Monday Press Conference Comments from Coach Sharp

March 8, 1999

LUBBOCK, Texas - The following are comments made by Lady Raider head coach Marsha Sharp at the weekly press conference held each Monday:

"I really felt like it was going to be a great challenge going up to Kansas City and use that week to help us get ready to play in the NCAA Tournament. That happened - we saw every imaginable defense, a lot of different offensive sets - we had to defend good perimeter games, good post games - a lot of different looks on both ends of the floor. That's the most special thing about a conference tournament - it helps you get ready for the NCAA's and what might be staring you in the face. I was really proud of our players. They met every challenge they had to meet. We had some people make big plays. This time of year, that's what you're looking for - the ability to make plays on both ends of the floor and step up when we call your number and make things happen. This was very evident on Saturday night. We had a situation where they tried to take Braziel and Hanebutt completely out of it offensively. We had to have some help from some other spots and I think Julie Lake answered the bell. In the second half, we were able to get Braziel some better looks - let them changes defenses - and Hanebutt kind of finished them off. It was an indication of the way the week was, how hard we played. They're probably playing as well right now as they have all year long."

"We were pleased with the number two seed. We're excited about the fact that were going to be able to play two at home. It talks about how intense women's basketball has become and how much parity there is in the sport - the fact that you open as a #2 seed against the program and caliber of Stephen F. Austin. They've really had an up-and-down year. You don't need to make any mistake about the fact that they are talented. They have some great athletes on that team. They've had a lot of adversity during the middle part of the year when a former player's death caused them quite a bit of problems for a while and might have cost them some seeds in the tournament. They have a good basketball team - they're well-coached and they'll come in here ready to play and with nothing to lose, acutally. That's a real dangerous place to have them. We'll have to play very well the first night to advance. That talks about how far our game has come. It used to be that the #1 and #2 seeds really didn't have too much trouble getting through - but that's not the case anymore. It's more like it is on the men's side. It'll be important for us to have great crowd support - that they get active and help us out a bit."