Dec. 2, 2002
Head coach Tammy Smith
On the start of the season: "We are facing some ups and downs early on. Up until this weekend, I thought we were making some great strides. We played a real good first half against Quinnipiac and struggled the second half. Against Sacred Heart at home, we put together a real strong second half. Then, against Yale, we didn't do any of that. It was just a game that we struggled right from the tip-off. We're going through a lot of different emotions right now. We're dealing with some frustration on everyone's part, which we really have to grab a hold of, because they are good and we're going to be good. We just have to remember that. We are probably going to face some things and deal with some things where we are going to be up and down like that. We have to keep fighting. We are young and we're going to learn. The younger kids are stepping up and they're getting a lot of time."
On Fitzpatrick and Doherty: "(Colleen) plays hard in practice and plays hard in games. She gives it every ounce that she possibly has. Kristin is a freshman who is averaging nine points a game for us. She is just a hard-nosed competitor. We are going to go with players like these guys who understand the importance of winning and want to win and know what it takes to get that to happen. We're going to take our lumps early on, but from what I see, we're at a much better level than we were last year this time. We're able to catch the ball and shoot the ball and make some baskets. We're playing more up-tempo. It's going to come. We just have to keep their heads on and keep them positive as well as us. We have to stay on them to keep plugging away. It's going to help in the long run."
On the team's strengths and weaknesses: "Defensively, we're just not into our defensive mode that we need to be. We're giving up too many points and those are just because of our lack of defensive rebounding. We do a fine job of pressuring players with the ball and forcing them to take contested shots. But, then we're giving them two and three chances to score. You're not going to win that way. We're giving up some offensive boards. That's what is hurting us right now, so I'm not real happy with that part of our game. As far as how along these freshmen and upperclassmen have come, I'm very happy with where they are."
On the team's offense: "We're getting a lot of good looks. We're getting a lot of looks inside. They're just not falling for us right now. I don't think it's the strength of the defense that we're facing. We're not forcing shots. We're getting open looks. We do want to run and that's what we're looking to do. We do need to rebound to get the ball off the boards and go. But, right now they're just not falling. That's not a bad thing. Those are things that will come. We're getting the open shots and they have to be able to trust their offense and let it work for them instead of trying to force some passes that may not be there. We need some luck. All good teams need the ball to bounce their way sometimes. We're going to keep fighting for that to hopefully be a part of Lafayette basketball."
Junior forward Colleen Fitzpatrick
On the team: "We really have to crash the boards and get the rebounds. We need to get the outlets and run down the floor, because our strength right now is going to be our running game. We have a lot of quick players on the team this year. Our freshmen are very quick and they have a good knack for the game. Once we just are set with ourselves and can execute our offense, we'll be fine. You'll see a big change."
On opening games: "Quinnipiac we had the whole first half. We just have to get to a point where when we have the lead, we have to maintain and build on that lead. Sacred Heart, we could have had that game too. Our hearts were out on that floor the second half. We just needed a couple more shots and for them to miss a couple shots and we would have had that."
Freshman guard Kristin Doherty
On high school to college transition: "I thought it would be a lot more difficult than it is. Coming in as a freshman, the coaches prepared us really well so that we're able to come in and play. We are young, but I think we are going to be able to help just because of how they prepared us to compete at this level."
