Texas Tech - Jacksonville State Quotes
November 15, 2014 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 15, 2014
Recap | Final Stats | Notes
TEXAS TECH - JACKSONVILLE STATE
POSTGAME QUOTES
NOV. 14, 2014
Candi Whitaker
Lady Raider Head Coach
Opening Statement
"Happy, obviously, that we won our opening game and thought there was a lot of great execution, possessions handled late game situations well. A lot we can improve on, particularly on the defensive end and we need to shoot better from the free throw line. But overall very pleased that we were able to hold it off played kids a lot of minutes. Happy to get this opening over with."
On how the opposing team
"I think Jacksonville State made plays at the right times to kind of hold and serve and stay in the ball game. I think we gave up too many offensive rebounds at crucial times. Didn't always find 3-point shooters when we need to maybe in a zone or on a baseline out, they scored a lot on their baseline out particularly in the first half. Its one of those things I think too when you have a team that's young and fairly un experienced, that's one of those things that you have to figure out. How to get stops and key times and how to build on your lead and keep it. And we didn't do a great job at that."
On preparing for the opposing team
"Obviously looking at the scouting report we had a big advantage inside with our size. Feel like Kelsi and Dayo were both go to players for us in the paint and wanted to get some go to touches down there and see if we could score in the paint or at the rim or get to the free throw line."
On coming back from 0-20
"Thank you so much for bringing that back up, I haven't really thought a whole lot about that because I'm moving forward and it is a new team and some of these kids have gone through that and I think are stronger for it. Everyday is a new day and we come to work everyday trying to get better and every game will be the same."
Sustaining the lead
"I thought we were very good in the last two minutes, that last two minute game when it's a five point game and we're having to pull away a little bit more and get to the free throw line. Take care of the basketball and secure it and handle the situation. I was really proud to see that, we work on that a lot we work on it almost everyday. We're going to have a lot of close games, we're going to need to very good down the stretch."
On how freshman played
"I thought Dayo just played fearless, she had no hesitation, didn't really look like she was too nervous other than the first possession not remembering what we were running. But she just played and Dayo is a free spirit as you saw, she's fun she's up beat, she brings energy everyday. I'm not surprised she played well, I was a little surprised when some of the finishes. Shooting 60 percent is very good. A lot of them were contested, she had to make a lot of moves in the post and I thought she handled it really well. Also four assists and zero turnovers."
On Ivonne
"I love Ivonnes aggressiveness and no hesitation. I told her that when we were walking into the locker room. When she comes out and she comes to get the ball out of the corners, she's coming off of something off of a pick and roll with tempo, you feel really good about what's about to happen because she has a great ability to get to the rim and she's a terrific mid range jump shooter. She's someone we have to constantly remind to be aggressive and I really liked her aggressiveness tonight and I thought she did great on the boards at crucial times."
On Kelsi's first game back
"Kelsi is going to be a go-to, I called her number a lot, probably more than I need to. But just felt like she wants that, she can handle that when we need a bucket. I feel confidant that she's going to knock down free throws in tight situations. So I would want her to make all of her layup and finish everything around the rim. But I thought for her first game back she played really well and we'll hopefully continue to get her in shape where she can look to play for longer stretches."
On Kelsi coming back from her injury
"Achilles is a tough injury to come back from and she may never feel like what she was pre the injury but she's a great kid, she's a fighter she cares about her team she wants to win and she does things the right way. Just want her to have a great senior year."
Senior Forward
On coming back
"Feels good, happy to be back. Happy to play again and play with my teammates."
On first time getting banged into
"I go against my teammates everyday so I feel that everyday. It feels good to see another appointment and play against somebody different and its always fun to be physical and play physical."
On first game back
"I feel like I played, kind of an out of body experience. I guess that's what I was talking to our GA about is you know when you get back for the first time you don't feel the same. But you know once you get going and once you start playing things, start turning the way you want them to. There's a lot of things I could still do better."
"I feel like everything was rust. But I have great teammates who encourage me the whole game and kept giving me the ball in great situations and great positions and that's all that I could ask for is that they keep putting me in situations that I could be successful and Minta and Dayo put me in situations today that couldn't get any better."
On playing as a team
"They're a great team, they kept fighting the whole time. We struggled on the boards so that was a big key that we didn't box out and keep possessions and they got second chances and I know there were times I got buried deep. So those things will definitely look at and ill look at with the coaches on how to correct next time so we can get key stops when we need them.
On who surprised her during the game
"A lot of people, the whole team. We do things in practice and you start getting into the rhythm in practice but then you get into the game and people they really step up. Jamie stepped up big time, that was huge for us. Dayo, Dayo surprised me, just a little freshman in practice, running around, she stepped up big with a double-double. What more can you ask for in somebody's first game. Its exciting. It's very exciting to see. Minta shot the ball well, 3 for 5, you tell me how good that is. So, I mean everybody played well and we're excited and happy about it."
Freshman Wing
On her first game
"I'm very fortunate and happy that I have this opportunity to come out here and play. I mean every game I'm just going to get after it and go hard. A double-double will be what I try to go for every single game."
On team dynamics
"Honestly, we're a team and it doesn't matter who's on and who's off as long as were coming together, winning together, that's all that matters."
