Lady Vols vs. Central Arkansas Postgame Quotes

Tennessee Head Coach Kellie Harper

Opening Statement:
"First off, I am glad we won the basketball game as we think that is important. Our players were excited about some improvement that we had, both improvement from our Tuesday game and also improvement from the first half to the second half, especially on the defensive end. I think we're going to continue to get better, and I think the players understand that we're working for small increments every day, but I was I was really happy for them. They were they were pretty fired up in the locker room after the game."

On what it was like to see Jordan Horston and Tamari Key play exceptionally well:
"Well, there's no doubt that those two are really talented. I mean, and you can see the dynamic play that that Jordan (Horston) has and the fundamentals that Tamari (Key) has. I'm really excited for both of those players and their future. They're still young, they're going to learn, and I think this was a good step for them."

On Jordan Horston leading the team in turnovers at the beginning and then committing none after settling down:
"Well, I think you just said it. Game one is not always easy for freshmen. It's going to continue; you'll see her continue to improve. You know, I think she felt good. I think the spacing, for her, was good. Early on, we were able to get stops, which put her in open court in transition. I think she's really good there. Obviously Tamari (Key) was on the receiving end early on. So the spacing was good, but I think Jordan is a playmaker, and sometimes playmakers will make some turnovers. We're very fortunate tonight she didn't."

On the scoring differential from the first quarter compared to the rest of the game:
"I thought our defensive intensity and effort for sure was much better in the latter part of the game. We talked about it a little bit there in there in the game during the timeouts in the first half. We got after it at halftime. We really had a discussion. I told them that they were not giving us what we needed defensively. I felt like Central Arkansas was a little too comfortable in the first half, and we changed that. We changed the tone with our defensive pressure there in the second half."

On what her experience was like for her first official game in Thompson-Boling Arena:
"I think I've done this long enough now that I don't get too uptight. I'm pretty even keel. It was me as a player; that's me as a coach. And really, I was hoping I would kind of be able to take it all in a little bit more. I just go right to task mode. You know what needs to be done and are focused on the team and the game, but it will never get old, walking out to Rocky Top. Ever. I love coming out and seeing our fans. I love Thompson-Boling arena and always will."

On Jaiden McCoy and her undisclosed injury:
"She's going to be out for an undetermined amount of time. We may know more next week, I just don't know yet. She has a left hand injury."

On playing at Notre Dame:
"In terms of our turnaround, one thing that I'm actually happy about now, our first game was a road trip, so this will not be our first road trip. I think that's a big deal. The environment and atmosphere over in Johnson City when we played was really good, and it was loud. I fully expect Notre Dame to be an amazing place to play. I expect it to be loud and tough, but I do think we have a little bit of that under our belt now with our first game, so that's a positive for us going over there. Hopefully (it) won't be a complete shock to our system. There's no doubt the game is going to be tough. There's no doubt. But you know, I think it's what's good for us, and we're going to know where we're at. We're able to walk out of there and know exactly where we stand this early in the season."

On the starting lineup:
"Our starters were really good on our plus-minus. Individually, they were good. As a group, they were really productive. I am so proud of how we started. Proud of that group when they went back in the game. We're probably going to play a lot of combinations, a lot of different groups. So them being able to function and be effective playing with a lot of different people, that's a big deal. But in terms of just the starters, I was very pleased."

On Tamari Key getting into foul trouble during the first two games of the season:
"I think a lot of times freshmen post players have to learn how to play at this level without fouling. I feel like all freshmen have to go through that, but really post players because we're asking them to be so physical. So I think she'll learn that. We will help her along the way. It's obviously a concern with our with our entire team coming off an ETSU game when we were all in foul trouble, so we'll continue to work on that."

On what improvements needed to be made after the ETSU game and how play was better vs. Central Arkansas:
"Well, the first thing for us was our transition defense. I felt like our transition defense was not good coming out of our ETSU game, and we worked on it yesterday, talked about it, watched it on film. I thought it was better tonight, and then our awareness off the ball defensively I thought needed to improve. I thought that was better tonight as well, so I thought we handled the game a little bit better tonight, and part of that is style and play, but part of it is, 'Okay we're through game one. We're okay. We understand how to play.' So, I think we saw some progress in an area that I needed to see it in."

