It was her smile. It was the teacher she was, but also the person she was.

Our defense was tenacious. We had the energy which we didn't have at Connecticut. The defense initiated a lot of our offense.

When you step into an arena like the Civic Center, with so much history that they've made in there, yes you do come in as the underdog because they've done what they've had to do over the years to prove themselves as possibly the greatest program in the country. We're trying to establish ourselves as a powerhouse school as well. It's going to be a tough challenge to see where we are as a team.

It just came down to the fact that it was my home-town school. I grew up around here, it was the opportunity for me to play in front of my friends and family.

If someone has to take them — especially at crunch time — then I'd rather take the shot. I'm not saying that my teammates can't make the shots, but I'd like them to come to me every time.

It felt good. I was happy just to be out there after my long journey. It was a new experience for me, as far as playing with these young ladies, but they helped me out throughout the entire game as far as keeping myself together.