Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus UCLA on March 29, 2026 , Loss , 58, to, 70
/
Final
Women's Basketball
58
vs UCLA
70
Q&A With Senior Bridgette Mitchell
3/25/2010 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DURHAM, N.C.— Duke University women's basketball senior Bridgette Mitchell sat down with GoDuke.com prior to heading to Memphis, Tenn., for the regional this week. Mitchell and the sixth-ranked Blue Devils will face 11th-seeded San Diego State on Saturday, March 27 at 2:30 PM (ET) at the FedExForm.
Mitchell came up big for the Blue Devils on Monday night in the 60-52 victory over 21st-ranked LSU with 12 points, which broke a nine-game stretch of without scoring double-digits. A product of Trenton, N.J., Mitchell will be making her third appearance in an NCAA Regional this weekend in Memphis.
GoDuke.com: What was your mindset offensively during the game against LSU?
Bridgette Mitchell: During the LSU game, I think that it was more so about my teammates finding me when I was open and then being able to create off the dribble. There were a few times when my defender, No. 1, was not guarding me for the open jump shot so I figured that was open instead of driving all the way to the basket.
GoDuke.com: Did you know going into the game that you would have to make big plays down the stretch?
BM: It was definitely what the defense gave me. I don't go in thinking about offense at all. I usually go in just thinking about rebounding and stopping my player. The offense is just a bonus for my team.
GoDuke.com: What adjustments did your team make defensively in the second half that allowed you to come up with stops?
BM: We realized that we had been going bucket for bucket with them and we needed to make stops. If we wanted to win this game and progress in the tournament, we need to get stops and we did it down the stretch.
GoDuke.com: Did you talk with the other seniors about stepping up and being leaders in this game, or was it just something that happened naturally?
BM: In that game we didn't really talk about it as seniors, whereas in the ACC Tournament it was a seniors' thing. But, in that game we didn't really talk about it as seniors because everyone was doing it, say if it was KJ with her pull-up jump shot and then Joy getting the rebound. It was there and clicking, we didn't need to talk about it necessarily in that moment.
GoDuke.com: Do you feel that this team's physical and mental toughness are key factors in close games?
BM: Definitely, we have been the most physical that we have ever been since I have been here and that comes with lifting weights and everything. We are mentally tough because all season we have had close games; we had to do different things and different people had to step up.
GoDuke.com: How important was it to force LSU to turn the ball over, something they don't normally do?
BM: Going into the game, we talked about the scouting report. They only average 16 turnovers a game and we knew we had to force them into doing more. We were successful in that attempt -- pressing them, getting after it.
GoDuke.com: Coach P. often says you provide a lot of energy and motivation to your teammates – both on and off the floor. What kinds of things do you say to your team before and during games to motivate them?
BM: Usually, I say, “Leave it all out there. No regrets.” We have a team full of 11 players who are all great, all awesome. We all have different talents and skill sets. So, if you are out on the court and you are not giving it your all, somebody else can be going in for you. You need to think about and be conscious of that. I think that it motivates the team. I am out here for my minutes; I need to do what I need to do, what is being asked of me in order to help my team. When everybody does that, we have 11 people doing that and it is pretty awesome.
GoDuke.com: How much did the home crowd factor into Monday's game?
BM: A lot. We had a lot of support. I remember at one point during the game, No. 1 was coming down the court with the ball and we were playing defense, our hands were up, we were playing zone and I you could not hear her. You could not hear anything that she was saying and her teammates were running around aimlessly and we were excited. It was all because of the crowd. It was an awesome experience, just to be in Cameron and hear everybody again.
GoDuke.com: How did it feel to come away with two wins in your final games in Cameron?
BM: Great, it was just great. I couldn't ask for anything better, better playing from my teammates, from myself. It was a great weekend. Cameron is really special, having all the fans and people in there. The huddles, it seems like everything is tighter in Cameron and it is not just because the fans are on the court. It's just we are in tighter huddles on and off the court, everything is better.
GoDuke.com: As a senior, do you think at all about each game in the NCAA Tournament potentially being your last game?
BM: Yes, that is motivation in and of itself. This could be my last chance out, so I am going to give it my all. Whatever my teammates need me to do, I am going to be there to provide it.
GoDuke.com: Do you think being a veteran team with a lot of experienced seniors and juniors will be an advantage moving forward in the tournament?
BM: Most definitely I do. Seeing the competition that we have played, we have not scouted anyone else like SDSU or anybody else because we take it game by game, but seeing that it is all about us and what we can do and control, it is good to have experience.
GoDuke.com: Have you been to Memphis?
