Murray State University Athletics
Weekly Press Conference
11/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Quotes from head coach Joi Williams during the weekly women's basketball press conference on Nov. 17. The Lady Racers open the 2003-04 season on Friday at 2 p.m. against High Point in the first round of the Fifth Third Marshall Classic in Huntington, W.V.
On the Lady Racers' 75-70 exhibition win over St. Louis Gold Star:
"We were able to pull out a win. I think the game was good for our kids because it was a close game, and it gave them some confidence. Pulling out a close win was good because that's something they really haven't been used to. After being up by 16, (St. Louis) Gold Star went on a run, and we only had a one point lead. Our kids did a fairly good job of holding them off. We had some situations with the time and score where I take responsibility because we hadn't worked on it as much I had wanted to."
"The kids did a good job, and I was proud of them pulling it out. It was almost a blessing that we didn't win by 20 or 30 because I think they would've felt like they were better than they really are. I'll take the five-point victory because we learned a lot from it. We've been working a lot on defense since the first game. Our half-court defense and transition defense are areas that are going to be big for us because we need to slow teams down."
On the MSU's season-opening tournament at Marshall:
"We play High Point in the opening round, and we don't know a whole lot about them. They're picked third in the Big South Conference. We've got a little bit of game film on them from last year, but the bad thing is that they only return four players from last year's squad and they have eight newcomers. Only two of the four returning players played in their exhibition game, which they won pretty handily. I do know they'll be very competitive. Right now, I'm more concerned with our team and what we need to do."
On opening the season at a tournament:
"I think it's good. I told our kids yesterday that we have the opportunity to win a championship this weekend. Whether it's the Marshall championship or the OVC championship, it's a championship and that's not something that we're used to winning around here in women's basketball. We need that practice, and we're approaching it like it is a championship opportunity. High Point is the first game, and we're not looking past that. I really do hope we have the chance to play Marshall because I think they'll be in the finals. Our team has to practice like champions if they want to bring home a championship one day, so this is a great opportunity for us."
On how the players are handling the new style of play:
"They're accepting it, but it's tough because it's a whole different pace for them. It's something they're not used to, but they have accepted what we're trying to do. It's just a day-by-day process of them learning what it takes to win and what it takes to play at a faster pace. They want to play that style, but the question is do they want to do what it takes to prepare to play that way. I'm pleased with where we're at right now. I think they're working very hard. I don't have any complaints about how hard they're working and where we are."
