Last home (stand) I wasn't very happy with how we played. We were headed into a direction where we deserved what we got against Connecticut, because if we continued to play the way we had been, we weren't even going to make the (NIT or NCAA) tournament.

Parsons was injured in the West Virginia game (Feb. 25) and wasn't feeling good. But we will go back with Parsons against Notre Dame. She's our best interior defender. We have to do a good job against (Lindsay) Schrader, a good job against Duffy and not get into early foul trouble.

It's a tough way to lose. I told our players that games aren't won or lost in the last 30-40 seconds. We shot 50 percent from the free-throw line in the second half, and that's not going to get it done against the type of teams we're playing in this league.

The kids turned on the TV over the weekend and they're watching Connecticut against Tennessee and they're watching Michigan State and Rutgers. That's where we want to be.

Before the game, we told them our backs are against the wall. Tonight was a must win. If we wanted to go to the NCAA Tournament, we needed to win tonight, and I think they responded.

Before the game, we told our kids our backs were against the wall. This was the most important game of the year. If we wanted to go to the NCAA Tournament, we needed to win. And the kids responded. They have an excellent opportunity ahead of them.