UK ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME QUOTES
#13 KENTUCKY VS. LEE UNIVERSITY
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021
MEMORIAL COLISEUM – LEXINGTON, KY.
Kentucky Head Coach Kyra Elzy
On the defensive intensity during the game …
“We did force 29 turnovers, so we did play hard defensively. They are definitely things that we need to go and clean up after we watch the game film. Overall, I liked the intensity in which we played. I thought one thing we did well, in the press we made them play fast early and miss some layups around the rim. We were switching today, so I thought that was very disruptive to the players. I think we have a chance to be really good defensively.”
On the speed of the game being up to par…
“I thought we pushed the pace and I thought Jazmine Massengill and Jada were great in transition. We got some open 3s, Dre’una Edwards is the other person that can lead the break. I love when she rebounds. There are not many posts that can do what she can do with the ball. She played very aggressive tonight.”
On Jada Walker…
“I love Jada, and there is only one speed, and that is fast. She plays hard. I like that she steps up to the challenge and she is not going to back down, and that’s what we need from her, even if she is a freshman. We have a lot of respect for what she can do, and her ability to pick up the basketball changes us defensively.”
On the BBN being back in Memorial Coliseum…
“It was great to have people, to have the band, to have the fans, just the energy. The Big Blue Nation is what makes Memorial Coliseum special. So, we hope to continue to get more people in the building.”
On Emma King…
“I was happy with Emma. I think she has bought into her role. What we’re looking for is for her to hunt open 3s. She has shot the ball extremely well all summer and in preseason. She works hard. She fits the type of player that I’m looking for: heart, hustle, intensity, and is very competitive. She buys into her role and is a big piece of what we do.”
On Dre’una Edwards…
“When she’s on the floor it gives us a versatile line up. To have a forward that can shoot the 3, that can lead the break, that can switch and guard on the perimeter, it gives us a lot of versatility, which is hard to guard.”
Kentucky Student-Athletes
#10, Rhyne Howard, Senior, Guard
On being the strong team …
“I definitely felt like we were the stronger team. As you can see, Dre was bullying people down there. We lift a lot of weights so we’re glad that you noticed that because we definitely felt that.”
On playing some of her old high school teammates …
“It was fun to play against Halle and Anna. Having them back and being able to play against each other, it was just fun. I had a great time.”
On being back in front of the fans …
“It was great to have the fans back. You know, they really get us going. If we’re having a tough time or even when we’re doing good like hearing them just makes us want to go even harder. And just it’s just about having fun out there. So that’s why I keep a smile on my face.”
On only committing nine fouls as a team …
“It’s definitely our emphasis to play without failing. In practice, she [Coach Elzy] has our managers call every little touch. In order to be like, ready for the games, we just play without our hands and fundamentally sound.”
#44, Dre’una Edwards, Redshirt Junior, Forward
On her moves around the rim …
“It was definitely fun to be out there. But you know, my teammates got me the ball and they fed me when I needed them so it was amazing.”
On what the team needs to work on ahead of Tuesday’s season opener …
“I’m going to say we got to work on free throws. But I just want to say a takeaway for us is defense. I think we did a good job pressuring the ball and pushing up on defense, and we can take a lot away from that.”
On her conditioning …
“I definitely do feel a difference in my pace and the way I move. I’ve been feeling that all summer, though. We’ve been working.”
#11, Jada Walker, Freshman, Guard
On what she can take from the game as a true freshman …
“I guess pushing the ball more at teams. This is a shorter team, so we took advantage of transition attack. We out-rebounded them, and I guess if we could keep continuing to do that throughout the season, we could be really good.”
On what the team needs to work on …
“Just shooting, being consistent throughout the entire game and not just the beginning.”
On what she thought of her first collegiate experience …
“Yeah, kind of. I was a little nervous at first, but I shake it off and play. That’s my strong point. Playing defense, getting steals and getting layups, and then just doing whatever else my team needs me to do.”
