We've got the core of our team coming back next year, and playing games like this really helps. It helps with your experience.

She's one that will never get tired and always gives 110 percent. She's a hustler, from beginning to end.

I told the girls this is the first team that has played as a true team since I've been at Pallotti. There's no one real superstar. Everybody has off games and the rest of the team picked it up.

I knew that if we kept the lead, then we had a good chance to bring it home. We had a little trouble getting into the flow of the offense so I thought I should call a time out and get them back on track. They knew how important this game was and how much it meant to them.

I told them before the game, defense and foul shots were going to win the game, and they proved me right. They made the key foul shots when we needed them.

It was a rough first half after having such a long layoff. It's hard keeping them fresh.