California Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb

Opening Statement:
I am just really exited to be a part of the Pac-12 Conference, to coach in this conference and to coach this team. I think that it has felt that way for a long time, but in particular going into conference it's a different feel. Our players have bought into that, and I don't think we could have started it any better. Part of that is the fact that I am up here with these two (Mercedes Jefflo and Penina Davidson). I think that it says something about our team when we're so used to it being (Brittany) Boyd and (Reshanda) Gray or one of the other freshmen, and I think that it really says a lot about the growth of our team, that these two were the stars of the game and the marquee players. I think that is a good sign for our team because hopefully it's someone else the next day. I can't say enough about them, and I think that they came back from Christmas practicing better, at a whole different level. It's raised our team up, other people respond and I was really happy to see them make plays. I'm really just excited about the way that we played as a team, and it's only one game, but it's a good start and we'll go forward from here.

On translating practice play to game play
Yes, big picture wise definitely. Jefflo came back from the summer and this fall a much-improved player and had great early practices. I don't think it has translated into the games early as well as it will eventually. It's a confidence thing; it's getting that rhythm, and I just think that there is a time when sometimes it just clicks. I hope that she scores 17 points every game, but even if she doesn't, her impact is felt as you gain confidence. Certainly with freshmen there is just a learning curve. I've talked a lot with Penina and her work ethic is superb, her skill set is really good and it's a transition. The college game is faster, it's different and she's so far from home, so I have believed the whole time that things are going to click. It's not an exact science as to when it's going to happen, but you have to trust the process and more good is going to come from that. That's why we think we can keep getting better over the course of this season.

On pressing Utah
We think that it can be a weapon for us. I think that Utah is really big and they are methodical in how they want to run their offense, so we knew that we wanted to jack them up and make them play faster. I don't know how many steals we had, we had eight steals, we had a few almost steals even, but I think that it shifted the tempo and obviously got our offense going. I think that our players like to play that way so it worked well.

On the team's defense
We've really emphasized it; we've really been on them about it. I think that we can be a great defensive team, and I think that it can really help kick start our offense so I definitely think that it is getting better. I think that the young players are understanding scouts and stuff which really allows you to just play, and I think the veterans are taking the lead and showing them how to do it.

Sophomore Guard Mercedes Jefflo

On the team's progression
I just think that practice has helped me a lot with building my confidence and going against our practice guys and Coach Jeff (Cammon) who are really tall and being able to go against them, I think that it makes it easier in a game to transition because practice is harder than games. In terms of confidence, my confidence has raised through practice.

Freshman Forward Penina Davidson

On the team's progression
For me it's actually through my (teammates). It's really easy to want to play for your girls when they instill confidence in you. So for example, Reshanda is a good one. No matter what is happening that day she will always give herself to you, make you feel better and it's just really easy to want to play for them.

On understanding the defense
It's just going one by one. Taking practices one by one. At first I started trying to learn the whole thing at once, but you have just got to learn the details first and understanding every little part is better than trying to take it on as a whole, and then eventually it will add up all together.