OSU vs. FGCU Postgame Quotes

March 21, 2015

Recap | Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery

KARL SMESKO, Florida Gulf Coast Head Coach:

Opening Statement:

"Obviously this is a very exciting time for us. We get our first Division I NCAA tournament win. We beat a very good team. Definitely proud of how we started the game. We looked relaxed, confident. Oklahoma State posed a lot of challenges for us, but we had a lot of players step up. Obviously, Kaneisha and Whitney had huge scoring games, but the whole team had to step up at different points and make plays and it was such a great team effort. The last eight minutes we made a nice little run...a little four-minute run there that was really good where we got some separation, and we were able to hold off their final rally. Proud of our team and look forward to the opportunity to keep playing."

Biggest highlight in program history?

"This is a definitely a highlight. We've had teams go to the national championship game in Division II and we've won a lot of big games over the years, but after losing twice in the first round in such heart-breaking ways - in overtime - to get the first-round win for the first time is definitely an exciting thing. It was great to see our kids celebrating a smiling with seven seconds left about a sense of accomplishment. That's definitely a highlight for me personally."

WHITNEY KNIGHT, Florida Gulf Coast Guard:

Having been here in 2012 tournament and losing, what is feeling now?

"It's an amazing feeling to just finally get that NCAA Tournament win. The past times we've been here we've lost in overtime by one or two points, so just to get this win is a really great feeling. We came here expecting to get the win, so the fact that we did it is great."

Did early fouls change the way you played?

"It didn't really change the way I played. It's an NCAA Tournament game so you've got to be aggressive the entire game. It's do-or-die so you've got to keep up that attack mentality, but at the same time you had to be a little bit smarter, picking and choosing the times when I was going to go for a steal or go for block. You've still got to play solid defense."

KANEISHA ATWATER, Florida Gulf Coast Guard:

The performance of coaching staff with the game plan:

"We were trying to get Whitney a little extra help in the post. We knew they were going to pound it in and try to get her to foul. Whitney is a great defender and everybody looks to see if she is going to foul. Getting their post out of the game is actually a big key for us. It worked well and helped us come out with the win."

Was it more sweet that is came against Oklahoma State?

"We were definitely more excited to play them because last year we lost by one point. When we found out that it was it was Oklahoma State we were like, `We've been here before.' Our nerves were normal. `We know this team. Let's just come out and get a win.' We came in with confidence that we were going to win and we pulled it out."

On Oklahoma State's inability to stop drives to the basket:

"Before the game today, coach reminded me, `Hey, we've came across teams that always try and stop your drive, and what happened? You get to the basket.' I know what to do when they back off me. I'm going to shoot it. If they come up to me, I'm going to drive it. I came in with confidence that if they're going to stop it, they're going to stop it, but I'm still going to try and get there. I'm going to make good decisions with the ball, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from getting to the basket."

Jim Littell, Oklahoma State Head Coach:

Opening Statement

"We're disappointed at the way we played. Florida Gulf Coast is an excellent team, a well-coached team, that created a lot of matchup problems for us. We knew what was coming, but it was hard to simulate what they do, and we obviously didn't do a good job in preparation. They play a five-guard set essentially, which is unconventional for us.... We had 14 turnovers, seven or eight that were unforced...Florida Gulf Coast is a team you can't give extra possessions to...They are a very good team, and very difficult to guard....Atwater is special layer who gets to the rim and finish shots....Hard to simulate and prepare for a guard like Knight, who created all kinds of matchup problems... Florida Gulf returned their entire team so they are better, more seasoned than we are, especially with us losing two players to the pro level....Gulf Coast just did a better job knocking down their shots when they had to."

Roddricka Patton, Oklahoma State Guard:

On her play today

"Felt I had to knockdown shots to help my team. I knew they would leave me open."

On playing against FGCU's Whitney Knight

"Knight is a talented player, it is all a mindset in terms playing against her...She has a great first step and is really hard to guard."

LaShawn Jones, Oklahoma State Center

On today's game

"We were just not as focused as we needed to be today...Knight has the ability to get off the dribble and can shoot threes too...In our league, she is similar to players we face in the post. We had to be more careful with our post moves... We were not that tired, we just were not focused, I know I wasn't."

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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