By Mark Simon
D3sports.com

DANBURY, Conn. -- One of the nicest things about this year's NCAA Division III Women's Final Four was that laughter prevailed over tears. There was plenty of humorous insight to be offered during our weekend in Danbury. Here are a few of our favorites.

"I tried to be relaxed and it didn't work. I may have to go back to being my grouchy old self."
-- Scranton women's basketball coach Mike Strong commenting on how he approached the Final Four, where his team placed fourth for the second consecutive season.

"I'm old. It takes me a little while to recover."
-- Southern Maine 25-year-old shooting guard Trish Ripton after being asked about a minor injury she suffered in the semifinal win against St. Thomas.

"Can I tell you about how she was a klutz?"
-- Chris Fischer, mom of Washington University's star center Alia Fischer when she was approached by a D3hoops radio broadcaster who wanted to know what kind of player Alia was when she was younger.

"I can read it and I can write it, but don't ask me to speak it."
-- Academic All-American Alia Fischer's response when asked to say something about her team in French, which happens to be her major at Washington University

"I was crying during the National Anthem."
-- Fischer's response when a reporter asked who was the first member of the team to cry the day of the national championship game.

"I was going to throw in the towel."
-- Washington women's basketball coach Nancy Fahey responded in jest when asked for her thoughts when both Alia Fischer and Tasha Rodgers picked up two fouls in the first six minutes of the national championship game win over Southern Maine. Fahey went on to say that she was extremely confident that her bench would come through.

"You have no more games left. You won't get any extra minutes for saying that."
-- Washington forward Tasha Rodgers to senior teammate Emily Harold after Harold praised the job of coach Nancy Fahey during the season.

"Any job opportunities out there?"
-- Washington University senior Beth Reuther, pointed out to the gym after a reporter asked if anyone thought that winning the national championship would affect their futures.