UK ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME QUOTES
NO. 12 KENTUCKY VS. VANDERBILT
SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021
MEMORIAL COLISEUM – LEXINGTON, KY.
#15 Chasity Patterson, G, Sr.
On not having Rhyne Howard today and how the team stepped up in her absence …
“Definitely was big for us. We knew we had to have other people step up in this game because we were down almost half of the team. So, coming into this game, we had to step up and the bench players had to come in and they did a great job. Credit to Treasure (Hunt), Emma (King) and all those who came up and stepped up today.”
On her play today …
“Yeah, really was proud of how we shot the ball. I got a lot of assists, so credit to Blair (Green) and Treasure, they were shooting the lights out. For me, I know the foul trouble wasn’t what I wanted but I’m glad that my teammates kind of picked me up.”
On her defense and the team’s defense …
“We love getting stops, so when we get a stop, we’re going to be excited for it. For me, personally, my defense has come a long way, it can get better. Our team defense, we’re doing a good job, we’ve just got to be more consistent and stop trading baskets. I feel like that’s something we’re going to continue to work on in practice every day. We’re going to get better at defense, effort-wise.”
On being able to get seven rebounds …
“In the huddle, Dre (Edwards) and them, they were all saying we needed to help them. I was like, I’ve got you all. I’ve got to rebound as a guard. They can’t do it all themselves. So, just trying to help out, get in there and help them out.”
On Treasure Hunt …
“Definitely was a big opportunity for Treasure. We tried to motivate her before the game because we knew she was going to get this chance. I was so proud of Treasure. She did a great job tonight. She was being aggressive. We already knew what she could do and having the opportunity to do it. It was good to see her doing what she does best. I think this is just the start of something special for her because she’s definitely a talented player.”
#5 Blair Green, G, Jr.
On her play tonight …
“I was feeling pretty hot on my shot. My teammates kept giving it to me. They believe in me and I was confident so it was a good night.”
On how important her play was without Rhyne Howard in the lineup …
“It was very important because Rhyne brings a lot of points and a lot of big plays and gets everyone open. Without her, I really need to step as well as everyone else who needs to step up and I thought everyone did their job and really stepped up to the plate.”
On dealing with peers, parents and the press …
“She definitely says lock in. We’re prepared for this. They really do a good job of working us hard in practice so just be confident in ourselves and listen to them and really dial in to what this team is about and our roles. I think we’re all doing a really great job of doing that and you could see tonight that we all stepped up and did our role.”
On what causes her the most distractions …
“I don’t think I have too many distractions. Peers, maybe, just because they’re really excited about you because they know you from high school and they are expecting that kind of stuff from you. Probably peers. My parents are just encouraging me and just telling me to lock in and dial in to what the coaches say because they really trust in them. Trying to limit my social media and stay off there.”
On hitting a huge three late in the game that gave UK the lead for good …
“We just got a steal, I think, and Chasity was running down the floor really fast, which is something the coaches have really been on her about and I thought she really stepped up tonight and really threw the ball up. And they were kind of sagging back so Chasity was kind of bringing them into the middle and I was wide open on the three in transition. So, it was a really good play. And I know the next play down, Chasity was coming back down in transition and they kind of helped over on me and she had a wide lane to the basket. So, it’s just everyone working together.”
On Emma King being back on the court …
“Definitely. Emma is here for a reason. She’s prepared. We’re always getting shots with each other before and after and even off days. We’re always in the gym getting up extra shots. So, I have the most belief in her and she really stepped up and played a good role today.”
On what the coaches told the team at halftime …
“We just definitely, we have to stop trading baskets and step up and get better on our one-on-one defense, make them have to shoot outside shots. Just limit them getting into the paint. I thought we really stepped up to that and we took pride in our one-on-one defense and got some stops.”
On Treasure Hunt …
“I thought she definitely stepped up to what Coach was wanting her to do. She came in, hit some big shots, got some big rebounds and even a couple of blocks that we really needs. I thought she hustled really well and she ran the court great. She really needed that tonight.”
