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Dec. 5, 2006

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TENNESSEE HEAD COACH Pat Summitt:

(opening remarks) "It's unusual to go in the lockerroom and visit the other team before the game starts, but I had the opportunity to talk to the UT-Martin team tonight. It's good for us to play Chattanooga and Martin. If it had not of been for the folks at UT-Martin, I wouldn't have had this job or been prepared for it. . . .I was pleased with our team tonight. We played with intensity. In the second half, we went with all match-up zone. We needed a good change-up. We didn't play the scoreboard. We had several players get good quality minutes."

(on playing UT-Martin) "We were looking to play schools within the UT system. In the past, we've had opportunities to play both. Anytime you can play within the family or university system, it's good to do so. The game came about because we were looking to host more home games from a revenue standpoint as opposed to more road games."

(on coming back following Sunday's loss to North Carolina) "We had a good team meeting on Monday. We hadn't been on the court since Sunday night's game. We have to move on. We can't allow it to break our spirit. North Carolina is a great team and in the top three in the country. We were playing on their home court. We have to get better on rebounding and defense and in going against pressure."

(on individual performances) "I thought Cait (McMahan) benefited and got some good minutes. Alberta (Auguste) wasn't feeling well and wasn't in sync as much as she could be. Alex (Fuller) got back in the groove offensively. We depend a lot on Alex Fuller. She didn't have as many minutes in the North Carolina game. She's a player who could be a starter."

(on playing with intensity) "I was pleased with our intensity and not letting up. This has got to be about us regardless of who we're playing and challenging each possession. We can't take possessions off. We learned from our loss. It's a discipline issue. At times, not all five people who are on the court are as disciplined as they should be. If they're disciplined, we'll be a much better team."

(on reserves Nicci Moats and Elizabeth Curry) "It was good for them. They've been playing their role. They were able to get in and had a chance to contribute on the offensive end. That's big for any players."

(on learning from the loss to North Carolina) "We didn't watch the (North Carolina game) tape with them. We gave up too many boards on both ends. We turned the ball over too many times. We had a lack of transition coverage and were giving up layups. We were not committed to our transition game, and North Carolina exposed that. With our size and mobility, there's no excuse for us not being a great transition team."

Alex Fuller:

"Sunday, I felt like I could have brought more for the team off the bench. I came in with a different mindset tonight."

Cait McMahan:

"We were regrouping tonight. The main thing tonight was to work on offensive plays. Against North Carolina, we didn't execute our plays. The next big game, we'll be able to execute."

Sidney Spencer:

"This game, we all came in with a different mindset. There are little things that we need to get better at. We have to focus on them and get better at them."

"We had a team meeting. Everyone had input. Coach Summitt said that we played hard, but we made crucial mistakes and didn't execute as well as we could have."

UT-MARTIN HEAD COACH TARA TANSIL:

"I thought we should have come out with a little more effort. We came out a little flat. Against the No. 4 team in the nation, you just can't do that. I think we struggled from the field some, we played a little timid, and this is not a team you can do that with. We've got to regroup because we have our first conference game on Saturday. So we've got to go home and work on some things, and head to Alabama (Jacksonville State) on Friday."

(on Pat Summitt talking to the Skyhawks before the game): "She came in and talked to our young ladies about her time there at Martin. She talked about how to be a team, how to be committed and how to play together. She told a couple stories, but we're not allowed to tell those."

(on the benefit of playing UT): "It is (beneficial to play in) this kind of arena. When we get to our conference tournament (at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville), we play in this kind of arena with this kind of crowd. When adversity comes, I get to see the character of our team. When we get down, I get to see which one of my fighters is going to be there. It sends a message to me about which five I can count on the most. They're not quitters. That's a learning experience for me, and for them also. In adversity your character's going to come. I want the ones that are going to fight every time they're out there, not the ones that are going to be kind of timid and let someone take the ball from them like a piece of candy.

(On Andreika Jackson): "This one, I don't have to worry about. This one is a fighter, this one comes to work every day. I've just got to make sure the other four that are out there around here are on the same mission she's on."

(on the UT-UNC game): "I need to call (UNC coach) Sylvia (Hatchell) and thank her for that. We played in Memphis and we got back just before the second half. We had someone record it for us, so we saw the second half. I was rooting for (Tennessee) because I didn't want them to be so mad when we got here. I knew they were going to regroup. I knew they were going to come out and fight because that's what they do here."

ANDREIKA JACKSON:

"Playing against the Lady Vols, you have to have a positive attitude and come to work. We were prepared for them, just a little scared. Everyone was looking around, waiting for somebody to take a shot instead of just working together, boxing out and doing the things we need to do to win."