Mizzou Women’s Hoops
Mizzou 58, Alabama 59
Postgame Quotes
Mizzou Head Coach Robin Pingeton
Opening Statement…
“Obviously we are disappointed. That’s a tough way to lose a game. I felt like it was kind of similar to that Kentucky game, we had a seven- or eight-minute drought in scoring. We need some other players to step up and we just can’t afford to go seven and eight minutes without scoring the basketball. Our defense has been really good but we need more production scoring the basketball. The other disappointing stat that sticks out to me is that we gave them 21 points off of second-chance opportunities. They did a great job on the boards and we knew that was one of their strengths coming in. They just got after it a little bit more on the boards and we gave up too many opportunities. Frustrating game. Certainly comes down to more than just that last possession. We talked about how a two doesn’t hurt us but a three does. A two just takes us to overtime. We didn’t want to give up a three-point play and we didn’t want to give up a three. We just got caught a little bit. But it’s a 40-minute game and it certainly comes down to more than one possession.”
On Alabama’s possession during which it hit the game-winning shot…
“I think she just slid up and got an open shot. She didn’t come off of any screen action – I thought maybe she might have traveled on it. Maybe not – I don’t know. Certainly I think it was a broken play – slid up the lane and got her shoulders set and got her feet set and let it fly.”
On Sierra Michalis’ offensive struggles…
“I just think that when you are a shooter, I think you are going to have some of those nights. The biggest thing is we need more consistency from all our kids, especially Sierra, who has been so good for us offensively. Then I think what we can get from some of our other positions is icing on the cake. We just have to hang in there and keep getting in the gym. The thing I am most frustrated with offensively is the amount of good looks we had around the basket. Those are the ones you just can’t afford to miss. Certainly as a three-point shooter coming off of a screen, those are tough shots. A couple of her missed shots were actually at the end of the shot clock in the first half. So I think that stat line is a little deceiving. For me it’s about being able to finish inside.”
Mizzou sophomore guard Sophie Cunningham
On what she told the team after the game…
“Just kind of what Coach just hit on. Every possession counts. Doesn’t matter if you are a starter or if you are on the bench, we can’t have a drop-off. The starting five, they have to keep going – we can’t let up at any time. In the SEC, you’re not going to have any blowout games so every possession counts sp we just have to learn and move on for the next one.”
On whether they thought they won the game on Sierra Michaelis’ late 3-pointer…
“I don’t think that we thought we were going to win off that. They are a good team and they have won off of buzzer-beaters before this year. We knew it was just time to play defense. (Sierra's) was an exciting shot, but we knew we had to get back and play defense.”
Mizzou senior guard Lindsey Cunningham
On Alabama’s rebounding ability…
“Credit to them, they are very explosive and athletic – it’s like you said, it’s what they do. I think we got caught a few times helping off shooters and not getting out to those people to rebound on some of those long shots. That just takes discipline and it takes hard work but it also goes to what they both just said: you can’t take one possession off. Four people could box out but if one doesn’t, they get an offensive board. It comes back to discipline and hard work and we’ll get back at it.”
On losing at the buzzer…
I think it kind of takes you by shock. It’s sickening deep down in your stomach. It’s gut-wrenching. We are not going to hold onto it. We’re going to learn from it and go take the next one.”
Alabama Head Coach Kristy Curry
On the game-winning shot…
“Credit (assistant coach) Kelly Curry on that one. That was how it was drawn up. Hannah (Cook) was the first option obviously, Meo (Meoshonti Wright) was the second. It was more about kids making plays at that point in the game. (Sierra) Michaelis hadn’t made a big shot – we were just fortunate to have the ball at the end against a very good Missouri team. We have so much respect for them and their program. Incredible crowd today. Just a great atmosphere for SEC women’s basketball. We were just fortunate like I said to have the last possession and make a play.”
On this being Alabama’s first SEC road win since 2014…
“The last time we won was Feb. 23, 2014, at Vanderbilt. My dad died that day, so believe me I remember the last one for a lot of reasons. Hannah Cook, Queeny Bolton, Meo Knight, those kids haven’t won an SEC road game. It’s something that as we build a program, that that’s important to them. Ashley Williams is the only player to have won on the road. That just shows you that we don’t have a lot of experience, but we are building to that. This is just a great thing to check off that list that we don’t have to worry about anymore. It’s tough to win in any league on the road; we’ve won here once or twice. Just thankful for today and more than anything I am just happy for our kids.”