On what Jessie Rennie brings to the team
"Jessie is very smart, and Jessie is easy to play with. She doesn't get in the way, she makes good decisions, she will spread the defense out a little bit because people are going to honor her from the three-point line. You saw where they were late getting on the floor to grab a loose ball. She makes a lot of little plays that will go unnoticed, and it has not gone unnoticed by the staff that her plus/minus was the highest coming out of the ETSU game, and it's still really good this game. So, statistically we may not have production, but she's helping her teammates be productive when she's on the court."

On if she wants to see more from Rennia Davis and Zaay Green:
"I thought Rennia took some good shots early, and they didn't fall. She's got to keep shooting. We've got to find her some good looks, and we'll be a bit more creative finding those. I thought Zaay… I thought she passed too much tonight. I thought she had some opportunities to get the ball all the way to the rim and get the ball in for some nice short jumpers, and she just kicked it out and found some teammates. I need her to be a little more aggressive looking for a shot. I know she still shot 10 times, but I thought she passed up two or three that she could've taken that would've been good for us."

On what led to the close rebounding battle:
"Several things. I think we had some missed boxouts. We had some shots that bounced wide, maybe a little bit out of our area. But then also for us, we've got to do a better job of getting around boxouts. We've got to do a better job of consistently going to the boards on the offensive end. That's just such a big number for me. I don't want to just dominate the boards, I want to do it also on the offensive rebounding category."

On how she would feel about Uconn, Baylor, South Carolina, etc. and Tennessee playing a big double header early in the season:
"I think that would be fun now that I'm here and already past game one. Maybe next year that would be great. I think anything to get people excited about the game. I think those types of games are going to get people there. Playing in front of crowds, I think, is a big deal. Obviously, I love playing in Thompson-Boling Arena, but like I mentioned earlier, we had a great crowd over in Johnson City, so I wouldn't be opposed to that. I think that could be something fun for women's basketball."

On how much orange she had before coming to Tennessee vs. now:
"Okay, so none. I didn't have any orange. I've not coached an orange team in my career, so I have purple, red, and maroon, but no orange. Finding Tennessee orange in coaching attire is really difficult. This was as close as I could get to orange. I walked in the shop, and I haven't had any time to go shopping, let's just say that, but I was out and about, and I walked into a shop. Something caught my eye, I walked over there, and it was orange. I walk in and look at the piece and look at another piece, and the lady said, 'You must really love orange!' Yes, yes I do. I proceeded to try on every piece of orange clothing that was in the store. Now, the lighting in here, you might think it's red, but according to the lady I bought it from, she convinced me that it was orange."

On her son Jackson warming up before the game:
"He's warmed up with our teams since about the age of three. He's done this, he gets warmups. This is his thing, and we got him a jersey. At Missouri State, it was a Bears jersey, number 14 because that's what mom wore. I have to sneak out in the tunnel to watch him warm up before the game. There was something a little bit different about my son wearing 14 on our court. It's kind of cool, so I have to sneak out there just a little bit to watch him, because it's special to be able to share what we're doing with our children, with both Jackson and Kylie. It's an unbelievable place to be, and I'm so happy they get to grow up in it."

On if she expects Tamari Key and Jordan Horston to be dominant in SEC play:
"Well, I think they still have growth, for sure. I think one of the biggest things that freshmen have to learn is how to play physical and how to handle the physicality, and it is a long season of physicality, especially in the SEC. It's going to be important that we take care of them and take care of their bodies, that they're playing with confidence by the time we get to SEC play. I think they can be very productive for sure."

Redshirt Senior Forward Lou Brown

On what the turnaround point was in the game and how the team loosened up to start the 3^rd quarter:
"When we went into halftime, we had a huge emphasis on defense, and we wanted to make sure all of the second half we really locked in on the defensive end. But to do that, we need to have chemistry - knowing, talking to each other, and communication. We have really great relationships on this team, and I think that really helps. You see that. You see the lightheartedness sometimes, but I think that's where our great chemistry is, and that's kind of what pushed us to keeping them to seven points and four points in the second half."

On Jordan and how inspiring it is to know she's going to be looking for her for open shots:
"Jordan can pass that ball too. We try to get down, try to get in front of her, but she's good at creating, so whatever she wants to do, we try to read off of her. Sometimes we're like, 'Okay, we've got to keep up.' The way she pushes the ball pushes the whole team for sure."

On Jessie Rennie hitting her first 3-pointer today, and how that made her feel:
"I actually told her before the game, I said, 'You're sinking a three today, Jessie,' because she had been a little bit worried about it, in her head about it. But I said, 'Look, you're sinking a three today,' and as soon as she shot it, I knew it was going in. I was so stoked for her. It was her first points and her first three-ball, so it was a cool moment."

