March 1, 2002

Duke Head Coach Gail Goestenkors:
Opening Statement: "Just happy to come away with a win. The score is not indicative of how tough the game was. Give so much credit to Florida State- I though they came out and played excellent basketball, they were very focused, very intense. They made so many hustle plays. They obviously did a great job on the offensive boards, especially in the first half. I thought they did a tremendous job, and we were not doing a good job at all, so I was very frustrated in the rebounding department. I think we did a better job in the second half, but I'm just really relieved to come away with a win. We've got some things we can work on to get better and we'll be ready to play the next game."

(About rebounding and Florida State's zone defense.) "I thought they did a great job on the offensive boards and I thought that was huge for them because it seemed that every shot they missed they got an offensive rebound and a put-back. When teams score on us, you don't get out and get the easy lay-ups as much as you do when you get some long rebounds. Their zone, they did a good job with their zone. We are an excellent three-point shooting team, so we usually don't have a problem with that. Obviously, we did not shoot the ball well tonight from the three and it hurt us. When Iciss (Tillis) hit a couple of threes, they had to go out of the zone and then Iciss picked up her fourth foul and she's one of our better three-point shooters. When she went out, they went back to the zone, which was very smart. We didn't do a good job attacking it."

(Comparing the feeling after last year's overtime first round game to this year's opening round game.) "Similar feelings. That was a tough game for us as well last year. I think it was very big for us last year, we needed the day off because that was such an emotional game for us. It's a similar situation with only eight players, I think we need to have that day off. We don't take that day off- we have practice tomorrow, but it allows us to really regroup a little bit and get back on track. So I'm grateful that we have a day to focus on ourselves."

(On what Duke will have to do differently in the semifinals.) "I think we're obviously going to have to play much better basketball on both ends of the floor to be successful... I'm not happy with the way we played, but I'm glad it was a close game because I think it's helped prepare us for things we're going to see in the next game."

(On the production from the point guard position.) "Any scoring we get from the point we feel like is a bonus for us. Vicki and Krista, they don't need to score for us to be great point guards and do what's necessary for us, so anytime they score, it's just a bonus. We're hoping they will, but we don't feel like it's necessary."

Duke Sophomore Iciss Tillis:
"I think at times we were a little impatient on offense and we let the offense dictate our defense. When we began not playing our best defense, it really effected our offensive. Whenever we got a steal or we really dug down on defense, something good offensively happened."

Duke Sophomore Alana Beard:
"I just think we need to get better in certain areas, rebounding of course is one of them and we need to know how to play under pressure. We just have a lot of things to work on and hopefully we can get that done on our day off."

(On whether the close game against Florida State served as a reminder of what needed to be done at the tournament.): "I don't think it's a reminder, we already know that we have to take care of business. Like Coach G said, it's just going to make us focus more on the things that will make us better."

Florida State Head Coach Sue Semrau:
"We fought really hard and I'm proud of the way our team played and their effort. Duke is a great basketball team. They did a great job in the second half of keeping us off the offensive boards. In the first half we had an opportunity to dominate, and we did, I thought they did a good job of adjusting."

On the difference between this game and the last meeting with Duke: "Our defense was a difference maker, especially in the first half. Our players were getting back in transition. Honestly, the way we attacked the glass I thought that might have put them on their heels a little bit."

April Traylor: "I'm very happy to be part of a Florida State program that has so much heart and never gives up."