Upcoming Event: Women's Basketball versus Baylor on November 3, 2025 at 12 p.m.
Women's Basketball
vs Baylor
Quotes: Duke 83, Ohio State 67
12/3/2009 9:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Duke Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie
Opening Statement:
“Just from a coaching perspective, I'm so pleased to see our defense and rebounding, and you know a coach is going to talk about those things, but to hold a team that's averaging 89 points a game to 67 and to get them to shoot 37 percent from the floor, that's just a very big thing. These are habits that we are excited to keep building on. Our rebounding is getting there, but it's not where it needs to be. We were outrebounded tonight as you saw. I was very pleased to see Krystal [Thomas] and Allison [Vernerey] do so well with rebounding and be so aggressive. And for [Jasmine Thomas], I just loved how she handled the different changes of tempo of the game, there were times that we attacked and it was great, and there were times that we pulled the ball out and we were patient. And that balance of attack and patience is something that's very hard to have in a point guard, in a guard, and it's just very different from some of our prior lessons together and what we've learned, and it was just great to see the team all play together particularly because Joy [Cheek] went down so early, and that definitely was strange. I think we all had to look at each other for a second and realize that Joy was out and that we had to recover. The team did an absolutely super job, and as I told Joy, 'They played for you, lady,' because she's a special person on our team.”
On playing tough defense:
“I think we built upon that really aggressive, smart, savvy play. I kind of like the term 'Tasmanian devil,' I just like it, but just being aggressive. You saw that period of time, that defensive whatever it was: flurry, which really allowed us to separate as a team, and that was everybody doing that. Again, very strong leadership on the court. It was just fun to watch the team play.”
On defending Samantha Prahalis of Ohio State:
“Well, I just think our guards, starting with [Keturah Jackson] and all the guards were at some part of trying to pressure her and keep her in front. She's a very good guard, and I think a critical time was when Shay [Selby] took that charge. We talk a lot about taking charges and that was a significant charge, that was her fourth foul. So basically having her make turnovers was good. We needed her to play a little fast and a little out of control, and everybody took part in that. I think [Keturah] really is special that way because she is a big guard who is very quick and very hard-nosed. When we went into different defenses everyone took their part in keeping her in front and trying not to let her do too much.”
On a smaller second half line-up:
“Yeah, it was fun. I really, really enjoy Karima [Christmas]. Karima our point, 4, 3, whatever you want to call her, 4, 3, 2, 1. I just think that we have a lot of versatility on this team, and there were a lot opportunities presented, especially when Joy went out. I think everybody just rose to the occasion including Karima. Our second half, I mean we had 19 free throw attempts, in the first half we only had five, so we picked up a lot in the second half. Everything about the second half was much more aggressive, and Karima was certainly a part of that and everybody up here, so that's a good thing.”
On Shay Selby working back to the rotation:
“If she keeps taking charges, she's got a really strong case. I think she's just been out a long time injured, and she's coming back. She's really focused on her defense; I think she's figured out that she's going to need to defend, she's defending stronger. Obviously we know she can shoot and she can create an offense, but she's doing a lot of the little things. It's fun to watch, and I'm happy for her, and I think her defense and rebounding will continue to grow. There's no doubt that she played 20 minutes, and I don't know the last time she played 20 minutes. It's been a long time. I think hustle plays are turning points and I think she made some critical hustle plays.”
Junior Jasmine Thomas
On being quieter in the first half:
“I mean I wasn't trying to be quiet in the first half. My shots weren't falling. I noticed I was rushing my shot a little bit. And then in the second half, I decided to attack the basket more. I really didn't get anything inside in the first half so that was just a change in my mentality.”
On Joy Cheek's injury:
“It was a little surprising just because Joy [Cheek] is not a person to get hurt, ever. So when she went down I just assumed she was coming back in. When she did come in and she was a little bit unstable, I just knew that our post players were going to have to take it over. Allison [Vernerey] came in and played more minutes and she did fine. Everything just flowed naturally.”
On being in a zone [playing wise] in the second half:
“I would say I was in a little bit of a zone but, I think like Coach P said, I realized when that was over to some extent…when it was time to just step back and let the time run out and really be patient to get the shots you wanted.”
Junior Krystal Thomas
On the challenge that Jantel Lavender presented:
“When you have someone that averages 25 points a game, obviously that's a big challenge. But I thought me and Allison [Vernerey] did a great job of just being physical with her, throwing different looks at her, just trying to keep her guessing. She had 20 points, but I felt like she had to earn every single one of those points that she scored tonight”
On getting emotional during the game:
“When you're playing like that, the team's playing that great and you're playing off the crowd, it's hard not to be that excited. We won by 16, we were playing great basketball… what is there not to be excited about?”
Freshman Allison Vernerey
On the challenge that Jantel Lavender presented:
“I think she had a hard time, I mean, she still scored, so we still have work to do. Obviously we could have been better but I don't think she was as she is usually. She didn't have the play she has usually so I think we did a good job even if we could have done better.”
