Nov. 4, 2005
Quoting redshirt junior guard Jill Noe
On the emotions after not having played in two years:
"I was so excited. I didn't sleep a wink last night because I was so nervous. I watched film with Charli (Turner Thorne) this morning. Everyone was just so supportive and Coach did such a great job of preparing me to make it all the way back. I had a lot of confidence going in, but I was definitely scared out of there. Every single time I step out on the floor I am so excited, but I am also scared.
"I have been dying just to play in a game and to put my jersey on for the last two years. I was just soaking it all in while I was putting my jersey on today and even during warm ups. It was just a great feeling to be back. I hope I can stay healthy this year because I really want to contribute to this team's success."
On ASU's nationally-televised season-opener against Vanderbilt:
"I am so excited to be playing in such an atmosphere like that, on national television. They are a great team and its going to be a great battle. Hopefully, playing a team like that early will show us where we are at as a team and it will show everyone else where we are at as well."
Quoting head coach Charli Turner Thorne
On the play of Jill Noe:
"She had a great game. I can't tell you how exciting it is to see her back on the court and just doing the things that we know she is capable of. She has worked really hard and it has taken a lot of courage to get back to where she is at. I liked the way she looked tonight."
On where Jill is at now compared to her freshman year:
"I think she's better in a lot of ways now (than she was then). As the season progresses, she's going to get better and be better than she's ever been. In my estimation, she'll be much better than she was as a freshman. She's more mature, savvier, and understands our defensive system better.
"Offensively, she's continued to work on her shot while she's been out. She's even worked on her behind the back pass. I'm real confident that she is just going to get better and better. I think what people saw tonight was everything that she did well freshman year, and this was just our first exhibition game, so that bodes well for us."