Michigan State University Athletics
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Post-Game Quotes: Maryland
2/18/2023 7:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Michigan State Acting Head Coach Dean Lockwood
On the team's the effort given the circumstances…
Very proud of their effort. Very proud of their resiliency. Very proud of how they responded to the events of the past week and how they kept their unity of purpose in this game. We talked a little bit about it, we did not want to belabor points going into it. We all need healing, one of the things sports can do and be that. We kind of wanted to be a healing element for our community, and at the same time, we had a big opportunity. We had the No. 8-ranked team coming in here. Just a great opportunity for us to compete. It would have been a helluva victory. I was very proud of this team's fight, our togetherness, just the way that they never quit. Been very easy, gave up that tough third quarter got down a little bit. Now, 13 points down going into the fourth and for us to battle back have the ball with a chance to tie the game was huge and again it is a credit to them, it is a credit to their character, it is a credit to their grit, and it is a credit to their fight. And we are all proud of them for it.
On the message he gave to the team...
After the game, not as much, but before the game and even in the practices leading up to the game. Because once you get into game mode, you may deliver a point or two, but our pregame messages are never long. We do not want to belabor anything. But, we did talk about how this was an opportunity to show strength. And it is an opportunity to show unity. And it is an opportunity to show that love does conquer all. Evil doesn't win. This was a chance to make a statement about our team and our program but about our university, and to help our university and help our community and help our campus heal. So, we talked a little about that and it's a platform that our players embraced. I think they were very quick; I didn't see anybody unknowingly. I think they all understood that, and they all embraced that and again much respect to them for that. I just can't say enough about how much we respect them for taking this on. It could've been very easy for them to say 'we are going to opt out again' and different things. Again, no discredit or dishonor for people who did, we didn't have Brooklyn (Rewers) here. That was where she was. Just so much respect to this team for doing this, so to your question, we talked about it for a little bit. Not a lot in the pregame.
On Julia Ayrault's performance…
This is Julia. This is the Julia that we believe in. This is a Julia that we think is there. She is a four-year player, she has got good skills, she is smart, she is somebody that this type of game and I'll just speak personally. This is what I envision for that young lady as a four-year player. So, to see her step forward and deliver this on a big game like this is just tremendous and I hope she has got more in her now. I really do. I hope this is kind of a segue into a confidence builder for her, there is nothing more that impacts your confidence I believe than demonstrated ability. Confidence comes from demonstrated ability. There is this exhibit A that you can deliver against a good team, a high-level, high-caliber team, and Julia comes in with 15 points, eight rebounds, she gets to the foul line, she is three of five from the arc, she blocks a couple shots. To me I hope this is a confidence builder for her and exhibit A that 'hey I'm a good player and I can deliver.'
On the team's the effort given the circumstances…
Very proud of their effort. Very proud of their resiliency. Very proud of how they responded to the events of the past week and how they kept their unity of purpose in this game. We talked a little bit about it, we did not want to belabor points going into it. We all need healing, one of the things sports can do and be that. We kind of wanted to be a healing element for our community, and at the same time, we had a big opportunity. We had the No. 8-ranked team coming in here. Just a great opportunity for us to compete. It would have been a helluva victory. I was very proud of this team's fight, our togetherness, just the way that they never quit. Been very easy, gave up that tough third quarter got down a little bit. Now, 13 points down going into the fourth and for us to battle back have the ball with a chance to tie the game was huge and again it is a credit to them, it is a credit to their character, it is a credit to their grit, and it is a credit to their fight. And we are all proud of them for it.
On the message he gave to the team...
After the game, not as much, but before the game and even in the practices leading up to the game. Because once you get into game mode, you may deliver a point or two, but our pregame messages are never long. We do not want to belabor anything. But, we did talk about how this was an opportunity to show strength. And it is an opportunity to show unity. And it is an opportunity to show that love does conquer all. Evil doesn't win. This was a chance to make a statement about our team and our program but about our university, and to help our university and help our community and help our campus heal. So, we talked a little about that and it's a platform that our players embraced. I think they were very quick; I didn't see anybody unknowingly. I think they all understood that, and they all embraced that and again much respect to them for that. I just can't say enough about how much we respect them for taking this on. It could've been very easy for them to say 'we are going to opt out again' and different things. Again, no discredit or dishonor for people who did, we didn't have Brooklyn (Rewers) here. That was where she was. Just so much respect to this team for doing this, so to your question, we talked about it for a little bit. Not a lot in the pregame.
On Julia Ayrault's performance…
This is Julia. This is the Julia that we believe in. This is a Julia that we think is there. She is a four-year player, she has got good skills, she is smart, she is somebody that this type of game and I'll just speak personally. This is what I envision for that young lady as a four-year player. So, to see her step forward and deliver this on a big game like this is just tremendous and I hope she has got more in her now. I really do. I hope this is kind of a segue into a confidence builder for her, there is nothing more that impacts your confidence I believe than demonstrated ability. Confidence comes from demonstrated ability. There is this exhibit A that you can deliver against a good team, a high-level, high-caliber team, and Julia comes in with 15 points, eight rebounds, she gets to the foul line, she is three of five from the arc, she blocks a couple shots. To me I hope this is a confidence builder for her and exhibit A that 'hey I'm a good player and I can deliver.'
Players Mentioned
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