March 2, 2003
Recap?|?Box Score?|?Photo Gallery
Kentucky Coach Bernadette Mattox
Opening statement…
“I was very pleased with the fight that this team showed. They did just about everything that we had asked them to do this week. We played good defense, and I was really happy to see us only turn the ball over twice in the entire second half. Tennessee did a nice job of taking care of things down the stretch. They’re the No. 3 team in the nation and they have some great players. They just took care of business.”
On UT’s big plays…
“Moore may be their point guard, but when it’s needed, the ball will always get into the hands of (Kara) Lawson or (Gwen) Jackson. They’re great players, and great players make plays. No matter what you design, great players will get the job done. That’s what they do.”
On closing in on UT in the second half…
“I really wanted that for the players. They needed to know that on every possession it’s important to score on offense and turn around and get a stop defensively. We had a chance with just a few minutes left to cut it to four. That would have put the ball into their court to make a play.”
On having moral victories…
“I don’t really believe in moral victories. We all really want to win. We had the game within reach near the end, but [UT was] just better down the stretch. Those players stepped up for them. They’ve been in that position all season, and they’re great in the clutch.”
On Kentucky’s play…
“I thought SeSe (Helm) did a super job. She was really battling inside, scoring a lot of points, and playing great defense. For her to come out and play like that without [Jennifer Humphrey — ankle injury] was a great lift. We couldn’t take her out of the game as much, but she dug down and stuck it out. The team got a spark from seeing that we could play with Tennessee. We really worked hard today.”
UK Center SeSe Helm
Coming into the game…
“I knew before the game even started that I came to play today. We remembered what happened last time they played here in Memorial. But we also remembered how well we played them in Knoxville last year.”
On the play of Tennessee’s post players on her…
“Even though (Ashley) Robinson didn’t play, they have other post players that can step up and are really good too.”
On the play of Kentucky…
“Coach told us to play every game like it was our last. Although we lost, I felt like we played hard today.”
Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt
On Kentucky…
“Give Kentucky credit. I thought they played a really good game, and they played well together. Our defense looked like water at times, and they went through it like it was water. Certainly we can’t play that way and obtain the goals we have set.”
On her team’s performance…
“I’m not surprised to see we had 23 turnovers. The ball looked like a hot potato today. But when we executed offensively I thought we got some great looks. We just had some impatient players today and we were overanxious to get rid of the ball, which contributed to some quick shots and turnovers.”
UT Forward Gwen Jackson
On the way she reacted when Kentucky got to within four points…
“My teammates started looking to me to make shots. In the first half I was rushing my shot, but my coaches and teammates came to me and said to relax. They started looking for me and that’s when I was able to make the shots I had to for us to win.”
On if she felt as if she had to step up and be more of a leader when UK cut the lead…
“That’s been one of my roles this year as a senior. Anytime we get down and need a basket the person that’s open has to hit a shot and when they left me open, my teammates found me and I was able to knock down the shots.”
