Full reaction from the locker room after the Gamecocks beat the Bulls 76-45 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Brea Beal:
On the second half energy:
"I think we analyzed before coach came in and just knew little adjustments that we needed to make. Our bench really got us going, and they're constantly supporting us. I think our main focus was having to guard a team that constantly uses screen, constantly scores off of them, so I think once we made that adjustment it was up from there."
On the team's confidence:
"Just believing that we can knock down shots, especially coming off our first game. Just kind of shaking that rust off. You can't go into the next just thinking, 'Oh I missed that shot last game, so I'm not going to take it again.' I think that it's just believing in one another and just tusting that we can fill in voids where they need to be. I think really the trust and the confdience and beliving in what coach stays, we just trust it."
On Olivia's 3-pointer:
'I tell everyone it feels like it's the cherry on top. It definitely makes the feeling more surreal after we leave thinking this is our last time here. I think it's just amazing to see her stick through these four yeras and get a moment like that."
Zia Cooke:
On her day:
"I was just taking what the defense gave me. I saw that they were trying to take away my right hand, so I definitely was just trying to get into my mid-range a little bit. I was able to knock down some 3s as well, so it was just taking what they gave me."
On going to Greenville:
"We'll definitely have a homecourt advantage for sure. So that's a plus, but at the end of the day they can't get out there and play for us. We have to make sure we go out and do our job."
On her big shots early while her teammates were struggling:
"I think they kind of gave us some momentum. To definitely take a deep breath and know that it's okay and we're gonna be good."
On Olivia's 3:
"It felt good. She deserves moments like that. The FAMs love her, we love her so I was happy to see that in the last game at CLA she was able to send us home with a 3."
On where the game changed:
"Defensively. We were already playing great defense, but I think in a way we turned up the intensity. I feel like South Carolina has multiple gears, and we were able to get to that gear when we needed."
Victaria Saxton:
On the Thompson 3-pointer:
"It was crazy. We always love Olivia Thompson's 3s; we love her."
On the performance:
"I think everybody performed really well. I think everybody gave it their all, everybody was aggressive in just playing their role and doing their part."
On Bree Hall:
"She brings a lot of energy. She gets those extra possessions, and that's always needed in a basketball game. I think she knocks down shots when it's time to knock down shots, but she's just in the right place at the right time."
Raven Johnson:
On her give and go with Kamilla in transition:
"Kamilla, that's my go-to. That's the first player I look to when I'm on the court. I feel like I've known her my whole life. We started together in 9th grade, so our chemistry is very strong."
On the 12-0 run:
"That just tells you about our depth as a team. The bench is a powerhouse. Every time before a game she's like, 'there's no bench like you. Bench, do what you do.' And the starters always tell us to bring the energy; we call each other energizers. Every time we touch the court, we try to bring that energy."
On going to Greenville:
"We're very excited. We know that teams are going to bring their best so we have to bring our best, and it's going to get harder. We just need to lock in."
Kamilla Cardoso:
On post defense against Dulcy:
"I think we were just trying to front her and deny the direct passes. I think we did a great job."
On what changed the game:
"I think we came out more locked in, and we were pushing the ball more."
Bree Hall:
On her performance:
"I'm feeling great. I'm feeling really confdient going into the sweet 16. Very, very proud of my team to bring the energy and just be dominant."
On her confidence:
"Honestly, it's experience. Experience is really one of the biggest things. Just being able to go out there in the second round and just learn from my mistakes know some of the things that I did last year that I could've done better. And my coaches have really isntilled a lot of confidence in me."
On Olivia's 3-pointer:
"That was amazing. Just me and Raven jumping up and down, jumping all over each other, the bench went crazy, it was amazing. I'm so happy for her. That was great, it was the icing on the cake."
On her offensive rebounding:
"One of the biggest thing is that the coaches have told me that I need to rebound. I'd say that's probably been my lowest point, just not being able to crash the boards and get in there. But I've really taken advantage of going in there and just trying my hardest to go in there and get whatever I can, and I think it worked out great today."
On the bench:
"It's amazing. It's something that a lot of people don't really realize. We really take pride in being on the bench. We're not one of those that are just like, 'oh, we're coming off the bench.' We take pride in doing what we do, and it really helps having Raven and Laeticia in my ear just telling me let's go out and do what we do. This is what we do, produce off the bench."
On her buzzer-beater to end the 3rd quarter:
"I was just so excited, so happy. Coach was just over there on the sideline and just told me, 'Sprint over there and shoot.' And I was like, 'alright.' I just sprinted over there and I was like, 'yes, let's go.'"
Said that was the first time since high school she's hit a buzzer beater.
Sania Feagin:
On Olivia's 3-pointer:
"I just love it. I just love to see Liv get out there and do what she knows how to do. She just brings everyone a good energy."
On the performance today:
"I feel like we started out kind of slow, but we got our groove and just did what we know how to do."
On what changed:
"Just sitting back, observing doing what we know we have to do."
On defending Dulcy:
"I'd say we just followed the gameplan. We just did what coach wanted us to do and we executed it."
Chloe Kitts:
On Olivia's 3-pointer:
"It feels good. I had the ball, and I just try to find her at the end of every game because I want her to get a shot."
On what changed the game:
"After coach talked to us we were all locked in, and we were all just ready. We came out and had a lot of energy."
Olivia Thompson:
On her 3-pointer:
"It was awesome. It was a really great way for me to go out in my last game here, so it was really exciting."
On if she was thinking about that moment:
"Of course I was, but I wasn't really banking on it. But it was still really awesome that it happened, and I was just glad that I made the most of the moment."
On the celebrations:
"Everyone was just so happy for each other. It's just great energy in here. That's something about our team, that everyone is just so happy for each other all the time. It's a great team celebrate with, great energy all around so we've just got to keep it going."
On the performance:
"We always tend to bounce back after halftime. There was a little rust in the first half, but after halftime we always come back and we hit harder. Once we can get it to where we hit first in the first quarter we'll be fine, because our second half is unmatched."
On what changed the game:
"I think we bring another level of intensity with our defense. I think once Zia gets in her mode where she just locks in, she's unstoppable. I think defensively as a unit we're just unmatched. Defensively as a whole just kept the game in our favor."
On Bree Hall:
"Bree is always a spark off the bench, just always. Her shots are huge, her defense is crazy, just her ability to get offensive rebound after offensive rebound, she never gets tired. And if she does, she just gets a quick blow and she goes right back. That's something about Bree, she just never gives up. That's a testament to how great of a member of this team she is."
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