2009 USA Women's World University Games Team >> Additional Quotes

June 22, 2009 - Colorado Springs, Colo.

Charli Turner Thorne
On the team:
I think that the committee has done a tremendous job of selecting this team. We have everything that we need to bring home a gold medal. Our perimeter and our post game are exceptional. I don't think we have any kinks in our armor. Now it's just a matter of becoming a team - really working with each other and learning our offenses and our defenses in a very short amount of time. I could not be more excited about the individuals I'm going to coach and the opportunity in front of us.

Tina Charles
Do you feel like this team is competition ready?
I think we still have a lot of work to do. We are all coming from different places, and we still have to gel as a team more. I think there is a lot of work to be done.

How does it feel this morning to learn you made the 12-member roster?
I feel great. It is a blessing. I think it's from all the hard work I put in - that's the result, so I'm happy.

How do you think you are playing?
I still need to improve in certain areas to help us earn a gold medal. Just rebounding, being there on help rotation, talking and communicating - doing things that somebody who is about to be a senior in college should do.

Alexis Gray-Lawson
Do you think this group has become a team yet?
Yes, I think so. We hang out a lot in the dorms, just getting to know each other. Everybody is pretty familiar with each other by now.

Are you feeling anxious to start the competition?
I'm just excited for the chance to go to Serbia. I have never been, and I'm just ready to go.

Tiffany Hayes
How are you feeling after a tough four days of training?
I'm kind of beat up, but at the same time, I'm really excited. I don't feel any pain right now, I'm just happy I made the team and I'm able to participate.

Do you feel like this team is competition ready?
I definitely think we have more work to do. Even a great team can still practice more and do more, so you just got to get in the gym and practice as a team. Now that we know who is on the team, we can get a better feel for each other.

Ashley Houts
How does it feel this morning to learn you made the 12-member roster?
A lot of relief. I think it's kind of been weighing on everybody's minds, but we are excited with what we have and ready to work hard.

What do you know about the competition you will face in Serbia?
I know it's very tough. I was able to learn a lot two years ago and get some much needed experience. Hopefully the seniors on the team and the older girls can help the younger ones, and we can just all work together.

Do you feel like this team is competition ready?
I don't know if at this particular moment we are. We've got a lot of work to do, and we know that. We are working hard everyday in practice, and we've got good attitudes. As long as we continue to do that, I think we'll definitely be ready by the time the competition comes around.

Jantel Lavender
How does it feel this morning to learn you made the 12-member roster?
I'm ecstatic. I'm really excited to be able to represent my country again and try for another gold medal. I just really want us to get mentally tough. We have a few things we need to tweak. I think it will be a great competition, and I'm really excited.

What do you know about the competition you will face in Serbia?
Well, based on the competition I played in a couple years ago, I know it's going to get a lot tougher. I know that Australia, Russia and Serbia are teams that are going to come at us hard. Even Spain, we only beat them by a few points in the U19 World Championship, and this competition will be grown women. I think we have to be extremely ready and focused because we are going to Serbia's house.

Danielle McCray
How does it feel this morning to learn you made the 12-member roster?
It feels good. I'm very excited to have the chance to be here and represent our country. It's a great opportunity.

Do you know what your role with this team will be?
Not really. Basically, I'm just working hard, playing good defense and playing hard for the team. Whatever coach wants me to do, I will do.

Jacinta Monroe
How does it feel this morning to learn you made the 12-member roster?
I'm very excited. Once again, I didn't think I was going to make the team. I just gave it my all, and I made it.

What was your focus during training camp?
It was definitely rebounding, defense, and running (the fast break). I wasn't really focused on scoring because there are so many scorers here, and I don't feel like I need to score. I was just mainly focusing on being a great perimeter defender because I heard that international players move outside a lot.

Do you think defense, rebounding and getting out on the break will be your role with this team moving forward?
Yes. I think so, and I'm perfectly comfortable with that. I think I will fulfill that role really well.

Maya Moore
Do you think this team is competition ready?
I think we will be. It's still pretty early. We've been together for four days, and we've done a lot of great things, but there are still some things we can sharpen up, tighten up. But by the time we get to the games, we will be ready.

Are you anxious to start the competition?
Definitely. You can tell in our scrimmages. That competitive drive in us comes out. We enjoy playing against the guys and against each other. It gets pretty intense, so I think we are definitely looking forward to the games.

Do you know what your role on this team will be?
I have to vocally and physically bring energy to the team. Just being smart and being one of those people that when I am on the court, we are productive. I feel like I can bring some experience. Anything that I need to do, anything that the coaches want me to do, I'm going to do it.

Kayla Pedersen
How has training camp been so far?
It's been a lot of fun, tough at the same time. We got in a couple scrimmages and a lot of good practices. We are all just pushing each other, getting in shape and learning how to play for Charli.

Do you feel like this team is competition ready?
I think in our last scrimmage we were exposed a little bit in terms of what we needed to work on. Now, we are just rewinding that and working through it step by step, and I think we are really improving.

Ta'Shia Phillips
How has training camp been so far?
This is a great experience. Not very many people get the chance to do this. It's very exciting and a great honor.

How does it feel this morning to learn you made the 12-member roster?
Relaxed and very proud. Very, very proud.

Do you know what your role with this team will be?
I plan to just to do what the coaches ask me to do, whether it's offense or defense. Whatever needs to get done, that's what I will get done.

Jeanette Pohlen
How does it feel this morning to learn you made the 12-member roster?
I can't believe it. I'm very excited and honored. It's going to be a lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to helping represent our country.

What do you know about the competition you will face in Serbia?
I know that we are going to have to work very hard every game. We are going to have to run. We are going to have to play defense. They have shooters at every spot, and they are going to want to drive on us. We are just going to have to be ready to play some defense.

Danielle Robinson
How does it feel this morning to learn you made the 12-member roster?
I'm definitely excited. It is my third time coming back, and it feels great. It's been a tough journey. Practices have been hard, but I made it, and I'm definitely excited about the opportunity.