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UTA (9-3, 2-0) 60, Coastal Carolina (5-7, 1-2) 58
Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016
College Park Center • Arlington, Texas
Postgame Quotes

UTA Head Coach Krista Gerlich

Opening statement …
"That might have been the worst shooting performance I've seen in a while. I am really proud that the girls were able to dig deep and find a way to win. They made baskets late, they were disciplined late. They made some extra passes and ran the offense and then we got some stops on defense when we needed them. That was just such a frustrating game. I don't want to take anything away from Coastal Carolina because I thought they really came out and took it too us and believed they could win. That is what you have to do, especially on people's home courts. Our kids reacted better in the second half. We stuck to our defensive game plan a little bit better. Then also obviously we executed offensively."

On what a comeback win can show the team …
"Our girls need to figure out that they've got to show up every single night. It is not going to be easy. It's really down to the basics because we got some really easy shots that we didn't make. Our kids need to realize that they need to focus all the way through and that they need to maintain that level of intensity and focus that we've got to have to be able to put 40 minutes together. We still have a lot of kids that have never played in this league before and they don't understand what is happening. Our leaders need to step up and lead the way to make sure they carry the load. Rebekah (VanDijk) and Cierra (Johnson) certainly did that on the stats but at the same time I think they could have made it a little bit easier on us by finishing some shots."

On if a poor shooting night can engulf the whole team …
"Sometimes I think it's contagious. When you miss a couple of easy ones, I think they whole team - it just tightens the noose a little bit - and it does become a little bit contagious. Once we got it in, they were such good looks, that our kids just didn't focus all the way through the bottom of the net. Luckily, when you don't play as well as you want too but you still win, that is the sign of a good basketball team."

UTA Student-Athletes

#0, Jr., Cierra Johnson, G

On moving up the UTA career steals listing …
"It feels great. It is really about just buying in to what our coaches are asking us to do. That is how I am getting those steals, by help defense and being mid-line, in line with the ball, everything that they tell us."

On if she feels pressure in a close game …
"I do feel it. I know I am a junior but I do get tense sometimes. It is a lot of pressure but it's what I signed up for so I can take it."