Jan. 10, 2010
Vanderbilt Coach Melanie Balcomb
On if they went into half time feeling good about their play…
“Yes, we did. Absolutely, we had 16 turnovers at half and with 16 turnovers to have a lead is not usually where you are at that point. I thought once we got used to their defense we would be able to handle it better and we did for a while and built a lead. Then they made a run and picked it up again and picked up their intensity and we weren’t able to pick it up again.”
On Amber Smith’s banked-in three-pointer …
“It was a loose ball hustle play and then in the second half when they made the run, they made all the hustle plays. They out worked us, out hustled us, and got to all the loose balls. We just have to get tougher and be more aggressive. I had three freshmen on the floor a great deal and right now it’s welcome to the Southeastern Conference. I still think they’re in a shock in the locker room that we have played two games and this is the level of physical play and they’re going to have to wake up.”
On if she is surprised Kentucky is this good after being picked 11 th in the SEC preseason …
“No, not at all. I think they have a lot more talent than they did last year and I think Matthew is doing a great job with them defensively. They have more offensive weapons. I have no idea why they were picked 11th and I wouldn’t have picked them 11th.”
#22 Jence Rhoads, G
On being up 10 points in the second and feeling good about their play…
“Definitely, when you get up on a team you feel like you have to hold it. We were feeling good then all of a sudden they went on a run and we weren’t able to stop it.”
On what specifically Kentucky did to go on a run…
“They got a couple hustle plays, loose balls and rebounds that we should have gotten and they were able to capitalize on that. Then they took the lead.”
