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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Postgame Quotes: Mississippi Valley
11/16/2014 | Women's Basketball
Ole Miss vs. Mississippi Valley State
November 16, 2014
HEAD COACH Matt Insell
On the defensive performance…
"I am very pleased. I thought we played a lot better defensively. We played with a lot more intensity and a lot more hustle. We still have a long way to go defensively, but we are getting better. That is what I told the team. It all starts with the hustle on the defensive end. We are going to give some layups up from time to time. Our fans need to know that and get ready for that because of the craziness that we are going to play. We are going to try to force turnovers to give us more possessions. Obviously we did that today pretty well. I am real happy with how we played and the growth of this team. We still have a long way to go. We are going to keep going better. We did not shoot the ball particularly well. But, one think I can tell you from watching this team every day in practice is that we are a good shooting team. We can really shoot it when we get going. Right now we are a little hesitant. I am just telling them to let it go, shoot it and stop worrying about it. When they settle in and get a little bit more comfortable that will happen."
On the turnovers and steals…
"They just played really hard. We have been working on how we are going to guard defensively since June. Some things are starting to come together. We are starting to see some rotations. That is the big thing and that is what the game can help us with. Seeing rotations can help us improve. Shandricka Sessom got one in the middle of the court that looked like a safety coming in and stealing one, and going for a pick six. That is the kind of thing that will happen when you start to see rotations. Sessom saw it coming. She knew she had that one. That is progress and I am really happy with our progress. We are young. We have six returners that are doing a great job of leading. But really, they are only in year two of this. So, they are only like sophomores. Then you have 8 freshman and newcomers out there. It is a work in progress and we are going to continue getting better every single day. That is what I ask them to do and they are doing it."
On Shandricka Sessom…
"I do not think the crowd against Grambling State made her nervous. She is a freshman and it was her first college game. That happens. I have had the privilege of coaching two of the last four SEC-Freshman of the Year. Both of those kids struggled in their first regular season game. It is a different game. It took Shandricka a little time to get settled in. Now people are seeing what we see every day in practice. She is explosive. Sessom, Faleru and Frizzell are really anchoring forces right now on our perimeter. We need them to be playing well and have good games. I am really excited. We are getting ready for practice on Tuesday and we will keep trying to improve every day."
On Tia Faleru's 1,000 career-points…
"It is really special. It is really special for her. Tia Faleru has worked really hard in my two years here. Everything she is getting she has earned. I am really proud of her. She goes out there every game and she competes, and she wants to win. I am just really proud she got that thousandth point and I believe she has a lot more in here this year. She is going to keep climbing."
SENIOR FORWARD Tia Faleru
On her game today…
"I had a lot of fun. It was a good game and we came out here with a lot of intensity. Holding MVSU to 38 points is a great feeling."
On reaching 1,000 points…
"During the game I was just focused on playing. I was not looking to see how many points I had. I usually do not know how many points or rebounds I have until after the game. It was a great feeling. I never thought that I would come to college and be the person and player I am today. Hard work will get you there. This journey has been rocky. But the years have gone on. The past two years I have learned to trust Coach Insell and the staff. Once you have trust you can begin to really build confidence. That is really a place where I have grown the past two years. Coach Insell has made me a better player. Not just me, but the whole team. He puts a lot on me, but I know that is what I need to do to be the player I want to be."