BM: No, I haven't. I am looking forward to going there.
Mitchell came up big for the Blue Devils on Monday night in the 60-52 victory over 21st-ranked LSU with 12 points, which broke a nine-game stretch of without scoring double-digits. A product of Trenton, N.J., Mitchell will be making her third appearance in an NCAA Regional this weekend in Memphis.
GoDuke.com: What was your mindset offensively during the game against LSU?
Bridgette Mitchell: During the LSU game, I think that it was more so about my teammates finding me when I was open and then being able to create off the dribble. There were a few times when my defender, No. 1, was not guarding me for the open jump shot so I figured that was open instead of driving all the way to the basket.
GoDuke.com: Did you know going into the game that you would have to make big plays down the stretch?
BM: It was definitely what the defense gave me. I don't go in thinking about offense at all. I usually go in just thinking about rebounding and stopping my player. The offense is just a bonus for my team.
GoDuke.com: What adjustments did your team make defensively in the second half that allowed you to come up with stops?
BM: We realized that we had been going bucket for bucket with them and we needed to make stops. If we wanted to win this game and progress in the tournament, we need to get stops and we did it down the stretch.
GoDuke.com: Did you talk with the other seniors about stepping up and being leaders in this game, or was it just something that happened naturally?
BM: In that game we didn't really talk about it as seniors, whereas in the ACC Tournament it was a seniors' thing. But, in that game we didn't really talk about it as seniors because everyone was doing it, say if it was KJ with her pull-up jump shot and then Joy getting the rebound. It was there and clicking, we didn't need to talk about it necessarily in that moment.
GoDuke.com: Do you feel that this team's physical and mental toughness are key factors in close games?
BM: Definitely, we have been the most physical that we have ever been since I have been here and that comes with lifting weights and everything. We are mentally tough because all season we have had close games; we had to do different things and different people had to step up.
GoDuke.com: How important was it to force LSU to turn the ball over, something they don't normally do?
BM: Going into the game, we talked about the scouting report. They only average 16 turnovers a game and we knew we had to force them into doing more. We were successful in that attempt -- pressing them, getting after it.
GoDuke.com: Coach P. often says you provide a lot of energy and motivation to your teammates – both on and off the floor. What kinds of things do you say to your team before and during games to motivate them?
BM: Usually, I say, “Leave it all out there. No regrets.” We have a team full of 11 players who are all great, all awesome. We all have different talents and skill sets. So, if you are out on the court and you are not giving it your all, somebody else can be going in for you. You need to think about and be conscious of that. I think that it motivates the team. I am out here for my minutes; I need to do what I need to do, what is being asked of me in order to help my team. When everybody does that, we have 11 people doing that and it is pretty awesome.
GoDuke.com: How much did the home crowd factor into Monday's game?
BM: A lot. We had a lot of support. I remember at one point during the game, No. 1 was coming down the court with the ball and we were playing defense, our hands were up, we were playing zone and I you could not hear her. You could not hear anything that she was saying and her teammates were running around aimlessly and we were excited. It was all because of the crowd. It was an awesome experience, just to be in Cameron and hear everybody again.
GoDuke.com: How did it feel to come away with two wins in your final games in Cameron?
BM: Great, it was just great. I couldn't ask for anything better, better playing from my teammates, from myself. It was a great weekend. Cameron is really special, having all the fans and people in there. The huddles, it seems like everything is tighter in Cameron and it is not just because the fans are on the court. It's just we are in tighter huddles on and off the court, everything is better.
GoDuke.com: As a senior, do you think at all about each game in the NCAA Tournament potentially being your last game?
BM: Yes, that is motivation in and of itself. This could be my last chance out, so I am going to give it my all. Whatever my teammates need me to do, I am going to be there to provide it.
GoDuke.com: Do you think being a veteran team with a lot of experienced seniors and juniors will be an advantage moving forward in the tournament?
BM: Most definitely I do. Seeing the competition that we have played, we have not scouted anyone else like SDSU or anybody else because we take it game by game, but seeing that it is all about us and what we can do and control, it is good to have experience.
GoDuke.com: Have you been to Memphis?
BM: No, I haven't. I am looking forward to going there.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballKara Lawson | 13 Gold Medals. One Standard.
Tuesday, March 31
Kara Lawson Talks Leading USA Basketball Women's National Team | NBA Today
Tuesday, March 31
The Impact They Didn’t See Coming | Handle Hard Better
Tuesday, March 31
Chelsea Gray Back Home at Duke | USA Basketball Training Camp
Tuesday, March 31
