March 3, 2005
Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery
Santa Clara Head Coach Michelle Bento-Jackson on the victory
"I thought that the team did an excellent job of coming out to start the game and setting the tone. We put out focus on our half court defense and that's what gets us going. It creates our offense and again that's what we concentrated on. "
SCU freshman guard Chandice Cronk on team's hot shooting
"I think it was everything started to go together. We came out really strong. And everyone started hitting shots and it just took off from there."
SCU senior guard Quinn Thomas on Cronk's shooting
"That's just Chan. Shooters get in a groove. You just start feeding them the ball and you know they are feeling it."
Coach Bento-Jackson on controlling USF and Toni Russell
"This is the third time around we've played USF. We were extremely familiar with their personnel. It wasn't so much that we were concentrating on their execution in the half court, but what their personnel is. We really wanted to take them out of their strengths. I thought we executed that throughout the entire game very well."
"I think Toni is a huge part of their success. We can be a major factor in a game both offensively and defensively. She is a challenge for us. Not only Toni, but Dominique Carter and Mary Jane Krueger, they have great balance. She is the head of their team and what makes them go."
Cronk on playing at home
"Definitely, this is the only time that we're going to have it here. It definitely is something special. You don't want people to come in and beat you in your own court. "
Thomas on SCU's confidence
"This is a huge win. I definitely excited for Saturday. It helps us with out confidence I think we really excited to have the tournament here. It seems like we've been waiting forever.
San Francisco Head Coach Heidi VanDerveer on the loss
"Santa Clara played on cylinders. The shooting percentages of the first half are pretty indicative of the game. Give Santa Clara credit. They were primed and ready go. We tried to establish an inside game and could never do so. We got down early and from there it was a long night. To our team's credit we battled. I thought Toni really competed. She has been our energy during the whole season and unfortunately she didn't get the help she needed."
USF senior guard Toni Russell on the hard foul
"I went for a lay-up, I got fouled, I came down on my lower back. I just need ice. I'll be okay. "
Russell on SCU's defense
"I know they're going to pick me up early on defense. This is the third time we've played them. We were prepared for the pressure. We practiced for that all week. Offense gives everybody energy. And for us, defense has given us energy and we were unable to do that today."
VanDerveer on SCU's shooting
"We've had people to come in and step up and give us energy. We got hit by a steam roller. We tried different combinations. We tried to go zone. It's tough when you play against a team that's shooting so well."