For two years, she was a spot-up shooter, and now we have to run her off screens to get her open, she has to handle the ball and she is our top perimeter defender. She has elevated her game and been a really good leader for us.
Having Katie somewhat back adds another dimension that we missed. We just need her versatility on the court, her defensive presence.
Going into playing the top three teams, we need to really make sure we put our best foot forward and take advantage of the strengths we have as a team. We are going to face a lot more athleticism in Hartford and then again in the rivalry with Boston University.
Katie on a stress fracture gives us 14 minutes and basically had to take herself out of the game. Ashley hasn't practiced but came back and gave us everything she had. But we're just really limited.
I think every aspect of what we've gone through this season has been a challenge. There's been a new challenge every day. When you win games it masquerades some things that losing brings to the forefront.
I said to them during a timeout in the second half, the way they fought, the way they competed, that's what we need to do.
I thought in the first half we were very tentative. We missed open shots, we missed free throws and it was just playing to the pace that they wanted as opposed to dictating what we wanted.
We knew going into the game we were depleted, down to only eight.
Bracey was a point guard in high school and that makes her a match up nightmare. Abby Schrader has given us everything that she can give, and she's been terrific in accepting a more of a go-to player's role.
I've been extremely pleased with our bench lately and we just need to keep it going in the right direction.
They are a good team watching them on film but it's even better in person. They have all the components you need to be a championship team.
They took it right at us. We were caught back on our heels right from the start.
Abby's obviously getting double-teamed and they're really banging her around. The more Katie can do that, the more it's going to open things up for Abby.
It's a situation where Hartford obviously is the top team in our conference and they came out with a defensive intensity. They shut down our key players. Whenever someone broke free, one of their players was there. They were fully prepared for what we were running.
I'm not sure I have said all year how tough Ashley Underwood is and tonight best epitomized it at halftime when the buzzer went off and she was still running down the stairs after icing and getting her ankle re-taped at halftime.