March 7, 2011
Head Coach Mike Morris
On building the program:
"We have only had women's basketball for 14 seasons and I have been the head coach for nine years. When we took over, we felt like in time we could be good enough for what Samford is about and attract really good student-athletes. We have been good enough to win conference championships, but every time we think we got the team right we bump up conferences. So it gets a little tougher going from the Atlantic Sun to the OVC all the way to the Southern Conference. I have felt like we have been good enough to win for the past four, five, or six years. The competition has gotten better because the conference has gotten better. It shows in the RPI. When Emily and Savannah got here as freshmen, they really raised the bar about winning a championship. In the three years in the Southern Conference we have been good enough to win it. I think the experience of playing in the semifinals and finals really helped us today.
On Paige Anderson's play:
"Give Paige (Anderson) some credit. I don't she scored in the first two games and for her to lead us in scoring in the championship game just speaks about her ability, confidence and character."
Junior Guard Paige Anderson
"I think I felt kind of relaxed because I feel stressed out all the time. It wasn't really any different. I feel like it has me ready for the last 90 seconds because it feels like every day at practice. It wasn't anything new."
On game winning three-point basket:
"I didn't really think about it. I saw Emily (London) making her moves that she always makes. I just curled around in case she didn't get open. She gets open a lot like that. Just in case I just curled around, and she threw me the ball and I shot it."
Senior Guard Emily London
On rebounding missed free throw:
"None of us like to miss shots. I saw the miss and didn't want anyone else to get it because we wouldn't have had that chance to seal the deal."
On end of the game:
"The last minute of the game came down to heart and who wanted it more. I think all five of us went at it hard."
On getting to play in the NCAA Tournament:
"I can't even describe it. We have worked really hard. From my perspective, everybody has practiced hard and worked hard in the offseason. To go to the NCAA tournament is a great honor and an unbelievable feeling."
Senior Forward Savannah Hill
On experience in the finals helping today:
"I think it definitely helped knowing how it feels to lose. We didn't want to feel that again. We knew what it took. We said at halftime we didn't want to feel it again."