On playing with an intense home crowd:
“That was great. It was kind of crazy and kind of stressful in the beginning but I really liked it. That's the kind of game I came [to Duke] for. You don't come for easy games. There was so much energy and it was so great to be a part of that.”
Ohio State Head Coach Jim Foster
On the breakdowns:
“I think there was a difference in physicality. I think we didn't react well to their physical play. I think their bench really helped them and lifted them and we did not get any productivity out of ours.”
On disparity with fast break points and paint points:
“Again, I'll come back to physicality. I think that they just came after us and we didn't respond. We just turned it into a jump shooting contest.”
On the mental aspect of the game:
“We have had very good bench play and I think we will have very good bench play. But the mental aspect of coming into a game here… we came in playing against a left-handed kid [Allison Vernery] and we played her straight up. Three possessions in a row she scored six points before we make any kind of adjustment. The scouting report was there, you know she is going to turn over one shoulder and you're playing her like she can go over both people. That's just competitiveness, paying attention to detail. And I really don't think we did a good job of that.”
On Jasmine Thomas:
“Well I just think she is a veteran player that just kept plugging away, kept moving without the ball. When she had the ball, her quickness obviously got her to places. We should have made her take some tougher shots. One play in particular, she drove in and she was off balance and she throws a pass because we are rotating defensively. Make her take the shot, don't rotate and stay back when she is off balance. We haven't played against a player as quick as she is and next time I think we will be better prepared for it. That's why you play games like this. That's why this challenge is a good deal for us. It gets us into buildings we need to get into and forces action that we need to see this time of the year to prepare us for later on in the season. I think that we will have a much more intense group that's going to be listening a lot more to what we are talking about when we get into the gym next time.”
On potentially surprised by Duke's play:
“No. We out rebounded them, I just think we made some fundamental mistakes. They play a nice matchup zone and we didn't get into the blocks the way we should have.”
On defensive plan coming into game:
“We had to change defenses because they were penetrating and scoring so much in the paint. Their effectiveness and our not rotating… I think their quickness became more of a factor when we were in a zone than when we were playing them man-to-man. It should be just the opposite. We got a little stretched, a little too extended when guarding some people farther away from the basket than we should have. [Jasmine] Thomas is the one kid you have to key on. She was two for four from [three point range], the rest of the group is two for six. So why would you extend it out. That's just part of the scouting report… know who you are playing. We just did not do a good job of paying attention to the details today.”
Opening Statement:
“Just from a coaching perspective, I'm so pleased to see our defense and rebounding, and you know a coach is going to talk about those things, but to hold a team that's averaging 89 points a game to 67 and to get them to shoot 37 percent from the floor, that's just a very big thing. These are habits that we are excited to keep building on. Our rebounding is getting there, but it's not where it needs to be. We were outrebounded tonight as you saw. I was very pleased to see Krystal [Thomas] and Allison [Vernerey] do so well with rebounding and be so aggressive. And for [Jasmine Thomas], I just loved how she handled the different changes of tempo of the game, there were times that we attacked and it was great, and there were times that we pulled the ball out and we were patient. And that balance of attack and patience is something that's very hard to have in a point guard, in a guard, and it's just very different from some of our prior lessons together and what we've learned, and it was just great to see the team all play together particularly because Joy [Cheek] went down so early, and that definitely was strange. I think we all had to look at each other for a second and realize that Joy was out and that we had to recover. The team did an absolutely super job, and as I told Joy, 'They played for you, lady,' because she's a special person on our team.”
On playing tough defense:
“I think we built upon that really aggressive, smart, savvy play. I kind of like the term 'Tasmanian devil,' I just like it, but just being aggressive. You saw that period of time, that defensive whatever it was: flurry, which really allowed us to separate as a team, and that was everybody doing that. Again, very strong leadership on the court. It was just fun to watch the team play.”
On defending Samantha Prahalis of Ohio State:
“Well, I just think our guards, starting with [Keturah Jackson] and all the guards were at some part of trying to pressure her and keep her in front. She's a very good guard, and I think a critical time was when Shay [Selby] took that charge. We talk a lot about taking charges and that was a significant charge, that was her fourth foul. So basically having her make turnovers was good. We needed her to play a little fast and a little out of control, and everybody took part in that. I think [Keturah] really is special that way because she is a big guard who is very quick and very hard-nosed. When we went into different defenses everyone took their part in keeping her in front and trying not to let her do too much.”
On a smaller second half line-up:
“Yeah, it was fun. I really, really enjoy Karima [Christmas]. Karima our point, 4, 3, whatever you want to call her, 4, 3, 2, 1. I just think that we have a lot of versatility on this team, and there were a lot opportunities presented, especially when Joy went out. I think everybody just rose to the occasion including Karima. Our second half, I mean we had 19 free throw attempts, in the first half we only had five, so we picked up a lot in the second half. Everything about the second half was much more aggressive, and Karima was certainly a part of that and everybody up here, so that's a good thing.”
