Guard, Vanderbilt:
"The team and the coaching staff as a whole believe that we can go reallyfar in this tournament. The last six or seven practices have been great."
On head coach Melanie Balcomb:
"She was willing to come in and take over the team and go with it. She andher coaching staff are very competitive and that is what makes a team. Sheis very intense and you need that intensity on the floor."