Lady Vols vs. Ole Miss Postgame Quotes

Tennessee Head Coach Kellie Harper

Opening Statement:
"I'm glad we won. I knew this wasn't going to be a repeat from our first matchup. Obviously, Ole Miss had a game plan that they were going to shoot the ball from the outside, and they made enough shots to be in the game. I'm proud of our team for coming up with a win. It's amazing how fast the season goes. It's hard to believe this is our last home game, and hopefully we can improve from this and be a better basketball team in our next outing."

On the game plan for her team going in and how much of that featured Tamari Key:
"We knew we wanted to get the ball inside; we talked about that a lot. We were really trying to execute plays in the last few practices where she (Tamari Key) gets touches or our post players in general get touches. I thought our team did a really good job looking for and finding her and she finished."

On if there's any concern about her team and giving up a sizeable lead in the last couple games:
"Yeah, they banked that one three in that first half, and that was during a stretch where they just went on a run and they got some momentum and they were making shots. They outscored us in that second quarter, and they went into halftime feeling really good. Teams can make runs, and what you have to be able to do is step up and guard during those runs. That's what you have to do, you have to defend to get stops. Stops are really important at that time, and we just kind of got on our heels during that stretch. Then, obviously, that whole second half was played where we were changing things and trying to find some things that work, trying to guard that three-point line and trying to guard their shooters."

On how much she sees the offense starting to revolve around Tamari Key moving forward and how she fits with the team:
"I think as she matures and continues to develop you are going to see her be a more confident offensive player. I think right now, a lot of times she is just taller than people, and she's got great fundamentals. The physicality of the game at this level is something that she is still adjusting to, and when she gets more comfortable with that, I think you will be able to see her utilize her fundamentals and her execution at even higher level."

On what she is expecting against Auburn on Sunday and the challenges that will come:
"Yeah, I think Auburn has definitely gotten better, with how their playing. I think Sunday is going to be very tough for a few reasons. For one, they have gotten better. Two, it's their senior day. And three, their style of play is unique. For us, we haven't seen that a lot. We'll make sure that we are prepared with our execution to go against their press and their zone, but when we get out there, you actually have to do it. You can just look at scores and just see they have been more competitive as of late if not winning more. I said the same thing with Ole Miss as well. They have had some competitive games; they scored 70 in their last two road games, so we knew that had also gotten better. Auburn has as well, so I think it's going to be a big challenge."

On what it was like for her on her first Senior Night as head coach at UT:
"You're just reminded of how emotional it can be. When those two players come out on the court and they have tears, and then they have tears walking off the court. You're just reminded of how special this place is, how much people enjoy their time here and how they appreciate this - the fans and all of the support that we get. Obviously, it's our one day to celebrate those seniors. It's our one day to honor them, but it's also our day to thank them and for them to have an opportunity to say thank you as well. It's always a very emotional day."

On what these two seniors have meant to this team:
"These two seniors have been consistent. They have been coachable; they have handled the transition really well. I appreciate them and what they bring daily. Also, just how the players react to them and look to them. I appreciate their maturity and what they have been able to do off the court as well. Both of them with degrees, and just being great ambassadors in the community for this program and this university."

Junior Forward Rennia Davis

On the team's performance:
"I knew that Ole Miss would come with a different and better game plan than the first game, because we did beat them so bad the first time. First, I'm glad we got the win. Also, I thought that there were moments where we were kind of relaxed out there. There were also moments where we were able to come together and go on our run and keep that lead. I thought we stayed at 10 for the majority of the second half."

On difference between Ole Miss today compared to the game earlier in the season:
"I thought they focused in a lot more on me on defense. Apparently, that was the game plan. That's how I felt out there. Again, I thought my teammates did a good job of just playing regardless of what kind of defense they were playing on me. Just hitting shots, driving to the basket, getting to the free-throw line. I also thought that we did a good job from the free-throw line tonight, which was huge for us."

Sophomore Guard Rae Burrell

On getting hit in the face early in the game:
"Yea a little bit, but that comes with being aggressive and going after the ball. That is bound to happen."

On the team's preparation for upcoming game against Auburn:
"I feel like we're just working on stuff that not only is going to matter in that game but in tournament play too. Just making sure we are working on those details and fixing stuff that we need to work on and get better at."

Freshman Center Tamari Key

On career high and finding open shots:
"Our past two practices we have been working on moving without the ball, finding the open spots and making the easy play. And my teammates were finding me (tonight)."

On getting back in double digits:
"It felt good. I have been working hard in practice trying to rebound more and get put backs and just finding open spots. I felt like today was really rewarding for me."

On watching senior night ceremony:
"It was special for all of us. We are all really close, so we've heard all day that time flies here, and this is going to be the fastest four years of our lives. We just don't want to take any of that for granted."

Head Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin

Opening statement
"I am just extremely proud of our group. The last time we played Tennessee, we only scored 28 points, and it was a tough moment for us as a program. The resiliency and the character that our team showed, probably in the last five games, I have been extremely pleased with. This was my first time here at this arena, on the Summitt court. Pat Summitt was somebody that I grew up idolizing, and I felt her spirit the whole time. At shoot around, I said, 'Hey, you guys are shooting so well, I guess that orange really does give you that good feeling.' So we had a good feeling going into the game, and I just wished we hit some shots in the first quarter, but we didn't. We are just going to continue laying the foundation here at Ole Miss."

On what it says about this team with how hard they are working even without an SEC win:
"Our journey is our journey. One thing I think that my staff has done a great job of is reminding our kids that our process is our process. Did we expect to not win a game? No. But at the same time, we don't focus on that. We focus on getting better. We know where we are going to go in this program. Right now, the number one goal for our players is to lay the foundation for what is coming. That is why I got the job, and that is what I intend to do, and so do these young ladies."

On if it was on purpose that the team shot from the three so often:
"Yes. It was funny... I guess the sideline crew asked me earlier, 'Coach, how are you going to plan on scoring in the paint?' And I said, 'Did you see Tennessee's roster? We aren't going in the paint unless it is in transition.' I thought we did that. So obviously yes, we wanted to hit the midrange jumper, and we wanted to be able to make shots from the arc."

On how it was playing in Thompson-Boling Arena and if they enjoyed the crowd:
"Absolutely. This is the house that Pat (Summitt) built. It is inspiring. I love it. I love that not only does Tennessee have a great crowd, they have a knowledgeable crowd. They know the game. They know what is going on. They know where we are in our program. The messages I have gotten from Tennessee fans have been incredible. They follow. They pay attention. It is inspiring, because I think when you build something, the people come. That is the whole intent. We want to build a solid program where people can feel like they can take ownership and hopefully one day it will look like it did in here."

Redshirt-Sophomore Guard Mimi Reid

On how the team was able to stay focused even when Tennessee had a 20-point lead:
"I am going to be honest, we didn't know we were down 20. We were just playing and having fun. We were just doing what the coaches asked of us. When you follow the game plan, you are going to get right back into it. We knew the weaknesses of Tennessee, and we knew we should just keep going and going and eventually they would fold, so we made our run. It was just a night of sticking to it and sticking together in that process."

On how it was playing in Thompson-Boling Arena and if she enjoyed the crowd:
"Coming into Tennessee, coach really expressed the legacy here and that we should want to play hard and play on a big stage. We understand the process of just fighting. That is what we did tonight. And just building off talking about our program, I think that has a lot to do with just seeing what was before us and take those steps forward."