Texas Tech University Athletics
Women's Hoops Prepares for Conference Championship
June 21, 1999 | Women's Basketball
March 6, 1998
Texas Tech Head Coach Marsha Sharp - "We're excited about the championship game. Kansas did an outstanding job to get here. They really, were outstanding last night. They may have had the best performance of the tournament so far in their win against Iowa State. They've done what they have to do to get here. They beat a higher seeded team and the pressure is a little bit off. We were expected to win the tournament coming in, so we'll probably have to fight that off just a little bit.
"We were a little big tight last night, we never got in a position where we shot the basketball very well. We'll have to obviously do a better job with that tomorrow to have a chance to win. Kansas is big and athletic, and really can jump over your head with some offensive plays and defend you well on the other end. Their strength is their defense. We'll have to really create offense and manufacture chances to score. I think we really worked on some things today that will be helpful to us tomorrow.
"On the other end, they have some great weapons. Raymant is a great three-point shooter and you have to go defend her. They do a great job on the boards. We'll really have to try hard to keep (Pride) away from the basket as much as we can.
(on Kansas' maturity) "I think they've grown up a lot. I'm not so sure young team is a factor as much in March because they've played a whole year. I thin the longer you go in this situation, the better, they get. The luxury part for them is that everyone calls them a young team, and maybe you're not expected to do it this time. Everything is in the future for them.
(on post matchup) "It will be a great match because that is our strength too. Obviously our strength is Braziel and Thompson on the inside. It will be a battle in there and whoever wins the battle will win the game.
(on mental toughness) "We really talked about having enough toughness to finish the tournament because it was a tough game. We really had to play those starters a long time last night. I think time off in between helps both of us to try to recover from that. Your metal toughness becomes a major focus at this point, and it's mind over matter.
(on Kansas-Iowa State game) "They were extremely focused last night and they beat a terrific basketball team. I don't think it was a situation where Iowa State played poorly, I think Kansas just played great. I think they're one of the most talented teams in the country.
(on three-point shooting) "Our strength is really taking the basketball deep in the paint. The biggest key is to work hard when you don't have the ball in your hands, to try to create those good looks at the basket. That's our strength and that's what we're going to have to depend on.
"The team that executes the best and sticks to their game plan the longest will have the chance to win. You want to stay with your strengths and away from your weaknesses...The most important thing is to regain focus and come back and have enough confidence to take those shots again tomorrow.
Alicia Thompson (about Kansas' inside game): "I think their players are big, they're physical, and the most important thing is to stop them from scoring and keep them off the free throw line...(on pressure to win) Yes, I think there's pressure, but I think we've handled pressure very well this year. If we handle it as a team, it will be fine...We've played enough games this year to know what we have to do to win. Execution is important and I think we need to execute tomorrow to win the game.
Rene Hannebutt (on three point shooting): "You just have to keep shooting it. When you're a great shooter, that's what you always hear, keep shooting the ball. I feel like our three-point shooters are all great shooters. Unfortunately, we were just off as a team yesterday. We were hitting the shots in practice today and I think we're ready...(on free throws) It was stressed a lot in practice, we ended practice that way. I think that's going to be a key for us. We are going to have to knock them down to win...(on pressure to win) For me, the hard part is over, the hard part was just getting here. Now we have to go out, play hard and have fun...The key to beating Kansas is to keep them off the boards. They are a very talented basketball team. We need to limit their second shots.
