Jan. 14, 2010
Box Score |
Notes |
Photo Gallery 
Auburn Head Coach Nell Fortner
On the win ...
"We're definitely happy with the win. We came out and played very focused and very hard. We kind of had a lull. We did some things that were out of the ordinary, it kind of got us out of a rhythm. I don't think we played our best basketball tonight. We started out really well, and I thought that made a big difference in how the game went along."
On inserting Chantel Hilliard and Morgan Jennings back into the playing rotation tonight ...
"We were playing at such a level at that point in time that they could be surrounded by some experience on the floor and maybe help them, so that's my fault. It just didn't work out well. It got us out of a groove. We struggled to get back in it for the rest of the night."
On Alli Smalley getting back in her shooting groove tonight ...
"Her shot looked good tonight. I think the LSU game gave her a lot of confidence. I think she enjoys playing against Alabama and I'm glad she does."
On whether or not KeKe Carrier was getting frustrated at times ...
"Do you watch her get pounded? Do you see another post player get pounded like she does? I'm serious, I'm not trying to be funny. Can you imagine if she pounded on someone like she gets pounded on? It's really unbelievable. Sometimes I can't believe it. The good thing is she doesn't get frustrated. She has responded all year long to it and has still been able to score. Last year, or two or three years ago, she may have fouled out by retaliating and getting frustrated, but not now. She knows how to handle it. It is amazing how much physical contact she gets. It's the people two-handed shoving her that I can't believe. She still figures out a way to get the job done."
On KeKe improving from last season ...
"We've worked on everything with her. KeKe (Carrier) had to want to do what she is doing. There is only so much you can work on the floor. If the kid wants to be good and has the potential to be great, then she can be if she wants to be. KeKe had to come to terms with what kind of player she wanted to be and I think she wants to be a great player."
On Celiscia Farmer ...
"I just knew she was a good high school player. I was wondering why Cece wasn't playing, every coach knows their team. She played with a lot of confidence tonight and did some good things for them."
On getting the record setting eighth win in a row against Alabama ...
"I'm just glad we've got the eight. I don't know what to say about that because we don't really focus on anything like that. I didn't even know that was a possibility going into tonight. We just try to win every game we play."
On Blanche Alverson ...
"She's coming along really well. I think Blanche (Alverson) is going to be one heck of a player. She is doing great as a freshman. I'm pleased with what she's doing. She shoots the ball really well. The other thing that has been pleasing about Blanche is she can play pretty much any position on the floor outside of the point. I play her at the two, three, and four. She's very smart; she knows all the plays at those positions just like Jordan Greenleaf. It's nice to have those two players on the floor at the same time because they are so versatile."
Auburn Player Quotes
Center KeKe Carrier
On physicality of the game...
"Well by now I'm used to it. I just have to keep the mindset that they're going to have to bang on me but I have to be strong on the post and go up with it."
On handling your frustration...
"I think I've come a long way as far as letting it get to me and staying composed. I expect the other team to bang on me and not get the calls but I've still got to finish the shot."
On kicking the ball out for the open shots...
"I think tonight I was more aware of my teammates. They doubled-down on me, sometimes three people, but I was able to see the open teammate on the perimeter for the shots."
On your progress over course of career...
"Well, basically this year I needed to be a force in the paint. I just didn't want to come in my senior year and waste anymore time. I wanted to be the player that I knew I could be. That motivation is helping me a lot, just having a dominant mindset."
Guard Alli Smalley
On tonight's win...
"I think the road win at LSU propelled us into this game. Everyone was hitting on all cylinders and offensively, from the one to the five, everybody was scoring."
On the effects of KeKe playing well...
"Whenever she's confident inside we want to give her the ball every time. It also opens up things for everyone else on the court when they collapse on her and she can kick it out for the open shots."
On having more players available tonight...
"It was so nice to have a full squad tonight. At shoot-around this morning we were able to have a full five-on-five. It was nice to have them back out there because they're really good players and will definitely contribute."
On roller-coaster type of game...
"It's frustrating because it is something that we have control over. Alabama plays so hard every possession which makes them so difficult to defend. We slacked on defense during those runs, but offensively we were still scoring so we need to work on our defense to not allow them back in the game."
On getting career high in points vs. Alabama...
"As long as we are playing well as a team, which we did tonight, its good for me."
On team's progress thus far this season...
"We have come a very long way, not just the young players but the entire team. We have come together recently and changed our mindset. We realize now that we can play with these SEC teams. Hopefully we will continue to progress and be able to compete during the rest of SEC play."
On the LSU win providing momentum into tonight...
"That was a huge win coming off two losses. I think we re-focused at LSU and being able to get a win on the road against a ranked team was huge for our confidence. "
Alabama Head Coach Wendell Hudson
Opening Statement...
"I thought that Auburn got off to a great start and we didn't play as well as we needed to early. We got down by 20 points, but got it down to about eight in the second half. I thought we played awfully hard and well. They got some loose balls and made some shots at key times. That really was the difference in the game."
On defending KeKe Carrier...
"You just keep trying. We tried to run up and down the court to make her tired. I thought, after the initial part of the game, we did a pretty good job."
On Celiscia Farmer's progress...
"She has really come along in our last few practices. As a freshman, you have to learn how to play. I told our radio guy before the game that she is going to have a good game and play a lot."
Alabama Player Quotes
Ericka Russell, Guard
On coming close to a comeback...
"I thought we had a momentum boost, but we just couldn't finish on plays. We have to learn to finish. It will eventually come to us but we have to learn how to finish soon."
On dealing with KeKe Carrier...
"I'm glad I'm not down on the post. We talked about it a lot in film, and we told our post players we need them to work tonight because she's a big girl. They were talking at halftime about how it feels like a workout and a conditioning test out there. She did good tonight.
Celiscia Farmer, Guard
On coming close to a comeback...
"We just couldn't finish consistently. That's what we're working on, all day, everyday. We're going to get it."
On having a big role in tonight's game...
"I just work hard everyday in practice. When coach calls me, I do what I supposed to on a consistent basis."
On dealing with KeKe Carrier...
"There are some things that we should have done that we weren't able to do. We're going to work on it, and we'll get it done next time.
On having to miss two games...
"In the beginning it was frustrating but now I'm just waiting for my turn. I knew there were things I needed to do consistently in order to get into the game. Once I started doing that, I'm just waiting for my turn."
