Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU vs. Iowa State Postgame Quotes
February 14, 2015 | Cowgirl Basketball
OSU Head Coach Jim Littell
Opening Statement
"Good win, we beat a good basketball team that has a lot of weapons and I think our basketball team is continuing to grow each time out and we're building and getting a little bit of momentum going. We kind of dug ourselves a hole earlier in the year, but the kids are fighting. I think they've been very coachable lately and buying in to what we are wanting to do. This was a good win. This was key basketball game for us in the fact that I think we were one game away from being in a tie for third and one game away from being in last. That tells you the nature of this league that it is all just bundled up and anybody can beat anybody on any given night. Some positives out of this, to hold Iowa State to 48 points and 26 percent from the field, I thought we did a good job of guarding. I am very pleased in what Roshunda Johnson did defensively and offensively. We feel Nikki Moody is a phenomenal player and we held her to 14 and she used 26 shots to get to those 14 points. We felt like we did a good job on that. For the last four to five games we have not fouled as much as we were early. We allowed eight free throws tonight. We allowed eight free throws in Ames. We allowed two free throws against Texas. We allowed 10 free throws at KU and that seems to be common denominator that when we don't foul, send people to the free throw line, we give ourselves an opportunity to win the game."
On Kaylee Jensen's playing time
"She's playing better than LaShawn right now. We're going to need LaShawn. LaShawn is a key part of this team. There has been some inconsistency there and we're going to play the person that is playing the best. If you look at Kaylee's line tonight, 12 points, nine rebounds in 16 minutes, that is pretty good effort for a freshman."
On ball movement
"Our ball movement was better. We didn't shoot the ball particularly well from the perimeter or from the free throw line. Our shot selection is getting a little better. Maybe turned it over a little too much against a team that doesn't apply a lot of pressure. One stat that is a little alarming to me is that we gave up 18 offensive boards. I thought there was a lot of 50/50 rebounds where we got one hand on it and the ball went out-of-bounds and that is indicative of the nine team rebounds. We were fortunate tonight. When you give a team like that extra chances they usually make you pay for that and they were off tonight. We were fortunate in that respect. I didn't think we were real good offensively, but what we did defensively kept us in the ball game."
On Diana Omozee and Kaylee Jensen coming off the bench
"I'm Proud of Diana Omozee and Kaylee. Kaylee has played a lot for us this year as a freshman and had some ups and downs and had some really good games. She's had some freshman games. Diana Omozee hasn't played much this year and her attitude has remained really good. Her work ethichas remained very good and that is hard for kids who are a custom to playing all the time. Coming from a high school and playing 90 percent of the game and then coming in here for a couple of years and you are not playing at all, it says a lot about Diana's character and the ability to stick with something and just to want to play basketball. I thought she showed a lot of passion on the floor and hit some big shots for us and also did a good job guarding Nikki Moody."
Forward Brittney Martin
On overall performance
"I thought it was a good team win today. Ro was on fire, Liz was hitting jumpers, so I think it was a good team win. We all wanted it I can say. We played hard."
On being more consistent
"I think we found the problem, which is just to play hard. And we haven't been doing that, we have three people play hard and the other two are just floating around. I think we kind of got the memo that all of us have to play hard to win. I think we found what we need to do."
On how critical this win against Iowa State was
"It's about to put us in second to last or third to last or something like that. I'm happy with it. Let's keep it going."
On Roshunda Johnson's performance
"She's making her shots, so I'm not going to complain. She's shooting, making shots. I thought she played really good too."
On the new backcourt of Roddricka Patton and Roshunda Johnson
"The speed is scary. I like both of them playing at the same time, especially Rod. She runs all over the place."
Center Kaylee Jensen
On the and one basket to put OSU up 10 with under two minutes left
"I was so excited. I didn't even know what to think. I just knew that it had to go in or else they might comeback or something. So when it went in I was just so happy and it was cool to see everybody else get excited. I think that's what helps up lay better, when we all get excited."
On commanding more minutes
"I like to think I am. Even if I don't get more, it's nice to know I could be more consistent and produce more points and rebounds, when I am in for more minutes."
On Coach Littell managing Jones and Jensen's minutes
"Our coaching staff is very good about knowing when the other one needs to come out and get a breather."
Iowa State Head Coach Bill Fennelly
Opening statement
"Oklahoma State is playing really well, I'm really impressed with their team, always well prepared. Basketball is a game of baskets and when your starters shoot 26 percent I don't care who you are, you're going to get beat."
On Brittney Martin
"It says she blocked two shots, I think she blocked about eight."
On Oklahoma State
"It's a very versatile team, they've got a lot of interchangeable parts. They've got big kids that can go in and out and I think when you have all-conference players like Liz Donohoe and Brittney Martin and then you mix and match with who's hot, it's a team that's playing really well and I'm not surprised at all."
