Missouri - Oklahoma State Postgame Quotes
3/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 9, 2004
Missouri Head Coach Cindy Stein
Opening Statement:
"I am very proud of the kids, they really came out ready to play. It showed when Megan Roney came out and hit the three, that signaled that we were ready to play and time could not run fast enough for us."
Difference from last year:
"I feel the difference from last year is confidence. With the seniors we have you can tell we are ready to go. As soon as this team got here they were ready to get out and play. They have just become more relaxed and enjoyed the game."
Importance of win:
"I think that anytime we come to a tournament you want to come in and win the tournament. We did our job and we will just have to let the experts pick the teams. We just need to play our game."
On facing Kansas for the third time:
"We really have to take it one game at a time. Right now we are confident in finding ways to win. They will be tough and we know that, but I think we are looking forward to taking another shot at them."
Making NCAA Tournament:
"It is something that is difficult for a coach to say.... if you look at our strength of schedule and our RPI we deserve to be in, but we have to let them do their job. I do wish my best friends were on the committee but at this time we have to just sit back and let them do the job that they are there for. I don't think playing it out in the media will help anything.
Senior Forward Stretch James
Shooting 65% from the floor:
"I think we had open shots all night. We just had a good shooting night overall. We all stepped up and made our shots."
Senior Forward Evan Unrau
On the team effort:
"I thought we had a pretty good shooting night. Ever body made their shots when we had the opportunity to."
Junior Center Megan Roney
On good beginning:
"I guess that I set the tone for us. It felt good when I hit the first three so every time I had an open shot I took it."
On 65% shooting from the floor:
"My girl was leaving me wide open. They were double teaming S
tretch and left me wide open and I just made my shots."
Oklahoma State Head Coach Julie Goodenough
Opening Statement:
"I wish we played as well in the first half as we did in the second half. I thought we came out really flat defensively. Missouri was ready to score and they knocked down some big shots and were really on fire the first half. I wish Missouri the best of luck. I think they are a NCAA caliber team, and I hope they get in the NCAA tournament, they are definitely deserving of that."
On next year's team...
"Tonight was a perfect example that we are one or two shooters short. We have two young ladies that have been fairly consistent for us all season, Eliz Gomes and Nina Stone in putting points on the board. We've got to get some more point production from other players, from some players we have and some new players that we're adding to our team. Trenisha (Williams) is a very exciting player; she can bring some athleticism to our team, help us defensively. We did not have a guard this year that could put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket besides Nina (Stone), and I think that is something Trenisha can do for us."
Oklahoma State Guard Nina Stone
On defensive problems...
"Their post players were getting down too low and turn-around shooting and us not blocking out, they had a couple second chance shots and scored seven second-chance points and that really hurt us."
On playing next year...
"I can't wait, Coach told us in the locker room that we have two weeks off. I don't even want that long. I'm ready to get back in the gym when we get back to school, work out, getting bigger, stronger and quicker and try to be more of a leader. The Big 12 is hard; I didn't expect it to be like this when I first came in. This is the best conference in the nation. There will be no excuses next year, because I will put all my hard work in the gym."
Oklahoma State Guard Lori Allen
On defensive problems...
"Their post players knocked down some big shots at the top of the key and shot three pointers we weren't expecting. A few times we didn't block out and kicked it out for three-pointers from their guards. They are a pretty well rounded ball club. We just have to learn to block out."
On playing next year...
"These last two games have shown how hard we can play. People keep telling us we have a lot of heart. It's a telltale sign of how it's going to be next year and how hard we work. It doesn't look like it's paying off right now, but I know it will next year."
