Nova Southeastern University Athletics

General Thoughts
Head Coach Roy Heintz: Well first of all I want to congratulate Delta State. They did a great job today. I told David (Coach for Delta State) go represent our conference proudly. That’s a talented team and I hope they do quite well Monday night in the regional championship.
 
Secondly I want to talk about my seniors. I’m just so proud of those four. Four seasons ago this program was 4-20, probably one of the worst in the country, then we recruited Jasmine and Jordan Smith and Shannon Steinert. We had the greatest improvement in wins from one season to the next at the Division II level, going 11-15. But we really needed some veteran experience. We brought those four seniors in as junior college transfers, Natalie Kelley, Bailee Robinson, Morgan Duncan and Francheska Nimes. They really provided the experience to go to the next level, of course that was reflected in last year’s NCAA Tournament appearance. This year they just kept it going. They were so strong for us down the stretch. It’s obviously natural that they are hurting very badly right now after that loss and knowing it’s the last game of their career. Just four wonderful wonder women, four wonderful students, and four wonderful basketball and university ambassadors for us. I’m so proud of them and I’m proud of my team. It hasn’t been easy this year. The target has been on their back at times and they battled to get here. Again I talked yesterday about the fact that, yes it was our second NCAA tournament appearance, but the first win ever yesterday was monumental for us. I know their hurting but I hope they don’t hang their heads because they should be really proud of the careers those four seniors had and the way we finished this season. So I couldn’t be prouder of these young ladies. They are champions in my eyes and they will be champions in life and in their careers as well.
 
Q: What did you tell the team during the timeouts that got them back in the game after a slow start?
 
Heintz: I didn’t say anything strategic that made a difference. It’s a veteran team and I think with what they did, it was reflective of the way they played. They kept their heads about them, they continued to attack, we were missing some shots early and we turned the ball over a couple times early. The team just steadied the ship and got the course moving ahead and actually took the lead at halftime. I thought that the first couple minutes of the second half were pivotal for Delta State. I thought they came out and really got into us defensively and physically, and again, we turned it over a couple of times and gave them a little bit of a momentum swing at the point. I don’t think our response to that momentum was as good at the start of the ball game. Then the score just got away from us. I think our team showed a lot of grit and resolve today and we just came up on the short end of the scoreboard, but sometimes that doesn’t truly reflect the heart and the resolve of the players and the team.
 
Q to Jasmine Hammon: What do you think the difference was in tonight’s game and the game in the conference tournament, where you beat Delta State?
 
Hammon: I would say our energy was a little bit different even though once we got on that run, we kind of picked our energy up again and it seemed like the same play as in the conference tournament. Delta State has always been tough, but tonight they came out a little bit tougher than they normally have. Knowing that we put them out of the conference tournament, any team would come back fired up. We just didn’t get the job done.
 
Q to Heintz: Talk about your fan base following you during your NCAA tournament run.
 
Heintz: One of the things that marks the University of Alabama-Huntsville is great fan support. We are fifteen hours away from home and you have that kind of fan support and we are so appreciative of that. Our lower-level season tickets are sold out, with a big waiting list, and we just have great fans and that provided a lot of energy for us. We are really proud where are program is. I told the team today at the end of shootaround, look at the fact that we were 4-20 four seasons ago and out of 272 teams [in Division II], 32 were playing today and you can’t miss that fact. Everyone is going to be hurting today and I hate that I can’t coach this team again. We aren’t going to have that personnel group together, with the seniors graduating and the new kids coming in. But I think that with what we’ve done is something that will change the culture and the expectations, and now people know that when they look at our program, they’re looking at a program that can go the NCAA tournament and go deep into the NCAA tournament. And with that kind of fan support, people want to play for programs like that. So I’m quite proud of where the program is and also our support.
 
Q to Hammon: Talk about your motivation going into senior season next year.
 
Hammon: This year we got a little bit further than we did last year, so next year I’m just looking to make it all the way to the championship.
 
Heintz: Thank you. I really appreciate the staff here at Nova Southeastern, just an unbelievable job in the regional, and with our regional chair Kailie Hill. This whole tournament has been tremendous and we appreciate you all as well. Thank you.