Head coach Beth Burns and the Aztecs carry a six-game win streak into MWC play.

Jan. 9, 2012

San Diego State Head Coach Beth Burns

Opening Statement:

"It's a seven-game focus out of the gate. TCU is the preseason favorite and UNLV far and away has outdistanced the competition in the non-conference season with three Top 25 (RPI) wins. Similar to our guys (basketball team), our opening week is really going to set the tone for what's in front of us. Obviously, we feel good about ourselves. If you told me at 4-4, we'd be 10-4, we would have taken it. We've continued to improve and gotten better and we'll have an opportunity against a step up in competition this week in TCU and UNLV.

On the talent in the Mountain West Conference:

"TCU is really similar to us early in this respect, you don't lose Jene' (Morris) and (Quenese Davis) and not feel it. Then you lose Jene and Q and Kiyana (Stamps) gets ineligible and we really felt it (last year). They lot Helena Sverrisdottir and (Emily) Carter and then Starr Crawford has concussion syndrome or something and she's out for the year. Jeff Mittie is a terrific coach and he's had to be because it's like replacing Magic Johnson. As good as Sverrisdottir was, she was a really different type of guard. Now they're back to the TCU of old. They are the most athletic by far teams we will face this week (and have) great athletes and great skill at every position. (They are) good teams, good coaches and good recruiters. In UNLV's case, they have everybody back. It's their time. We're not going to be able to out jump people. We are really fundamentally going to have to tighten things up to play against both teams."

On if she's pleased with how the team is playing right now:

" I was really happy after Christmas. We really came back and locked in and played very well in the two games after Christmas. Maybe that's my fault, we're used to Christmas, our tournament and then league. It was kind of weird to approach (the new scheduling). We won both games (after the new year), but I think we should have been sharper in those games. We're young and the only thing I know is we're going to be inconsistent. We're still inconsistent, but we've definitely improved. Chelsea Hopkins has been lights out since Christmas and when your point guard is playing great, everybody else kind of feeds off that. She has played really well and if we can keep her on the floor, it makes a big difference for us."