Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU vs. Oklahoma Postgame Quotes
February 16, 2014 | Cowgirl Basketball
Feb. 16, 2014
OSU Head Coach Jim Littell
Opening statement
“First of all, I apologize for taking so long. We had a lot of former players in the house, and you want to see those kids when they come back. I'm very proud of our team. I'm very excited about the way we started the basketball game, and the way we started the second half. We tell our players all the time that you can win a lot of games in the first five minutes of the game, or the first five minutes of the second half. I thought we came out, executed very well, played extremely hard and got back to Cowgirl basketball a little bit. This program has been based on defense and rebounding for a long time. We got away from that the last three or four games. Today, to come out and win the rebounding battle 48-31 and play as hard as we did and work as hard as we did on the defensive side of the floor, I'm very proud of our group.”
On starting Kendra Suttles alongside LaShawn Jones
“That's the lineup we started with at the beginning of the year, and we were probably playing a little better at that time. It was just a hunch that I was going to go that lineup. Kendra Suttles has kind of a calming force on our team. She knows how to play. She can create some baskets on her own. She's a good passer. She's crafty. She doesn't jump very high, she's not very quick, but she's crafty at what she does, and understands how to play the game.”
On holding all their starters under double figures
“We've worked hard on it. We felt the first time, in Norman, that (Nicole) Griffin was allowed to dribble two, three times and back us down. So we worked on digging out of the post. Tiff (Bias) did another good job on Ellenberg. I think the biggest difference is, we guarded a lot smarter on Sharane Campbell than we did the first time. We really tried to get in any gaps when she touched the ball. She killed us off of the dribble drive in Norman. There were still some opportunities there, but we did a better job of guarding her dribble drive.”
On winning the rebounding advantage
“We were hoping that that would be the outcome on it. I thought LaShawn played really well, too. She had to sit out some. I told her, she's got to be one of those players—'Make me take you out of the game, don't take yourself out of the game.' She's proving to be a good defender, she's getting better on her free throws, she's just coming on. She's one of those kids who has been a grind it out player for three years and her time has come. It's really neat to see a kid like that succeed.”
Guard Tiffany Bias
On the win against Oklahoma
“It's a great feeling especially because we lost it down there. To come home and win it feels great. When it comes to Bedlam, it always feels good to win. Especially to have a lead like that the whole game, it's not too comfortable because they can still come back. It's fighting for the pride and fighting for the name on the front of your jersey. It's a great feeling and we're all happy. When we do that together it's an even better feeling. Tonight we came out and showed a better Oklahoma State the past couple of games.”
On the biggest adjustment coming into this game
“When (Nicole) Griffin put the ball on the floor, I think the guards did more digging in and digging out so she was more cautious of putting the ball on the floor and going up with it. I think just playing good solid defense. The past couple of games our defense has been slacking and the past couple of weeks we've been really working on that.”
On scoring quickly in the second half
“I think the locker room was very positive at halftime. We talked about things we needed to do or things that weren't going our way and things we needed to improve on. I think that our team was just ready to play. It's Bedlam so every team is going to fight.”
On if they expected to hold all five Oklahoma starters under double digits
“Tthat's nice that it happened that way. We have great defenders, so we take pride in it. It's all about effort when it comes to defense. I think we all gave it effort coming in.”
On shutting down Aaryn Ellenberg in the second half
“I think just to limit her touches. If you let her have a lot of touches, she's a rhythm shooter, so she will get hot. I think that's one of those things that you have to run a lot of screens so we did a pretty good job with that.”
On Liz Donohoe's performance
“We know Liz can play. You can't force people to play, it comes to you and we're always supporting each other. We want everyone to play well so we're always behind her. When she plays like this, we're not surprised but we're always thankful when she does. She always shoots well in performance so we always think she's in a groove. It's looking good and I think she's mentally prepared for every other game from here on out.”
Center LaShawn Jones
On being physical this game
“We had to set the tone really early because that's what they did to us at OU. We take pride in rebounding. That's what I take pride in because that's all I really care about the most. That's all that I really like to do sometimes.”
On getting more offensive boards this game
“Most of the rebounds I get are offensive rebounds. That just gives our team more opportunities to get more points.”
On the defense shutting them down
“I thought they were done. I take pride in our defense and how we play. I knew once we got up by 20, there was no coming back for them. Especially because we're playing at home and our crowd was pretty great.”
Oklahoma Head Coach Sherri Coale
On OSU coming out strong in the first five minutes of the second half
"It was more about what happened in the first five minutes of the game. That effort and immersion in the moment was absolutely unacceptable for a team that wears Oklahoma across their jersey."
On if the team was affected by losing to West Virginia earlier this week
"It's been the same story all year. We play well one night, play lousy the next. We win one game, play lousy the next. Who knows? I have no idea. You'd have to ask the players."
On what happened on the play knocked Aaryn Ellenberg out of the game
"It appeared that Sharane [Campbell] recognized it too late when she was running down in transition. The screen happened on the other end, so she recognized it, yelled and came running, but it was too late."
Nicole Kornet
On if the last game against West Virginia affected the team today
"It doesn't matter what happened in the last game. It matters for the game you're about to play in. Tonight we just weren't together."
On the mindset of the team
"I know every game you come in with the mentality of this is going to be the one that pushes us forward. And unfortunately, every game is like coach said, we're either like that team against Iowa State or like this."
On her play today
"This game, I just said just screw everything else, play your game, just shoot and go out there. I felt like that's what I did, I just played. Obviously, what I've done isn't working so I just went out there with the mindset of I'm just going to shoot the ball and I did and made some shots. There's still more that needs to be done."
Nicole Griffin
On if the last game against West Virginia affected the team today
"The last game didn't affect us, at least, not me personally. We just didn't come up ready to play."
