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Feb. 29, 2004

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TENNESSEE HEAD COACH Pat Summitt:

(opening remarks) "Obviously, I'm very proud of our basketball team today. This has been a special year for our coaching staff because of the makeup of this team and its ability to pull together when things are down. If you had told me that we would make a run in conference play like we did, particularly after Loree (Moore) went down, I might have bet against us, but I wouldn't bet against this team now. I wasn't sure that we could break the game open today the way that we did, but Shyra Ely stepped up and made some big plays. We had some turnovers, and that concerns me, but we dominated the inside game, and that was a key."

(on looking ahead to receiving an No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament) "We're always trying to get the best seed possible. There's a difference in having the top No. 1 seed and having the second, third, or fourth No. 1 seed. That's going to be our approach in Nashville. When we talked to our team about goals for this season, they said, 'Win the SEC Tournament Championship.' We asked, 'What about the regular season?', and they said, 'That's a given.' Obviously, it's not a given to win the tournament. We've struggled there. It's about getting better. It was good to get Brittany (Jackson) back and get some minutes for her and Dominique (Redding). We're only nine (players) deep right now, so it's important that we get strong play off our bench so we can rest our starters."

(on going into the SEC Tournament with only nine players) "I look at what LSU did two years ago (reached the finals of the 2002 SEC Tournament playing seven players), and it isn't about the numbers. It's about their heart and competitiveness. It's a mindset. If you had told me that LaToya Davis would be playing 26, 33, 35 minutes at this point of the season when she hasn't done it throughout her career. . .she knows that she has to do that in order for this team to be successful."

(on inside play) "We felt that was the place that we had to go. Our guards didn't get the message. We wanted to go inside. Everyone knew but our guards. Once they got it, they saw the result. It opened up our outside game."

(on the play of senior LaToya Davis) "The role that she's been placed in is what she wanted. She wanted to have her turn. When Loree Moore went down (with season-ending knee injury), LaToya was the one player that came to mind immediately. She had a great round of competitive play in Greece (this summer). She just couldn't crack the lineup with Loree and Tasha (Butts) ahead of her. She has the speed, quickness, and athleticism. Today, she was the one (senior) who was emotional with the tears coming down her cheeks. She appreciates the opportunity that she has now. She has played a different role at times. She's a great teammate. It's difficult when you come out of high school averaging 28 points and then not get the playing time, but her patience, persistence, and attitude have helped her perform. It's all about how you handle the situation that you're in. We've had players transfer because they didn't get the minutes (of playing time). LaToya was realistic. She worked on using her left hand and worked on her offensive game overall. LaToya Davis is a great person. I have tremendous respect for LaToya Davis, and her teammates do as well."

(on Courtney McDaniel) "You never want to lose a player, particularly at this time of the year, but we'll move on. We only have nine players. We want what's best for Courtney. I listened to our medical staff. They're the experts. I support their decision. I'm just sorry that she chose not to participate in Senior Day because she has been a fan favorite so she could see how our staff, her teammates, and the fans feel about her. She has had a lot of injuries throughout her career."

Shyra Ely:

"I had a good feeling going in. I was excited for our seniors to be leaving (laughter). I started off getting some offensive boards. Tasha (Butts) found me a couple of times, and that got me going."

LaToya Davis:

"When Loree (Moore) went down, I knew I had to step up. I took advantage of the situation."

Tasha Butts:

"This team realizes its strengths. It's offensive rebounding and defensive rebounding. It's rebounding in general. We started off attacking the offensive boards because our defensive intensity was not there. We controlled the offensive boards."

"We always want to go inside. Tonight, we listened. Shyra (Ely) was so hyped before the game. I told her to just bring it out on the court."

(on the SEC Tournament) "In the past, it was not about physical toughness. It was mental toughness. At the tournament, everyone comes out after the trophy. This year, we have put ourselves in a position to come back from behind. I think we're more mentally tough this year and ready for the physical game as well as the mental game."

"Early in the game, our starting five stepped up and decided to lead this team defensively. Early in the game, Seimone (Augustus) and (Doneeka) Hodges got easy shots. We stepped up to the challenge and made them take hard shots over us. We broke down at the beginning, but we were able to fix it over the course of the game."

LSU ACTING HEAD COACH POKEY CHATMAN:

(opening remarks) "I'd be hard pressed to say that we had any success against Tennessee today. They brought energy, excitement and execution to the floor today."

(on Hanna Biernacka matching up with Ely) "I could start with Hanna, but I'd say the entire LSU team had a hard time matching up with her. We would cut something off and she would just spin around us. It was just a brilliant performance on her part."

(on preparing to play LaToya Davis and the other UT players that don't usually get a lot of playing time) "It wasn't hard to prepare to play this team. You hear about Tennessee being injured, but athletes at this level wait for an opportunity. That is what Davis has been doing, waiting. Now she is taking advantage of her opportunity. But you have to be prepared for the entire team and we knew who was on their bench and what they bring."

TEMEKA JOHNSON:

(on Tennessee's fast start) "Anytime any team in the SEC comes out with the momentum like Tennessee did today, it is easy to dig yourself a hole and get behind. We did that and never got out."

SEIMONE AUGUSTUS:

(on LSU's poor shooting) "Our open shots just did not fall in the first half. We were missing easy lay-ups and put backs. You just have to stay with it and play through it. Just keep shooting."