Completed Event: Women's Basketball at Eastern Kentucky on March 19, 2026 , Loss , 58, to, 72
Final Score
Women's Basketball
58
at Eastern Kentucky
72
The University of Utah Athletics
Utah, Duke Players and Coaches Speak to the Media
3/24/2003 12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 24, 2003
RALEIGH, N.C. - On the eve of the second-round NCAA Tournament match-up between No. 8-seed Utah and top-seeded Duke, both teams attended pre-game press conferences where they talked about tomorrow's game.
Below are some of the quotes from the press conferences today:
Utah Head Coach Elaine Elliott:
This is a special time of year and we feel it. We've been excited from day one. This has been a great trip and we're anxious to play tomorrow.
The issue isn't identifying weaknesses, that's the easy part. It comes down to the players and whether or not they're capable of not allowing Beard to beat us in and of herself.
We just have to continue to play what we've taught our kids and what they know how to do.
Duke is similar to Mississippi State as far as their athleticism and having a marquee player and we had success against them. Duke has a much bigger inside presence than Mississippi State did.
In order to win, we have to score. If I had my choice of being the best offensive team or the best defensive team in the NCAAs, I'd pick offensive.
We really have to play out every possession. I think we'll do enough good things that we won't let them just take over and dominate. Their advantage is in the loose ball category, without a doubt.
Yesterday was not a fluke for Kim. She's been consistent all year long and is always capable of the type of performance she had yesterday. Her job will just be much more difficult tomorrow.
Utah Freshman Kim Smith:
We're ready and excited to play. Beard works hard. She's a good athlete who can get to the basket and create for herself. She battles the boards.
We see that they have weaknesses. If we can capitalize on those weaknesses, we could upset. Upsets happen every day, just look at the men's tournament.
Utah Sophomore Shona Thorburn:
We're more excited than intimidated to play Duke.
We play very good team defense. We help each other out a lot. We know our personnel very well heading into games. I like to think we're pretty heady players.
Being unknown (to Duke) will work toward our advantage. I'm positive they haven't watched us on national TV on a Sunday afternoon.
My experience with the national team definitely help. We've played against the top players in the world, not just North America.
Utah Junior Carley Marshall:
They have weaknesses just like every other team.
Duke is a great pressure defense team.
We know how to utilize our offensive strong points.
Being here (far from home, as opposed to Duke, who attended classes today) has allowed us to focus all our energy on what we're here for. There's one reason and one reason only, and that's to play basketball.
It's not often that we get to play a team like this. We're such a young team. Having this opportunity this early in our player's careers can only help us.
Duke Head Coach Gail Goestenkors:
Utah is an exceptional team. They play great defense, but they showed against DePaul that they play great offense as well.
We're the No. 1 offense and they are the No. 1 defense nationally. We're excited and looking forward to the challenge.
Utah plays more of a position defense. We're more of a pressure the ball, up-in-your-face defense.
Overall, we have a speed/quickness advantage.
Kim Smith makes the best reads of any player I've seen.
They (Utah) do a tremendous job of passing/moving the ball.
Duke Senior Michelle Matyasovsky:
We're more athletic than they are, and I believe that will cause some problems for them.
Utah is a really smart team. They know player personnel well and know what to take away from opponents.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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