Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State 92, Texas A&M 76
March 05, 2002 | Cowgirl Basketball
March 5, 2002
Head Coach Dick Halterman
On the game
"All in all, I thought it was a pretty good effort. I thought that in the first half our bench kids really gave us a lift and opened up a pretty big lead."
On the first half
"Early in the game, we were trying to play at Texas A&M's pace. We were running down the court and taking quick shots, and Trisha Skibbe isn't going to get very many balls when that happens. I think we were a little more patient in the second half. When we were run our offense, Skibbe is going to touch a lot of balls."
On the second half
"I felt like we lost our intensity midway through the second half. We did a lot of subbing and moving people around. Texas A&M made a run and got close enough so that they could have won the basketball game. But our kids finished it when they had to down the stretch."
On double digit scoring
"This might have been the first time all year we had six kids in double figures, and you're going to win some ball games when you do that."
Thia Willis, Junior Guard
On hitting the three 3-pointers and breaking the game open
"We needed some points, we were in a drought and we needed some intensity. I was able to hit those buckets and it kind of sparked all of us up."
On coming in as a sub
"I am one of the people who came off the bench. I felt like we needed some intensity, somebody to pick us up. There were four of us this time and it really helped. I think everyone knew how important it was, we all stepped up and everything worked well.
On the win
"It was important to us to win. I think we all want to win. It is important to coach [because it is his last season] It is more special to know that we are extending our season. We just take it one game at a time.
Trisha Skibbe, Sophomore Forward
On the 2nd half and getting the ball more down low "We were moving the ball better. When we got the big lead, it was easier to keep the intensity up. Everybody on the team was ready to play
On the players off the bench
"I think that is a big reason why we won the game today. We started off the game a little slow and when our subs came in, they totally picked up the game and changed the game. That makes everyone want to keep up that pace and change the tempo. I think that is a big reason why we won the game today."
On having another shot at OU
"I think this is one of the main things we were shooting for. We proved we could play with them, and now we just need to prove that we can beat them. I think it is going to be a big game for all of us. Everybody is going to be ready to play them.
On the win
"I think it is good the way we are finishing. To finish really big would be really special for coach but also for us."
Texas A&M Quotes
Head Coach Peggie Gillom
On the overall play of the game...
"We did not want to go out this way. We started the game playing pretty hard. We went too long without scoring at the end of the first half and Oklahoma State did not. They did some things and we did not play good defense in that little stretch. They were scoring and we did not. As it ended up we had to use all our energy to try to get back in the game. We were down too much to come back."
On Meg Banahan and Tammika Sims....
"I did not think that Meg Banahan would play today. She went down at the first game at Oklahoma State. She came in and played pretty well. If I thought that she was going to be able to play, I would have played her some more. I think that she was tough today. With her having all of her injures and Tammika Sims playing with a stress fracture, they gave all they could. I am proud of this group."
On Toccara Williams....
"Toccara's future is ahead of her. Toccara from last year to this year has learned to be a leader. She's going to have to do that a little bit more for us and get the other girls in line."
On being out-rebounded 53 to 25....
"That stat stood ou, I thought I made it a big point at half time. We lead the conference in offensive rebounds. That was one of the things that I thought we were good at. When you lead this Big 12 conference in offensive rebounds and your tallest player is six-foot-one, I think that is an accomplishment. Today we were not there. We did not box out very well."
Toccara Williams, Sophomore Guard
On how Oklahoma State was able to build a lead:
"I do not think it was what they were doing, but we were not doing the things that we were supposed to. We were trying to help too much on defense and found ourselves out of position. They were able to get wide open looks as a result."
On the season:
"We have been going over the same things over and over again. We just need to work on our execution. I think our season could have been ten times better. We had a good season, but I think we could have done much better. It is really disappointing to leave early."
On the possibility of winning:
"I knew we could win at halftime. I just thought we had to regroup. When we got it down to six there was no doubt in my mind that we were going to pull it off. They were able to get a rebound and that gave them the confidence they needed to keep going on their run."
Kim Moore, Junior Forward
On her performance:
"I had not been playing well the last couple of games. I decided to give everything I had for this game. Everybody had been saying that this was the beginning of a new season. I just wanted to leave it all out there on the court and that is what I did."
On the expectations going into the season:
"The competition is really high in the Big 12. We have a good team this year, especially compared to the last couple of years. We could have won, but you win some and lose some."
