Bowling Green State University Athletics
Curt Miller Post-Game Quotes
December 20, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 19, 2006
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CANCUN, Mexico (BGSUFalcons.com) - Quoting Bowling Green State University women's basketball coach Curt Miller after the Falcons' 55-46 loss to fourth-ranked Duke University Tuesday night (Dec. 19) at the Moon Palace Resort in Cancun, Mexico ...
BGSU COACH Curt Miller
"Hats off to our kids. They were tremendous tonight. They battled, they competed, they weren't intimidated. They were tremendous defensively. We really did what we needed to do defensively tonight to win this game. I feel bad for the kids in the lockerroom right now; we missed some shots that we are certainly capable of making. We knew we would have to hit some tough shots to beat them, but we also missed some shots that we are capable of making. And, we had a bad night at the foul line."
"We know that that was an opportunity that we let slip away, because we did a lot of things to help win that game. But, I'm just so proud. It just shows that this team, led by that senior class, can play with anyone in the country. I don't care what our name is, I don't care what conference we play in, I think we earned respect nationally."
(On the play of Kate Achter, who was ill earlier Tuesday)
"Kate is such a warrior, and she has to play well for us to play at this level. She is so good -- I don't know how else to say it, she's just that good. She was throwing up before the game, and was really miserable. I didn't see a spark in her eye before the game, and I was really worried, because she was probably more fired up for this game all week than anyone else. But, she gave us such a gutty performance, and just like some of those stories you hear across the country of people playing their best games when they are under the weather, she did just that."
"Duke's Lindsey Harding is not only an All-American candidate, she is the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Kate gave her everything that she could handle, and again, that's just the competitor that Kate is. It was a great game from her."
(On the play of sophomore Lindsey Goldsberry)
"You know, you have to take what they give you. Alison Bales is so long, and she is one of the best shot-blockers in the history of the game. She is 6-foot-7, and plays like a seven-foot guy; she just affects everything inside. Liz Honegger and Carin Horne struggled tonight, but you can't get down on them. They are a big reason that we are where we are. But, Lindsey was tremendous. She played within herself, she took what the defense gave her and she made open shots. Duke gambles and scrambles at times, and Lindsey was the recipient of an extra pass here and there. Even her only miss rattled in and out, and was halfway down. Lindsey really kept us in it. She is a coach's daughter, so you don't expect anything less."
(Does this confirm to you that Bowling Green can play with any team in the nation?)
"I love our system. It is generally a low-turnover system. Now, we have to make shots, and you're going to have nights like this. But, turnovers were key, and it is no secret that in a lot of Duke's wins over nationally-ranked teams this year, they really forced a lot of turnovers. The teams that kept is close -- Vanderbilt in the mid-20s, Marist in the low 20s -- they both had low turnover totals. That's not a coincidence. You handle the ball well and don't give up points in transition and directly off turnovers, and you can settle into a halfcourt, defensive game and try to make them make plays."
(On Wednesday's opponent, Texas-Arlington)
"Well, they are very likely going to win their league. They are going to go to the NCAA Tournament. They have played a brutal non-conference schedule, first and foremost, so their record doesn't indicate how good they are. There were three WNBA scouts in the building today watching their point guard; she is that good. They are a really good team, and if we are feeling sorry for ourselves, or still thinking about Duke tomorrow, they will beat us, no question. It is a big game for us. It will be a huge RPI game. They are one of the best teams on our schedule, and we will have to play a very good game to beat them."
(Any final thoughts?)
"How about the crowd tonight? It is just amazing, the number of people who came all the way down here to Cancun to follow this team. I told the kids that they have nothing to hang their heads about. They have so many fans out there cheering for them, and I am ecstatic to see the amount of fans that have followed this program; they really make it special to play in front of them."
