Quotes: Duke 87, NC A&T 36

On how the opposition likely views Azurá's length while defending:

“I guess they're intimidated. I just try to keep my arms up to block the passing lanes and contest shots.”

On the team's strong play in the second half of the game:

“I think we just came out more focused on defense and our defensive energy, which is really helpful for us, when we focus on our defense first and let the scoring come to us.”

On the contagious nature of Elizabeth Williams' post-play:

“Normally our game plan is to get it inside and out. It's really easy to pass from a six foot, five inch person to a six foot, three inch person because you're right there. It makes it easier to do that.”

Duke Redshirt Freshman Rebecca Greenwell

On playing a different role when the opponent brings in a larger lineup:

“I like it. It's different playing the point at the start of the game. I just have to take it. I really like playing point. I thought we got off to a great start. We moved the ball well and we found each other. I don't mind it at all. I think it doesn't really matter where the ball starts. We move the ball well. If I'm starting from the point, I can still go off screens, and we have plays where I can score off of.”

On the comparison between this game versus other tough opponents:

“We've had some other physical games. We're a pretty strong team so just battling back to get the win.”

North Carolina A&T head coach Tarrell Robinson:

Opening Statement

“Duke is definitely one of the top 10 programs in the country. I thought we did a good job with game planning, but their talent, Elizabeth Williams and Azurá Stevens were a little bit overwhelming for us. We couldn't match them inside. Our post players weren't a factor today, and they're actually our top scorers and rebounders. It was a great experience to play a nationally ranked team. We'll take this with us and understand what we need to do moving on in the future if we plan to participate in the NCAA Tournament and compete.”

On how this game will prepare the Lady Aggies for MEAC Conference play:

“We were playing McDonald's All-Americans, so I think definitely there's some toughness, some experience they can gain. They're not going to run into players like that in our league. Hopefully it toughens them up and moving forward they have a better performance.”

On the biggest positive to take out of the game:

“I think the biggest positive is having the experience of playing a team like this. Going into my third year, this is the highest-ranked team that I had on my schedule. I actually thought that we had enough pieces—bigs and guard play----to make it a competitive game. So I think we know where we are. We know we have a lot of things to do moving forward going into the conference.”

On whether playing inside Cameron Indoor Stadium was a factor in the loss:

“I think so because we had a pretty good practice here yesterday. Talking to them before the game, I thought they were really ready. They were hype in the hallway before we came out, and then you come out here and it's just like they're star struck in terms of the arena and the crowd. When Duke scores a basket everybody goes crazy. So I think the arena was a factor.”

On dropping five of the last six games after starting 6-2:

“After every loss so far, I've been trying to figure out this group. We were picked to win our league. At this point, I don't think we're representing our league the way we need to. I'm racking my brain trying to figure out, from a personnel standpoint, what we need to do in order to get back on the right page. Obviously, I think it's more of a mental thing. I think, on paper, we've got the personnel to be able to come in here and give Duke a competitive game for at least more than the first five minutes of the game. So that's my job to be able to figure it out.”

On trying to make his offense more fluid:

“(By) trying to work on it a little bit more. Trying to simplify it with them. I think it's in their heads as far as looking for options and they're forgetting why they're on scholarships. They're Division I basketball players. The play isn't going to work every time. Sometimes you've got to make plays. I talked to them about Duke and their one defense, their 3-2 zone. They're going to make adjustments. We may score out of one option, (but) they're going to take that option away next time. We've got to be basketball players and be prepared to make plays.”

On where he sees his team in the MEAC this year:

“Hopefully winning it. By all means I think I have the personnel. Again, I think it's more of a mental thing, a mental edge, a mental toughness that we've got to figure out how to get it out of our players. I have two young women that were picked to be first-team All-MEAC, Eboni Ross and Aprill McRae, that were non-factors tonight for a majority of the game. We've got to figure out how to make them factors in order to become successful.”

On why he's used numerous starting lineups this year:

“(I'm) trying to light a fire, find the right combination. We've had a lot of injuries and (we) haven't been able to have a consistent lineup because of that. People we're relying on aren't healthy so I've got to play some of our younger players who aren't necessarily ready for this type of environment. That's just kind of the result of it.”

On whether his team is getting closer to reaching their goals:

“Well, we just got beat 87-36 by Duke. It doesn't seem like it. So I've got to watch film first because right now I'm just caught up in the moment and the difference in the loss. I've got to watch film and figure it out.”

On how much time he will spend with the team after this loss:

“I never move forward without watching what we did before. I think that's part of the learning curve for these young women. That's what we do before we practice.”

On what Natiece Ford (a transfer from Clemson) needs to do to improve:

“Natiece needs to get in better shape. I recruited Natiece when I was an assistant coach at VCU and she was an awesome all-around kid. Going into Clemson, she was considered the impact newcomer of the year in the preseason. And I thought that was what we were going to get. And we're going to get that. She's trying to get in shape. She's been out for a year-and-a-half. She's still trying to figure it out. She's got a ton of talent. A tremendous skill set and her, along with Aprill and Eboni, I expect them to be impactful come MEAC play.”

On trying to maintain conference going into MEAC Conference play after the loss:

“We've got to find some bright spots. I was talking to them as the game was going on. I thought early on, we did some good things offensively. Duke made some good adjustments, then our offense kind of went berserk after that. So we've got to talk about the good things….when we did use our screens, when we set good screens, when we attacked.”

On whether he wants to forget this game:

“I don't want to let it go. I wanna have a top program. I'm not going to let it go. We've got to figure out how I expect to play in the NCAA Tournament at the end of the year and we may be playing Duke again. And we've got to make sure the gap isn't like this.”