Oklahoma State University Athletics
Bedlam Postgame Quotes
February 05, 2007 | Cowgirl Basketball
OSU QUOTES
Head Coach Kurt Budke
On the game:
“I am proud of my team. I am very proud of the progress that we have made from last year to this year. Tonight was a bad night to catch Oklahoma with them coming off two straight losses. They were going to be locked in and ready to go. I thought that we did a decent job early when we got off to a great start and were making shots. When we quit making shots is when they got their lead and got away from us. The kids fought the whole way. Even at that six or seven minute mark we were hanging in there round 10 or 11 (points). I think we missed five or six free throws in a row, and we still had a chance with a few threes at the end. They are a great team and they are coming off adversity for maybe the first time in a couple of years.
They responded tonight and got a good home win.”
On what changed to let Oklahoma gain control after Oklahoma State's quick start:
“I wish I could tell you. If I knew I would have called five timeouts to stop it. We just stopped making shots. Andrea (Riley) getting in foul trouble really hurt us because we need her on the floor at all times running the show. I am sure that hurt us a little bit. Give credit to Oklahoma for stepping up their defense and not giving us many second shots. Usually we do a decent job on the offensive boards, we had 14 tonight. It came down to if we shoot the ball well then we have a chance to beat anybody in this league.”
On Oklahoma sophomore center Courtney Paris:
“People have to respect her as the best player in the country. I don't know if any one of you in this room were wondering what was wrong with Courtney when she was getting 20 points and 15 rebounds. That is ridiculous. That is ridiculous when you are wondering why she is having a bad night when she is getting 20 and 15. She is the best player in this country. I have been saying it since the first day I saw her and nothing changed my mind tonight. I love her and she is a great luxury to have for a coach.”
Senior Forward Rashidat Sadiq
On what made them successful early in the first half:
“I think at the beginning of the game we were playing our kind of basketball. We were being patient and our shot selection was pretty good. We were locked in on defense, and that is what got us our first lead.”
Freshman guard Andrea Riley
On playing in front of the crowd:
“They are just like our crowd. Any Bedlam game you know the crowd is going to be a little rough. We have got to get used to big crowds. We have to get used to executing our offense when the crowd gets loud. That is something that we are bad at right now, but it will get better.”
OU QUOTES
Head Coach Sherri Coale
On the game:
“I think it's great to sort of get the monkey off your back a little bit and be able to play free. We're making better decisions”.
On sophomore center Courtney Paris:
“Courtney was just unbelievable. She really was. (She had) 41 points and 19 rebounds while not feeling particularly well. She was throwing up in the locker room right before we headed out. She just concentrated, got the job done and showed her toughness. She led our team.”
On sophomore forward Ashley Paris:
“I thought Ashley came in and did a great job playing high post. We got them on the high-low several times and that's what allowed us to come from behind and catch up.”
On playing Texas A&M:
“We have an opportunity to go down to A&M and take care of business that we weren't be able to take care of here. That's an important game on the Big 12 schedule and important to get back on the winning track on the road schedule. We need to grab that road win.”
Sophomore Center Courtney Paris
On game energy:
“When I started the game my stomach hurt, but everyone started stepping up and I started to feel better. That makes my job a lot easier.”
On the crowd:
“We have amazing fans. The game was packed out and really fun to be a part of.”
On catching the ball at different places:
“We having been working on being different and sometimes I can't just wait for it I have to go and get it to do the damage.”
Senior Guard Erin Higgins
On the game intensity:
“At the turning point of the game we were bringing on the energy and making things happen. We need to be able to continuously fight for the full forty minutes and feed off of coach when she is pushing us.”
On Bedlam:
“It is a fun atmosphere and we played hard. It's nice to have bragging rights.”
Senior Guard Britney Brown
On the game:
“It is important to execute and make the stops on defense.”
On Bedlam:
“It is a rivalry. We have to represent Oklahoma to the best of our ability.”
