Western Kentucky Press Conference Quotes
March 21, 2008
Western Kentucky Head Coach Mary Taylor Cowles
(Opening Statement)
"We are just really excited to be here. Obviously this is where you want to be playing and how you want to be playing. This has been a great experience so far, since we go to California. We are just really excited for the game tomorrow."
(On Men’s team and where they were for the win)
"We were in a little room, actually our players were in a film session, but the coaches were in a little lobby area with a big screen TV. I am really excited for our men and our men’s coaching staff. To do it the way that they did it, with so much fight and so much poise, it was just a great win for Western Kentucky.
(On whether the men’s win gives them momentum)
"Sure, anytime you can pick up on momentum like that. Our players are great friends with our men’s team and we just really support each other and that is exactly the way our young ladies have approached it."
(On their defense)
"We really feel like the defense has gotten us to where we are. We have been pretty confident as a team all year about putting points on the board, but been frustrated and concerned at times about what we have been doing at the defensive end. We really go this momentum picked up toward the end of our regular season and into the conference tournament and we felt really good about the way we were able to go about it and I think our players would say the same thing that our defense was what was really on target here at the end.
We have talked all along, we have it in our locker room that, offense sells tickets, defense wins games, and rebounding wins championships. Our young ladies have really bought into the defensive end of the floor. It has allowed our defense to continue to spark our offense as well.
(On the tempo and similarities with UTEP)
"I definitely think it will be a game that goes up and down the floor. I think that we have to respect what each other brings to the floor. So, yes there are some similarities there with matchups and style of play. At this point though each individual teams staff and head coach sticks to your game plan.
(On what she thinks UTEP does best)
"I think that you first have to start off with the player of the year in the conference and the fact that their point guard does a tremendous job, understanding the strengths of the team, but at the same time getting her team to play and setting up her team with the way that they need to go. You really can’t tell that she is a sophomore on the court. I think that the other players that she is surrounded by are tremendous athletes.
The big kid (Izabela Piekarska) can shoot the three and present problems with her body size and strength. I just think that anytime you go up against a team that has that type of play you have to understand defensively what you are trying to do and how you are going to try to match-up and what you are going to try to take away. Overall, their point guard is a big spark; she is a huge plus for them with her confidence and her knowledge and then just their overall balance of what they provide and bring to the floor.
(On how it is odd to be tipping off at 11:00 p.m. east coast time)
"No, not really. Some of the people on our staff have asked how we are going to tackle that, but there is just something really unique about being in the NCAA tournament that will eliminate all of the, well you are tipping off at 10:00 at home or well you have to go all the way to California. You really just have to ignore those things; you are in the NCAA tournament. This is what you got up at 5:00 in the morning for starting at the end of August with our strength and conditioning coach and this is what we put hours of hard work into, so none of those things really matter. It is the same basketball game, it’s great competition, it’s March madness, and we are still alive and playing basketball."
Western Kentucky forward Arnika Brown
(On her confidence with an increased role down the stretch)
"I feel very confident in myself and as far as the team. As far as me coming in and having to start it is just accepting the role. We got it done in the conference tournament and now we have to get it done tomorrow."
Western Kentucky Forward Crystal Kelly
(On rebounding)
"Rebounding is something that we stressed before the season and when we put are minds to it we are great at it. It is just something that we know we can control the boards tomorrow night and I think will be a key factor in the outcome."
(On whether being in the tournament has sunk in)
"It really has, I mean I am so excited to be here and playing at this level with my teammates. It is just a really great opportunity for to come out here and play against great competition and advance this tournament."
Western Kentucky Guard Kenzie Rich
(On her confidence after a good conference tournament)
"I think it was the Florida Atlantic game that when I came out coach Cowles set me down and challenged me to get in the gym more because I was struggling with my shooting. That whole week before conference I was in the gym doing a lot of extra shooting and it showed when we go to the tournament, so hopefully that will carry over."