Freshman Center Tamari Key

On when she found out she was starting, and what her reaction was:
"Today, right before the game. In my head I was like, 'Oh shoot.' I know we were excited for each other, and I think we just looked at each other and said, 'It's go time.'"

On her ability to come up with the ball and how/where she learned to do that:
"For AAU. I used to do that a couple years ago and quickly learned that I needed to get out of that habit because the guards would just come down there and snatch it. So I just need to learn to keep the ball up and not putting it on the floor. I can do the same moves that I can do without putting it on the floor."

On how Kellie Harper has inspired the team with the history of Tennessee and what it means to be a part of it:
"She constantly reminds us of where we are, how blessed we are. Sometimes we get so caught up in practice, and weights and conditioning, and sometimes you just need to take a step back and realize how blessed we are, and that we're really put in this position for a reason. She continues to push us, and she inspires us every single day."

Freshman Guard Jordan Horston

On the difference from the ETSU game to tonight and how she was able to be more effective:
"I feel like I was just able to slow down a little bit. I feel like the first couple games I was a little jittery. I really just had to slow down and let the game come to me. My teammates were always there for me too."

On what she will remember about her first game at home:
"Running out of the tunnel. That was a dream come true. Everything has been so surreal. I'm so blessed to be here and happy to be here with this group of girls. I just want to take everything in because it's more than basketball, and I just appreciate everything - this whole program, playing for Coach Kellie."

On when she found out she was starting and what she thought:
"Right before the game. Coach gave us this opportunity and she trusted us, and we didn't want to let her down."

Central Arkansas Head Coach Sandra Rushing

Opening statement:
"What a great experience for my young team, coming into such an amazing atmosphere. Tennessee is tough. I was pleased with our first half effort and energy, but I think just their size and physicality really just took a toll on us in the second half. Our focus was not where I wanted it to be in the second half, but we are a young team. I have guards sitting out, and we have to go back and work to get better and just improve. I've just got to say this: this is a first-class operation here. Everyone is wonderful. They run top-notch. We really do appreciate the hospitality."

On why she thought they were successful in rebounding against UT:
"I am very pleased with (our rebounding). We had 36 and they had 41. We have worked all week about crashing the boards and blocking out. We even told them that if we are in a situation and everyone is going for the ball, just tip it out of bounds so we can reset our defense, because they are going to score. You saw that. They fell over the top of us. We are really, really pleased with how we battled on the boards."

On how a player like Jordan Horston changes the pace of the game:
"A lot. We couldn't keep up, and we were sending two back. She is a tremendous player. She is going to be fun to watch. She is fun to watch now, and I had an up close and personal view. She is a tremendous, tremendous player."

On if she thinks is a good series and hopes to continue it:
"This is the University of Tennessee. Players dream about playing against Tennessee and having an opportunity. I would love to continue this. I love coming to Knoxville, and our players get excited about this. It is an amazing atmosphere. I grew up loving Tennessee. I played at the University of Alabama and I got the chance to play against Pat Head Summitt, and coming in here and having an opportunity to coach here is tradition."

Senior guard Taylor Sells

On why she thought the shooting percentage went down in the second half:
"The first half we came out with a lot of energy because we had nothing to lose, so we were just (playing) with a go attitude. But like coach said, the physicality just took a toll, but I know we could've pushed ourselves harder to make the easy shots and get the easy opportunities that we can control."

On how a non-conference game like this will help them in the future this year:
"First off, our tallest player is 6-2, so the height advantage helps us to be able to shoot over the taller people. So, (it helps us) to get ready for that aspect of the game. But they weren't as quick as we thought they would be, so that helps us a lot and they are big. It helps that we stayed with them in the first half. And against Tennessee? That gives us confidence. We can hang with anybody if we can hang with Tennessee. We just have to carry it over to the second half, and it will help with all our non-conference games and conference games."

Junior forward Ayanna Trigg

On why she thought the shooting percentage went down in the second half:
"To carry off of that (what Sells said), we should have stayed focused. The first half, we came out of the gate and we knew our game plan. We were ready, and we had a chip on our shoulder. I don't want to say that we got comfortable, but I feel like we just have to push through some stuff like that."

On how a non-conference game like this will help them in the future this year:
"We can take this game as a learning experience, due to the fact that we came out of the gate and we were ready. But then how we kind of lost focus, it is all a learning experience, so we are going to think about this next time we play a big school. (We) just got to keep our focus."