Kentucky Head Coach Kyra Elzy
On message for team out of third quarter and how Treasure Hunt played …
“You know, our message was consistent all game. You know, we have to dig in. It’s going to take everybody. We cannot panic. We had to get some stops on the defensive end, one shot and out, push the ball in transition. But, the biggest message, do not panic. We have been here before, we are battle tested, we have enough players on the floor that can make plays, and that showed tonight. Treasure Hunt, I am so proud of her, she got baptized by fire. She had five rebounds, four offensive rebounds, and I think that was the fastest that I’ve seen her move in awhile, when we pitched ahead and she finished with a layup. But, I think she showed tonight how skilled she is offensively. She can score at all three levels, and her size is a factor.”
On if you’ve seen Treasure Hunt perform in practice like she did tonight …
“No, she’s been practicing well the last couple of weeks, so she has been coming. For any freshman, our freshmen in particular, they’re getting baptized by fire. So, every day they are being challenged in practice, and we just talk to them about trusting the process, and when you’re number is called you have to be ready to step up, and I thought Treasure Hunt did that today.”
On when you were made aware that you weren’t going to have four players …
“Well, we found out yesterday. So, it was an adjustment when you’re missing that many players, especially in the guard position, but we have talked all year, this is a team. We have to play together, we have to stick together, and we have to be able to make plays, we don’t just depend on one person. And tonight, people stepped up who haven’t been playing. Tonight, I am so happy for Blair Green, she really stepped up to the challenge.”
On how big Blair Green was tonight …
“Blair was huge for us. She made play after play, some big shots. That 3. But, credit to Blair. She comes in before practice. She practices extremely hard. She comes in after practice. She watches film. So, the shots that you see her hitting, she takes over and over and over, so she is very confident in the shots that she takes, and we’re very confident because she works at it every day.”
On Rhyne Howard’s injury …
“Rhyne’s injury is day-to-day.”
On if a win like this raises the team’s confidence, being down four players …
“Yeah, this was a huge win for us. We celebrated as a staff with the team, and I just keep telling them how proud I am because we went into the game saying no excuses, no excuses, we had enough to win. And that COVID, it’s a different challenge for you. Every day, we don’t know what it will bring. So, we have to be resilient, we have to be tough, and we have to stay together. We showed that we can do that. And, just the confidence of some of the players that are coming off our bench. We asked them to step up and play big minutes. That’s why we push them in practice to be ready. But, this is a huge win. We could’ve folded but we didn’t.”
On what she was telling the team in huddles late in the game …
“I didn’t realize I was animated. We were just trying to bring the energy in the huddle. As a leader, I was trying to continue to instill confidence in them and we were talking about in the huddle, we have been here before, we are battle-tested. We’ve been through the gauntlet in practice and in games. So do not panic. We just do what we do best and that is try to get a stop, push in transition offense and make it once possession at a time. Don’t overthink it. And our players remained very calm and they’re confident that they can make the plays that we need to make in order to win.”
On transition defense …
“I thought we took a step forward. But it’s really hard to do a complete assessment with this many players out. When we get back to a full team, then I’ll really be able to really judge where we are. But for tonight, we did enough to get the job done.”
On Emma King …
“So happy for Emma to get in. She did exactly what we needed her to do – play as hard as she could play on both ends of the court. If she was open, take open shots, keep somebody in front of her and any hustle plays, she needed to be involved in. She did just that. We went around yesterday, talking about strengths of different people and the whole team gave her a vote of confidence that she plays hard, that she buys in. And I just told her there, she’s every coach’s dream. She plays hard, she wants to get better, she watches film and she trusts the process. Happy to have her have the opportunity to play today.”
On Chasity Patterson …
“Chasity. I mean, just so proud. She was tough. She went in mainly being the only point guard. She did not let that deter her. She still played at the pace we needed her to play. She made big shots. I thought she was just solid, stayed level-headed and played big minutes for us today.”
