Recap | Final Stats

Final Stats

Villanova Head Coach Harry Perretta

Opening Statement

"We knew the key to the game was to make threes and that is what we attempted to do. We made forty threes and in the second half we were able to shoot ten for twenty which shooting 50% is what we really needed to do to be successful against a team like Duke. We knew we could not beat them on the inside so we just tried to generate as many threes as we could and we were also able to capitalize in the second half which was great as well. I thought our defense was good but whenever your team makes shots your team is always better.

On the team making many three-pointers

"We felt like we were generating enough good threes and if we could get hot we could get hot. If you look at the field goal totals we still didn't out shoot them they had twenty one and we only had twenty. For us to beat them we had to make threes since we had less free throws and also we were able to out rebound them which leads us to beating these top 25 teams."

On the shot selections of the team

"I thought we got decent ball movement throughout the game not as well in the first half as in the second but it was decent enough to get enough shots in which we could stay in the game. We were lucky to stay with them at halftime but once you start making shots the defense for the other team slows down and we started passing the ball and gaining a lot more confidence throughout the game.

On the importance of rebounding the ball

"That was really important. We were able to make three offensive rebounds in a row and the game went from two minutes and thirty seconds down to one minute and twenty seconds and it important to run down that much clock without any foul shots or giving up any shots by the other team. When you're playing well and get more aggressive like we always intend on doing, the team just is more successful like I think Kelly (Jekot) got a rebound, Megan (Quinn) got one as well and we always try to tip it out if we can so that we can maintain possession which helps run down the clock as well."

Guard #25 Kelly Jekot

On making successful three point shots

"Our guards were able to fill the gaps and our forwards were able to pass the ball to me which led me to be wide open and thanks to them I think overall we were able to be successful from the three point line."

Guard #2 Alex Louin

On the excitement of facing a nationally ranked team at home

"This was obviously our first home game of the season so for all those people to come out and support us meant a lot to us. We were able to feed off their energy and after we got that first basket of the game, the fans erupted and they were able to maintain that same amount of enthusiasm throughout the rest of the game which definitely pushed us and empowered us for the rest of the game."

On how important it was to make that first shot of the third quater

"Once we start making threes we'll continue to make them. It was really important for us to get that momentum as well to keep that momentum going and the crowd certainly helped us accomplish both and I haven't been too consistent from three this season, so when the ball got to me and I made that first three, that helped build my confidence to continue making more three point shots."

Duke Head Coach Joanne McCallie

Opening Statement:

"It was a nice blue collar game in a gym with lots of history. I give credit to Villanova as they played a better game. There was better leadership by their student-athletes but they had eight turnovers we tried to create on environment where they would have more than that. Our 15 turnovers hurt us whether it was a moving screen or a bad pass because it was possession basketball game and it was slower pace than we would have liked as we had trouble creating a tempo. Losing a game by nine that something you should get and is a reachable win. You have to able to play any kind of game and we didn't have enough to do that today."

On getting second chance points:

"We shot from the floor 38% and they shot 36% so the floor shots I don't think is our problem, it's in the turnovers and in this kind of game turnovers really matter. Our free throw attempts need to be in the 20's and we need to be more aggressive in going to the basketball. I look at free throw attempts as only of the problems areas as well as the ball hitting the board wrong and not being able to get the rebound."

When asked about getting the ball inside:

"We had two turnovers from moving screens and five or six by the guards so the turnovers were bad especially when a team isn't pressing you. We had a freshman point guard playing which accounted for four of those so it's learning curve for the team. You have to give credit to them or finishing their work. There is more to the game of basketball than statistics. The timing rushing, how we handle situations, and ball handling make the game."

Guard #23 Rebecca Greenwell

On the difficult Villanova defense:

"I think we were too rushed offensively. We had some good looks but we needed to slow down and make shots that we make every day in practice in games. I don't think it was anything in particular."

When asked about defending the three-point line:

"It was a little frustrating because we defended the three-point range so well in the first half and in the second half they came out on fire. As a team, we need to grow up and be more mature and bounce back as the game goes on. We didn't handle the ball well today. "

Guard #4 Lexie Brown

On playing a game in a gym like Jake Nevin Field House:

"I loved it and had a lot of fun out there. The atmosphere was great, the fans were great. That could have been a fun game for us but we just didn't make it one."