March 23, 2010

2010 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship
Second Round
Vermont vs. Notre Dame
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Purcell Pavilion- Notre Dame, Ind.

Vermont Postgame Quotes

Head Coach Sharon Dawley

“Obviously we are very upset that we lost and we won’t be continuing on to the Sweet 16, but what we talked about in the lockerroom, that was a goal and would have been fantastic to do and we are disappointed that we fell short of that. That by no means, changes what we did this year. This senior class is one of the most successful classes in the history of Vermont. Twenty-seven wins on the year, back-to-back America East Championships. It isn’t going to be easy, but that is what we are going to take away. More importantly than wins and losses, I would not want to go to battle with anyone more than with our senior class. It is upsetting to lose, but I can live with that. The upsetting part is knowing that we will not be coaching these amazing young ladies again next year. We know we are sending them off to do amazing things. A couple maybe pro, a couple maybe in the business world, but they are winners and whatever they choose to do is going to be fantastic. I consider myself blessed to have coached them.”

On the effectiveness of Notre Dame’s press…
“It was obviously very effective. They timed it well and put pressure on. I think that is why they are as good as they are. Great pressure defense. They just play as a team, and they are pros at it. Their pressure D was great. There were times that we didn’t help ourselves. I have to say on one hand it was great pressure and on the other hand we had to help ourselves a little bit more than we did. Some of those passes were errant passes and some recipients needed to come to the ball a little bit harder. I think this was a big stage, a big game, and a lot of nerves going off today. At this stage of the game it doesn’t matter if you are a senior or freshman, I think a lot of nerves showed, so it is two fold.”

On the physical style of play and her team’s limited number of free throws…
“I guess I am surprised that we only took five free throws because I thought it was very physical.”

On the freshmen’s (Seto and Buschmann) performances and future…
“The freshman class has a lot to be proud of and build on. I think Kendra Seto and Lauren Buschmann are going to be tremendous players. They are two players that can really dominate in the America East, and we are really looking forward to the offseason and fine tuning their skills and making them more confident. They are remarkable basketball players and they are going to have great futures.”

Courtnay Pilypaitis – Senior – Guard

On the team’s fast start…
“We were aggressive at the beginning. We played like we normally do. I think when we got such a big lead, we were shocked ourselves. I think we stopped being aggressive. They turned up the defensive pressure and we just started turning the ball over and they started making some shots. They were able to setup their press which is their go-to and they killed us with that. We got away from what we were doing in the beginning.”

May Kotsopoulos – Senior – Guard

On Skylar Diggins’ performance and the impact it had on the team’s game plan…
“I think their pressure was obviously a big factor. I would say that about 80 percent of her points were off of lay-ups and that was us turning the ball over and her getting out in the open. She is a very strong player, but I think we turned the ball over too much and helped her a lot. “

Alissa Sheftic – Senior – Center

On the accomplishments of the senior class over the course of their careers…
“I don’t think I have ever been so proud in my life. I think that is why we are blue right now. It has been a great four years, and I think what makes it so hard is knowing that I am normal when I wake up tomorrow. I am no longer a student-athlete and I have to say good-bye. I think that is the hardest thing. I have loved working with all of the ladies through our ups and downs. I have never been so proud. I am very thankful I have had this opportunity, and I hope that we did Vermont proud. I think we did.”