Sharon Versyp Quotations

We are going to make this ride extremely special and we're going to have a lot of fun. This is a top-10 program, and we're going to win the big one.

There are tough games night in and night out, and anybody can beat anybody. It's everything I thought it would be.

(Minnesota) took Cyndi totally out of the game. Nikki (Smith) stepped in and was able to knock some shots down.

Nikki has been in a lull for awhile. I'm glad to see she's stepping up and doing the things that she does well.

I don't think we need to win it to get in. I just think we need to win a couple of games.

I don't think we need to win it to get in, but I think we need to win a couple games. Whatever can happen in the tournament, it's really wide open for anybody.

I thought we really had a shot when we cut it to two. And then we made some not-smart turnovers. That's not how you're going to overcome a deficit. The next thing you know, it's a 10-, 11-point game again.

It hurts because you didn't want to lose, but someone always has to in the end. But I'm very proud of these ladies.

I think the key for us is we finally started moving in our defense better, and adjusting and having quicker feet. And being able to contest every shot....We did that. We boarded and then we were able to run and get transition baskets.

Jenny has come back very well. She's really done a great job becoming a team leader. She's been just a workhorse.

Jenny has been a real inspiration in her battle to come back and Cyndi has done an outstanding job. I think we're playing pretty well at this point.

Overall, I'm fairly pleased. We're overachieving in some spots, but we need to be better in other spots. As many coaches say, I'm pleased but not satisfied.

It depends on what they look at. This is the only bad loss we've had. Other teams get beat by 35 or 40 points and still get in. We beat some good teams on the road. I hope these young ladies get the opportunity. I'm very proud of this team.

I wasn't sure how we'd play, but the press in the beginning really helped get our bodies moving.

I wasn't pleased with anything with this game, not one thing. (We were) very undisciplined today, not ready to go, mentally out of it.

Merrill is one of those players that does everything. She may be a role player, but those are the players I fear the most. She definitely impacted the game on both the offensive and defensive end.

Merrill is just one of those workhorses - she does everything. She's a role player, but sometimes that's what you fear the most. When she got the ball down low, she beat us one on one. She did a good job on defense. She did a heck of a job.

We don't feel like we have a lot of pressure. We were supposed to finish like eighth or ninth. We played Minnesota exceptionally well and we got to go into Iowa and do the same things.

We wanted to make them shoot over the top of us. Contest every shot. Our team effort was amazing. The defense was everything I hoped it would be. We kept our feet moving, our arms moving, played with so much energy.

We have to make shots. You're not going to win many ball games shooting 29 percent.

We have to limit her touches and let everyone else beat us. We have to take her out of the game with double and triple teams.

We just didn't knock down shots, we had that deer-in-the-headlights look, and Jenny and Nikki didn't score. We were rusty offensively, and I think when all that happens, a lot of things continue the domino effect.

We just didn't have our composure. We broke (the press) early, in the first half, (and in) the second half but I think (with) the noise and the crowd, we weren't executing and because of foul trouble, we had some players that were inexperienced. And that was a big key.

We'll get some rest, re-energize and get that focus back. It's all about the mental edge.

There are other teams that get beat by 35 and 40, and they still get into the tournament, so it's really not up to me. It's up to the committee.

We had some great bench play today. Carrie, Annika and Leah came in and gave us some great scoring and great defense to change the tide.

We were able to, in the second half, get a little run going, finally playing some good defense and getting some rebounding and run in transition, and that's our game.

We battled and did some really good things. It was a tale of two periods. We took it to them in the second half after they hit their open shots in the first.

What we try to do is try to hassle and take things away. We just try to play with a lot of passion and a lot of heart.

Tonight was a big step for us and a big step for the program.

We had a great turn out today. I hope we continue to have between 2,500 and 3,000 fans every game. The fans are the sixth player and it really helps the program and the players. We encourage everyone to continue to come and support IU women's basketball and all IU athletic sports.

We flustered them a little bit and then it just builds. That's usually what Minnesota does to us. They've caused us a lot of problems before, and they still did cause us problems. But I think we flustered them a little bit more.

We knew coming in here that the focus would be on trying to take Davenport out of the game and taking Packer out of the game. That presents opportunities for everybody else to step up and that's what happened.

You have anxiety until you meet the person that is going to be a major impact in your life. I understand that. Once we meet and lay everything out and talk, things will be fine.

Everything was fine. It was just their choice.

Cyndi obviously needs the ball in her hands for us to be successful.

Cyndi, Jenny, and Angie played unbelievable today. Rice is a good team. They never gave up.

Cyndi and Jenny have been extremely solid, and they've been catalysts for us. And Whitney Thomas has shown good savvy. She's done a superb job, particularly with her rebounding.

They already have the talent, now we have to mold it. We are walking into a great situation, and we just want to take it from here.

Purdue played great defense. We didn't knock down some open shots and obviously when that happens, it manifests itself.

Purdue played great defense. We didn't knock down shots. When that doesn't happen, it just manifests itself and continues to go bad.

Purdue played great defense and we didn't knock down some open shots. Then we started fouling a lot, and we really didn't play the way we wanted to.

The Big Ten tournament is pretty much up for grabs. Any team that steps on the floor can win that game.

A win tomorrow would separate us from the pack because there are about three or four teams that are dead center right now. We're just preparing to be the best that we can for the postseason tournament. We're just trying to set a precedent for a winning attitude.

They had a run, then we had a run and it was back and forth after that.

It's just feels good. I never talked about it with my players, I'm very internal; but I think the players knew. Our team's always going to go to battle and that's what I'm so proud of.

It was really an even game. We got on a run. Then, they started pressing, and the crowd got into it. The difference was the free throws. We just didn't have the composure we needed.

It's a great challenge and a great opportunity for us. We're fortunate in that we have nothing to lose. We're not under any pressure and we'll just go out and play the best basketball that we can.

It's great for our state to have Indiana and Purdue in the semifinals. We're playing a great basketball team. They've got a tremendous history.

Davenport and Hoskins put on a great display together. We got off to a poor start, and that pretty much sealed the deal.

Ohio State is obviously one of the best teams in the country. They just have all-around great athletes, great defenders. They're gonna try to get up and down the floor as much as they can. They're gonna pressure us as much as they can. They're gonna look to take us out of our game.

It was a great basketball game, and we knew it would be a great battle. We had a good look at the end, but it just didn't fall.

It was a great environment today. We're continuing to grow and get better.

It's nice when you walk in a room, and you meet kids, and they give you a hug. They need me as much as I need them right now.

It's real exciting to be in the tournament. It's my first time with this group of young ladies, and we really have done a pretty good job this year.

Their pressure didn't hurt us, we played against that up there. We just didn't knock down shots and we had that deer-in-the-headlight look. ... We were rusty offensively, and when a lot of things go like that, it continues the domino effect.

Indiana State is a great team. With in-state teams, it is always a rivalry, but we've got to play our game.

I'm only as good as they are. You're going to be so impressed by all of them.

I guess it's part of a person's instincts. If they want to hustle after the ball, if they're going to dive on the ball or they're going to give 110 percent all the time, that's probably within the individual. And it really doesn't take a lot out of me, because I'm so used to doing it, and I want to get the job done and I always want to do the best I can.

I don't know how they could have separated us. I thought if they'd take one, they'd take both of us.

This is a huge win for our players and our program. We really executed our game plan to the tee. We hit every goal that we set.

The game of basketball is a game of runs. They got within 11, but we were able to keep on coming.

The last two years we lost the first game of this tournament, so this is a big step for the program. Michigan gave us a good battle. They've got some great talent on that team. We did some good things in the first half to separate ourselves.