On Shay Selby working back to the rotation:
“If she keeps taking charges, she's got a really strong case. I think she's just been out a long time injured, and she's coming back. She's really focused on her defense; I think she's figured out that she's going to need to defend, she's defending stronger. Obviously we know she can shoot and she can create an offense, but she's doing a lot of the little things. It's fun to watch, and I'm happy for her, and I think her defense and rebounding will continue to grow. There's no doubt that she played 20 minutes, and I don't know the last time she played 20 minutes. It's been a long time. I think hustle plays are turning points and I think she made some critical hustle plays.”
Junior Jasmine Thomas
On being quieter in the first half:
“I mean I wasn't trying to be quiet in the first half. My shots weren't falling. I noticed I was rushing my shot a little bit. And then in the second half, I decided to attack the basket more. I really didn't get anything inside in the first half so that was just a change in my mentality.”
On Joy Cheek's injury:
“It was a little surprising just because Joy [Cheek] is not a person to get hurt, ever. So when she went down I just assumed she was coming back in. When she did come in and she was a little bit unstable, I just knew that our post players were going to have to take it over. Allison [Vernerey] came in and played more minutes and she did fine. Everything just flowed naturally.”
On being in a zone [playing wise] in the second half:
“I would say I was in a little bit of a zone but, I think like Coach P said, I realized when that was over to some extent…when it was time to just step back and let the time run out and really be patient to get the shots you wanted.”
Junior Krystal Thomas
On the challenge that Jantel Lavender presented:
“When you have someone that averages 25 points a game, obviously that's a big challenge. But I thought me and Allison [Vernerey] did a great job of just being physical with her, throwing different looks at her, just trying to keep her guessing. She had 20 points, but I felt like she had to earn every single one of those points that she scored tonight”
On getting emotional during the game:
“When you're playing like that, the team's playing that great and you're playing off the crowd, it's hard not to be that excited. We won by 16, we were playing great basketball… what is there not to be excited about?”
Freshman Allison Vernerey
On the challenge that Jantel Lavender presented:
“I think she had a hard time, I mean, she still scored, so we still have work to do. Obviously we could have been better but I don't think she was as she is usually. She didn't have the play she has usually so I think we did a good job even if we could have done better.”
On playing with an intense home crowd:
“That was great. It was kind of crazy and kind of stressful in the beginning but I really liked it. That's the kind of game I came [to Duke] for. You don't come for easy games. There was so much energy and it was so great to be a part of that.”
Ohio State Head Coach Jim Foster
On the breakdowns:
“I think there was a difference in physicality. I think we didn't react well to their physical play. I think their bench really helped them and lifted them and we did not get any productivity out of ours.”
On disparity with fast break points and paint points:
“Again, I'll come back to physicality. I think that they just came after us and we didn't respond. We just turned it into a jump shooting contest.”
On the mental aspect of the game:
“We have had very good bench play and I think we will have very good bench play. But the mental aspect of coming into a game here… we came in playing against a left-handed kid [Allison Vernery] and we played her straight up. Three possessions in a row she scored six points before we make any kind of adjustment. The scouting report was there, you know she is going to turn over one shoulder and you're playing her like she can go over both people. That's just competitiveness, paying attention to detail. And I really don't think we did a good job of that.”
On Jasmine Thomas:
“Well I just think she is a veteran player that just kept plugging away, kept moving without the ball. When she had the ball, her quickness obviously got her to places. We should have made her take some tougher shots. One play in particular, she drove in and she was off balance and she throws a pass because we are rotating defensively. Make her take the shot, don't rotate and stay back when she is off balance. We haven't played against a player as quick as she is and next time I think we will be better prepared for it. That's why you play games like this. That's why this challenge is a good deal for us. It gets us into buildings we need to get into and forces action that we need to see this time of the year to prepare us for later on in the season. I think that we will have a much more intense group that's going to be listening a lot more to what we are talking about when we get into the gym next time.”
On potentially surprised by Duke's play:
“No. We out rebounded them, I just think we made some fundamental mistakes. They play a nice matchup zone and we didn't get into the blocks the way we should have.”
On defensive plan coming into game:
“We had to change defenses because they were penetrating and scoring so much in the paint. Their effectiveness and our not rotating… I think their quickness became more of a factor when we were in a zone than when we were playing them man-to-man. It should be just the opposite. We got a little stretched, a little too extended when guarding some people farther away from the basket than we should have. [Jasmine] Thomas is the one kid you have to key on. She was two for four from [three point range], the rest of the group is two for six. So why would you extend it out. That's just part of the scouting report… know who you are playing. We just did not do a good job of paying attention to the details today.”
Players Mentioned
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
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