Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Prepare for NCAA Championship
March 18, 2011 | Women's Basketball
March 18, 2011
PALO ALTO, Calif. - The Texas Tech women's basketball team wrapped up its first full day at the NCAA Championship. The Lady Raiders had their first practice and first press conference on the campus of Stanford University, host of the first and second rounds in the Spokane Region.
Below is a transcript of Texas Tech's press conference where head coach Kristy Curry and sophomores Casey Morris and Monique Smalls represented the Lady Raiders.
Tech will face St. John's on Sat., March 19, at 3:20 p.m. CDT in the first round at Maples Pavilion. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
2011 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship
First and Second Rounds
March 18, 2011
Texas Tech
Practice Day Press Conference
Stanford, Calif.
Head Coach Kristy Curry
Opening Statement...
"We are extremely excited to be here and very thankful for the opportunity to take that next step to get Texas Tech back to where we want it to be. I am really proud of my team and I really looking forward to getting out there tomorrow."
On the first round game against St. John's....
"I want to echo what Casey said, we are very excited to take that next step and get the program back to the Tournament, but by no means are we just thankful to be here. There is a sense of urgency and this team has done a great job all year just playing the next team on our schedule, regardless of who it was. This is the next game and we want to win that one. We match up well, statistically we are very similar, our records are very similar. I think we have four wins against the top 50 and they have three. Obviously they are very athletic and bring a combination of different things we have seen in the Big 12 South, such as their zone, their ability to push in transition, their ability to go to the offensive glass. Stevens and Smith are outstanding, so we have our hands full. We feel like playing in the Big 12 has prepared us for a lot of their strengths and certainly we are looking forward to it. I think it is the most intriguing No. 8- No. 9 matchup in the country in my opinion."
On the importance of her team's win over Baylor...
"Obviously that was a great win for our program. I think it shows the progress we are making and we beat Baylor, that was the bottom line. We think that gave our kids a lot of confidence to take that step. We had beaten Iowa State, who was ranked 20th earlier in the week. So you have to understand that that one win doesn't define who we are. what we want or where we want to go. It just was the next game on our schedule and that is what we do, we look at the next game on our schedule and we want to win it. Ultimately it gave our kids a lot of confidence and a lot of excitement around our program because no one in the league had done that at that point. So on any given night, in 40 minutes, anything can happen. I think you saw that in the men's NCAA Tournament last night."
On the abundance of young, talented freshmen guards this year...
"Obviously when you go back and look at that recruiting class, there were a lot of perimeter oriented players. There weren't very many bigs in last year's class. We have seen some good ones in Aaryn Ellenberg of Oklahoma, Chassidy Fussell at Texas, are outstanding. So this time of year, its different. I always say that once you get to January, there is no excuse to use the word freshman. Our league had some outstanding freshmen guards this year, and those two come to mind."
On the play of junior forward/center Kierra Mallard...
"Kierra has really matured. She has had a really good year. Obviously her face-up game has improved tremendously. I think the thing is her versatility. She has a tremendous skill set and she continues to improve everyday. She has learned that when things don't go her way on the offensive end, don't let that dictate things for her on the defensive end and on the glass. I think her maturity is the thing I have been most pleased with and encouraged by this year and I know we are looking forward to her having a good game tomorrow hopefully."
Sophomore Guard Casey Morris
On playing at Stanford...
"I think we are just grateful to be in the NCAA Tournament. Playing in California is great, but at Stanford, everyone knows it is a hard place to play with the environment and the fans. We are just worried about this first game and progressing to the next spot in the NCAA Tournament."
On the team's play...
"I think we are doing good. Our chemistry is great and everyone is excited to be playing in the first game. I think we are just ready and want to get this first game under our belt and keep on going."
On the team's feelings about being in the NCAA Tournament...
"I don't think we have ever thought about being content once getting into the NCAA Tournament. We are all sure and have confidence that we can do well while we are here. We are all excited and ready to play and get as far as we can. We are never going to relax where we are."
On the team's win over Baylor...
"I think the Baylor game was a good game, but we have had a lot of successes this season and we are not just going to settle for that. We know we can have a lot more success this season. We have a lot more basketball to play if we play like we did in that game."
On the impact of young, freshmen guards in college basketball...
"I think both of us have a lot of respect for the good freshmen out there this year, but we are young as well and have a lot more basketball to play."
Sophomore Guard Monique Smalls
On the team's keys for the game...
"Basically just coming out and do what we do best. Play the game, defend well and execute ouroffense."
