Bowling Green State University Athletics
Notre Dame Post Game Quotes
December 05, 2007 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 5, 2007
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BG head coach Curt Miller
Opening Statement
"It was a great college basketball game tonight - a game that you really hate to see anyone lose. I'm really proud of the way the team played tonight. We were gutsy. We competed hard, didn't back down and we never really showed any kind of intimidation toward Notre Dame. We basically went toe-to-toe with a team, that I believe, clearly has a shot for the Final Four. I think you're going to see Notre Dame go into the Tennessee game in another few weeks at 12-1 while ranked in the top-10 in the country."
"With the crowds help and our determination, we nearly pulled it out [the upset]. It's really tough to lose twice in a row in overtime to Notre Dame, but what a great series it was. I hope we can find some more BCS schools that will do this with us and that will be willing to come to Anderson Arena."
How proud of the team are you?
"They were unbelievable. They showed unbelievable effort. We had to withstand some spurts where we could've folded and they [Notre Dame] could've coasted to another one of those 30-plus point wins that they've had this season. But every time it looked like they were going to try to get out to a comfortable lead, our kids would really dig deep."
On what the team learned from the effort
"It was just a gutsy performance by our group tonight. We really learned a lot about ourselves and we had great senior leadership tonight. Immediately following the game they got up in front of the group and really talked about the good that came from this performance, but that we have to use the disappoint of this loss heading into the future - to use as motivation."
What does it say about your team to be able to come back from 10 points down and take the lead?
"Well that's what this program is about. We don't give up. We feel as though we can play with a lot of people and we have a real special place here in Anderson Arena with the fan support. Even if we felt like quitting at times, they [the fans] wouldn't let us do that."
What did you tell the team following the game?
"I told them that I was proud and that we did a lot of good things in the game. Also we needed to correct things that Notre Dame exploited and that I wanted them to feel the passion that they feel right now - let it rest in their belly until we play at Indiana in 11 days."
On how this type of effort prepares his team
"I think this game really prepares us for the nightly grind and that this program will never get ahead of itself. It's one game at a time just as it always has been. Indiana is a Big Ten team that we've beaten twice-in-a-row and they are really going to be hungry to return the favor."
On the play of Crystal Murdaugh
"Crystal was tremendous tonight. Our game plan unfolded perfectly offensively due to efforts like hers. [Murdaugh had a career-high 14 points.] They had trouble guarding us in man-to-man and we took advantage of their defensive scheme. We got some slips and some great sprint-rolls from Crystal that really hurt them and to our guards' credit, we found those people going to the basket. Overall, I thought we did some really good things against their man-to-man defense."
Guard Kate Achter
Was this the toughest game you have ever played in?
"No, I remember a game last year in Greensboro, N.C. where I was absolutely dead. Arizona State was by far the toughest team I have ever played against but, this would have to be one of the most fun games I have played in. To come down to the wire like that with the place full, against a top-25 team - that was a great game."
"Once we go back and watch film I think we are going to learn a lot. I think we need to learn how to play a little better post defense and rebound better, but I think that just comes with experience."
Were you surprised with how well you guys played tonight?
"No not at all, we go into every game believing. We believe that we can beat anyone. We have a very talented team, and don't ever underestimate our will power.
"We are not even picked to win our conference and we just almost beat a top-25 team. I think everyone is pretty happy about that. I think we could have beaten them, and I think we are only going to get better from this.
"Tonight with a team as talented as Notre Dame you have to have everyone step up. I think that is why we were in it; they couldn't stop just one person. They had to stop all of us, and I think at times they were unable to do that.
"Anderson Arena is a very tough place to come play in. They may be better, but it is very difficult to come play here with the fans screaming. So it is not surprising to me that we took them to overtime here, it was more surprising that we took them to overtime on their own court [last season]."
Guard Lauren Prochaska
What is your reaction to playing against a top-25 team as a freshman?
"That game was amazing. The atmosphere was so amazing that were all excited to get out there and play. We did not come out scared or intimidated; we just wanted to go at them from the start.
"I can not even describe the feeling of the fans getting up and cheering. It just pumped us up and made us play better."
Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw
Did anything surprise you?
"For being mostly freshmen Bowling Green played really well; they grew up really fast tonight. I knew they were 6-0 and had played really well to get to that point. The crowd really helped them, I thought tonight was a great environment to play in. The way they made their free-throws down the stretch, they looked like a veteran team."
What was different from last years Bowling Green team to this years team?
"Last year they had such experience. They knew without looking where each other was going to be. This year they have a different energy, and today they played at a really high level."
On the ND game plan
"We wanted to run the game. Defensively we wanted to switch on all the screens and Devereaux Peters is good enough to guard the guards. Lucky enough she was in a good enough position to last till the end of the game, and on offense she played pretty well."
