Elaine Elliott Quotations

What they really proved is that they absolutely belong, this is truly a Final Four team. We're so proud that the Utah name is going to be up there with the best of them, forever enshrined by what they've done.

We felt like we could win games. That's probably what got us through the end. It wasn't one of those games where people are making plays to win.

We're getting good contributions from different kids, we're sharing the ball well, and we're defending better. There's been a better commitment to our preparation and to getting better.

We've very proud and happy for both of them. You just need to feel good about the fact that they've put themselves in great position with great play. I want them to enjoy that and be proud of that.

We're playing good basketball right now. I thought the way we started the game really set the tone.

We're just trying to play hard with a real enthusiasm for the game.

She's a perfectionist to a fault. She'll just keep shooting to prepare. She'll do the same thing she always does. She'll try to get into a rhythm, and I'll just try to get her to smile.

She's pretty much had her way. You're always talking about containing, not stopping a player like that. It would be a victory to keep (Langhorne) from getting 20 instead of 30.

She's just a special kid. She came in with a great shot and an even better work ethic. She will do anything to help her team win.

She's just a savvy player. She's not just a shooter. She's a player. Her confidence has grown throughout the season. It's been very evident.

She's had a little bit of street ball in her. She played with the (boys). What she was practicing in practice wasn't the fundamentals we were teaching.

She's a kid who will always keep working to get that touch and she has. She's put in the time.

My kids are great kids. I would think the Lobo fans would support us because we are from the same conference.

I have mixed emotions. We were right there and it's an awful feeling to lose and not get that next step. You just try to tell these young players that everything that happened before what we feel right now is what this team is.

Langhorne pretty much had her way. We are what we are in terms of our size. We're not talking about shutting her down.

Our incoming class for next season fills some immediate needs and we're thrilled to have each of them join our program.

Julie has been up and down during her career and it's no surprise that her up times have really benefited our team.

The absolute consistency and performance Kim has given us for four years is very, very unique. It's special and deserving of recognition. It really indicates the impact she's had throughout.

That would be our best-case scenario. It would be historic. It would be another step forward. (The selection committee is) at least going to have to give us a serious look.

We are thrilled, certainly. We felt like we could win games, and I think that is probably what got us through the end.

What you sort of see in a friend is somebody that you can trust. Neither one of them is egotistical. Neither one of them is about themselves. They're easy to be around and it was easy for them, as I see it, to become friends. They're very much alike in just their personal characteristics . . . It's easy to see why they're friends.

There are no surprises with anything positive that he's done up there. He's gotten himself some hard-nosed competitive kids and done the right thing with them.

We're not known to overlook anyone. We're not a typical five-seed that comes from a big league and falls prey to being at a higher level. We understand that everyone is a good team. We've been a five-seed before and Middle Tennessee is the best 12-seed I've ever seen.

Why are we talking about that right now? It'll come soon enough.

We have shooters who make it difficult to just go zone. We don't have the post game but we've gone a long way without one. It's worked out OK. We've proved there's other ways to be successful.

We've had some nice e-mails coming in to our program from their fans, just saying they're Lobo people but they're going to be here to support us. And that's fair. That's a great response.

This team's been really resilient. They've never panicked. It's really as simple as that.

Everybody, in the end, plays the same games. So really, until it's over, there's no comparing where people are at. We have kind of done well just playing from behind. So, I think we'll just keep thinking of it in those terms.

There's no chip on our shoulder. We really love to play. We try to keep thinking in these terms: Play for each other. Play because you love it. When you play, show the enthusiasm you have for the game.

There's no one that can take credit but them. They've done a phenomenal job.

Things always feel good when you hit shots.

You should be able to enjoy every single second of a special experience. That's what this is about. It's a moment in time that they will remember forever.

This is excellent for our program and for our seniors. They handled the pressure extremely well. They played for the love of the game and didn't let the pressure get to them.

This is the first injury like that she has had, so we will see how she responds.

They're the best team that we will have played ? without a doubt. They're just really, really talented.

They started out slow statistically in the conference games. They've got good stuff ahead of them. It's nice to see them starting to get comfortable and enjoy this last stretch. They've been doing a good job for us.

They have better players than they've ever had. Those are great kids. There's no secret. It's all about the players.

They had some runs, then we had some runs, but in the end, we had it.

They didn't fold when it wasn't easy. When they got close, we didn't give up.

They are back in place now, sort of. She will probably need some more work getting stitches and wired.

This place, for a regional, will set the standard. The support here for women's basketball is just incredible, so I think we're all fortunate this is where we're going to play.

They're here because they don't have that attitude. They believe they can get wins in this tournament, they understand that each win is a notch up and they understand it in the right way. We've also been successful by being proud of who we are. There's no chip on our shoulders.

It was beautiful for them, and Florida was struggling. Boy, when those two converged it was all New Mexico and it was great for our league.

It was fun to be at the same site. My team went to their game and their team was at our game. All of our fans were for the Mountain West Conference. It was a really positive thing.

It's kind of storybook and it's kind of fun to believe in that sometimes. So it's been a great last three weeks and a great four years.

It showed from the start how absolutely committed to competing she was. That's it. The uniqueness is absolute commitment to being as good as she can be. She never stops thinking in those terms.

It was a game of runs. They had theirs and we made ours. And in the end, we had it.

They are warriors. We give them their rest in between games.

They are very well-rounded. They have a great inside game and support it with great shooters, players who can handle the ball with the mid-range game. They don't have a weakness offensively. That's why you see them averaging 83 points a game. When you have that kind of versatility, you're never beholden into one place, one position, one style, or any type of shot.

They led us to victory. Everybody else gave great support, did their jobs. Fatigue wasn't a factor at all.

They've played together a long time now, which is pretty incredible. There's no question they have a sense of each other's games. It's evident in coaching them and seeing the things they do on the floor how good they are together.

That's always the most difficult thing, when you have a team that you don't have a place to cheat (defensively). They have a great inside game and support it with great shooters.

Excuse me if I cry, OK? Here's the deal with all three of those kids . . . what we've done in this four-year span is actually the best four-year span we've ever had. I coach at Utah because of the love I have for a lot of things about being here. It's not about one thing. It's not about winning at the highest level. I love being here, and they provided that kind of ride for me.

Arizona State is going to be willing to go to the rim and be aggressive. We have to be aggressive as well. We're not going to extend ourselves on defense. Offensively, we have to do what we can and take what they give us.

I'm happy about the progress of our team.

I'm emotional right now. It means a lot. This community has been slow to embrace women's sports. I'm happy for our kids. They know people care.

In the end, we did not keep the mass off the glass. But until the end, we did a very good job.

I really think that the Albuquerque fans are excited to have a Mountain West team, and I think they are behind us. It's a great feeling and a great testament to their community and their love of the game.

I remember asking the question to my assistant, 'Now where is she scoring and how? Well, she gets it close to the basket, spins and scores. There must be a reason. They can't stop it.

I really like that Julie's overall game is improving. She is getting to the rim. She can shot-fake you and put it on the floor.

I just love what's happened to Air Force. Gone are the days when that's anybody's automatic win.