Getting this far is a great boost for this program. We need to get stronger and keep working on fundamentals, and if we can, we can come back and take another shot at this.

I was surprised by how low the score was especially in the first half, but I felt it played into our hands. Our girls played man-to-man defense as well as it can be played.

We said amongst the coaches that the monkey was off our back Tuesday.

I'm excited as all get-out for these girls. I'm not sure it's sunk in yet, but I had goose bumps in the last eight seconds.

Honestly, I don't think (big-game experience) was a part of it. We garnered more and more confidence in every tournament game we played. The effort was there, and not to make excuses, but I think we were a little low on gas and fighting a couple little injuries and had to change a few things that we do.

It was a blur to me. I saw her take it down the lane and said this is as good a look as we can get.

They were closing down on Jackie (Albrecht) on the inside and that's our strong point. We were trying to force it inside to her sometimes.