Texas Tech University Athletics
Kansas State-Texas Tech Postgame Quotes
March 13, 2003 | Women's Basketball
March 13, 2003
Texas Tech Quotes
Coach Marsha Sharp
Opening Comments:
"It was a great basketball game and Kansas State is a great basketball team. I have a lot of respect for them. Every kid that played tonight in both uniforms played as hard as they have ever played and it is a shame that someone had to lose. I was proud of our players for hanging in there and continuing to make plays and follow a game plan and attack offensively where we wanted them to, to give ourselves a chance to win. I was proud of them when one of their teammates went down and they had to deal with that emotion but they were able to come back and make some big plays to put it away. Our thoughts and prayers are with Natalie [Ritchie] and I think she is under observation right now at a local hospital. When I saw her last, she was moving all her fingers and toes, so that is a good thing."
On facing Texas:
"We are going to get ready to play a great Texas team in a great championship game. This is something we are familiar with even in this arena. We have had a lot of battles here. Texas is playing unbelievably well right now at every spot. We understand what a challenge this will be, but we are really excited to be in the finals."
Plenette Pierson, Senior Forward - Center
On Natalie Ritchie:
"I think mentally we are with Natalie but we have to focus. Is she can't play with us Saturday that game will definitely be dedicated to her. She helps us a lot."
On second half defense and rebound:
" We knew we had to pick it up with both defense and rebounds. They talked to us about how few rebounds we had at the half so we came out and worked on it. We knew it would be key to coming out with the win."
On the championship game:
We know that Saturday will be tough and physical. We will go out, give our all, play our best, and hopefully come out with a win.
Erin Grant, Freshman Guard
On Nicole Ohlde:
"We wanted to get the ball to Plenette as much as we could. She and Jia are kind of our go to girls and we wanted to get the ball to her and take it to Nicole because we knew she was in foul trouble so it was all kind of part of our game plan.
On the importance of her shooting:
"I wanted to come out today and shoot the ball more because it opens up other girls and gives them opportunities as well."
Kansas State Quotes
Head Coach Deb Patterson
Opening remarks...
"I thought Texas Tech really showed great character and toughness in a game that was extremely competitive. You knew one team was going to rise above and make big plays. We just have to credit that basketball team for their character and execution. We thought that was really significant in what separated our two basketball teams. I think they are going to be a tremendous team at the NCAA Tournament."
On the mentality of the team...
"I think we were just a ways away of maximizing our 40 minute opportunity. We squandered 11 possessions in the first 10 minutes. I thought we played segments of quality basketball., but we did not sustain those segments."
On the atmosphere...
"I was just really pleased for the league today. I thought that it was a tremendous environment and a great crowd. It was a very exciting dynamic environment. Obviously, Texas Tech had a great following and I thought that we had a great following. I think that this is great for our league."
Megan Mahoney, Guard, Soph.
On the difference between the first and second half...
"In the second half they made shots and we didn't. They have great players and they made great plays. They were tough and they battled it out and we made some mistakes down the stretch that really hurt us."
On Texas Tech's perimeter defense...
"They stretched out their defense a lot. A lot of times we just were not patient. We did not wait to get good looks at the three. We need to counter that and make some inside shots. We can't live and die by the three. If a team is going to take that away we need to counter."
Kendra Wecker, Forward, Soph.
On turning the ball over early in the game...
"It was still 9-9 even with our turnovers. Once we got settled down I think that we played a good end of the first half. They got us rattled but we settled down to finish off the first half well."
Nicole Ohlde, Center, Jr.
On Texas Tech's offensive rebounding...
"I don't think that they had any offensive rebounds in the first half. They came out really aggressive in the second half. We just need to continue to put a body on people."
On how the game changed after picking up her fourth foul...
"They were great players and they started attacking the basket and trying to get some nice looks inside."
