Mizzou / Western Illinois Post Game Quotes
Mizzou Women’s Basketball Postgame Quotes
Mizzou 71, Western Illinois 68
Head Coach Robin Pingeton
Opening Statement…
“I thought we really struggled against their zone and we had way too many turnovers. There are a lot of things that you can pick apart but I liked our poise. We had a couple times that we were up four or five but Western Illinois is a scrappy team and they just kept competing. We definitely have to give them credit but I never felt like our girls panicked and it wasn’t easy but they found a way to get a big win on our home court. I don’t try to make excuses but I do believe the travel that we have had has played a toll on where we are at right now. This is a big academic week for us and I think we will really benefit from a day off tomorrow to regroup and take care of some academic things and then will get back at it on Thursday for a tough game on Friday.”
On Sophie Cunningham…
“She has the ability to impact the game in so many different ways and I think human nature is that when the ball is not falling for you, it is easy to get frustrated. She is too good to do that. She impacts the game on the defensive end and she can rebound. She has great court vision and she can pass. For her to keep her mental space where it needs to be is so important for us moving forward. Sophie did a tremendous job in the second half and made a key free throw for us down the stretch.”
Sophomore guard Sophie Cunningham
On attacking the basket late in the game…
“The opportunities were there in the first half too, I just need to get my mind right, but yeah I saw the chances and that’s my teammates getting the ball and them being a threat which opens some lanes up for me. Credit to (Western Illinois) because they can shoot lights out and they were a scrappy team.”
On solving Western Illinois’ zone defense…
“I think we as a team just need to get more consistent with our outside shot. That’ll make teams guard us outside on the three-point line. But I’d just say ball movement. Just going short corner and diving and filling. I think they have a great defense but on our part, we just need to do a better job of moving the ball and us moving to open shots.
Sophomore forward Cierra Porter
On Lianna Doty’s strong performance down the stretch…
“That’s awesome. That’s a fifth year senior who’s really stepping up and making big time plays for us this year. And we need her to. It just shows what she can do and we really believe in her. It was great.”
