Recap?|? Box Score?|? Notes

March 9, 2004

Baylor

Head Coach Kim Mulkey Robertson

Opening Statement:
"I am glad it is over. Every time that we play the first game in a tournament it's the one you worry about the most. Kansas has been through a lot with the retirement of Marian and they played hard. We had to play hard to match them and we did. I am very proud of how they did and that we get to move on."

What Kansas has been through?
"I think the advantage of having the bye is you get to sit there and scout the team you think will win. When you don't have the bye you have to focus on the first team you have to play. Kansas came in with nothing to lose because this is their post season and it could be their farewell to Coach Washington. This was the game that worried me the most out of all of the games we played this year."

On preparing for Tech who is missing key players:
"We will prepare no more than normal. They are good. They have proven they can win without them and that is what tradition and great programs do. Marsha does a great job at getting her team to win. They are what we hope to be."

On the playing time of Baylor:
"I am going to play a lot of players. We have a lot of good players and we are a good program but not an elite program, but I want to look at these four years against the first four years of some of the elite programs and view it as the beginning."

On playing Texas Tech:
"I look at it as an opportunity to coach against a legend and for our players to play against a great program. I remember the first time we beat them which was the first time that Baylor had beat them in 30 years and we were excited because it was a big deal. But now we are over that and kick ourselves for not being in a position to beat them more often."

Junior Forward Stephanie Blackmon:

On making a difference in the second half:
"I knew we had to be more aggressive and I decided to come out in the second half and play with a lot of energy and not think about the fouls and not making silly fouls."

Sophomore Forward Sophia Young:

On similarities with the game against Kansas in Waco:
"We knew we had to come in here and take care of Kansas in order to get another shot against Texas Tech. We just came prepared and worked really hard and came up successful."

Freshman Forward Emily Neimann:

On hot start:
"I didn't really get off to a hot start. I think I was 0-3 on my first three shots. I have to give a lot of credit to my teammates. Fortunately I heated up throughout the game."

Kansas

Head Coach Lynette Woodard

On the game...
" I thought they played really hard today, I asked the squad to come out and give me 40 minutes with no fear, take it to the basket, play great defense, and we did that, so I'm very proud of them. From the defensive end, we created a lot of turnover and got the ball back the way we wanted it, but we weren't able to convert, had we converted, the game would've been a lot closer and given us a lot more momentum. Overall, I just wanted us to fight till the end and we did, so I'm very proud of the way they played."

On what KU Basketball means to her...
"Kansas basketball means life to me. It's been a great game to me; it's been a great place to play the game that I love. It's given me so much in my life, wonderful friends, a great education, and a great job. Everything I find important in life, I've been able to hone at the University of Kansas and it's home, there's no place like home."

Sophomore, Forward, Crystal Kemp

On the game...
"Our effort was there, but we've got to finish it. When the shots weren't falling, we were either under-shooting it, or over shooting it, it just never fell out way."

On the team's emotion...
"I think everyone is in shock, the season went by quickly and we had our ups and downs. Of course everyone is upset the season is over, but I think we're still a little shocked right now. It was real quiet when we walked in there (locker room), we are just trying to find something positive to say right now."

Being in a win-win situation...
"We knew we were in a win-win situation. Coach told us no one expected us to win this game, so what's the point of us backing down and just handing it to them. It was good we went in there and played hard."

Junior, Guard, Aquanita Burras

On the overall season...
"It's never easy to play in the Big 12, everything is pretty tough, and everybody is practically ranked, but right now we're happy with our efforts. That's positive for us, our effort was there, and will always be there."