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NCAA East Regional Championship

March 26, 2004

On playing Penn State...
Jacqueline Batteast: They have a lot of weapons. We're gonna have to guard a lot of people at different times. It's gonna be a challenge for us.
Courtney LaVere: Kelly Mazzante is a great player and even if she is not shooting well, she'll get her teammates the ball and have them shoot. We just have to limit her touches and limit everyone else's touches too and play some great team defense.
Megan Duffy: I think the big emphasis for us is to play great team defense. We know Kelly (Mazzante) is a first-team All-America; fantastic player, but her supporting cast is just as talented. We're gonna have to help each other out.
Head Coach Muffet McGraw: Penn State is No. 1 for a reason. I think they are No. 1 for a reason. They deserve that No. 1 seed. Kelly Mazzante is an outstanding player, but you cannot just key on her. I just think they have a great team and are certainly well coached.

On trying to beat Penn State for the first time...
Megan Duffy: We're gonna have to play well. There is a reason Penn State is No. 1. They have a lot of weapons.
Courtney LaVere: We need to cut down on mental mistakes. They are a tough team.

On how head coach Muffet McGraw's experience helps the team...
Megan Duffy: She prepares us for every game, especially tournament time. She has experience, having won a national championship and it helps us tremendously. Especially for the younger players.

On Muffet McGraw's feelings about playing against her college coach, Rene Portland of Penn State...
Head Coach Muffet McGraw: I don't really feel any differently playing against Rene (Portland) than anybody else we've played. Playing against Rene will be just like playing against anyone else. I still have a lot of respect for her.

On the challenges that Penn State presents defensively...
Head Coach Muffet McGraw: Great offensive teams, they don't get credit for playing great defense. They change defenses so well. They really try to keep you off balance. You've really got be ready coming out of a timeout for them to change defenses. They are gonna do a lot of different things; throw a lot of things at you. You really have to have your point guard ready for all of them. I would say that they are a very good defensive team.

On what Notre Dame has to do to beat Penn State...
Head Coach Muffet McGraw: I think this is a very tough game for us. We've got to play great defensively. We really can't control the offense. We are a team that is going to go into droughts. We are going to have some times where we are gonna go five or six minutes without a field goal. We are just not a high-powered offensive team right now. I think for us; we really have to do it with our defense.