March 19, 2007

Recap | Box Score | Photo Gallery

Head Coach Kim Mulkey

Opening Statement
Well, we've got the first game behind us. I'd like to compliment Chattanooga. I have a great deal of respect for Coach Moore and how hard his players play for him. They aren't going away. At the same time, we have a bunch of Baylor players that are experiencing this for the first time, and it's very important that they get their first NCAA win, and they did that.

On the team's play
I'm not displeased at all. I think we hit some big buckets, and Bernice Mosby in particular. The flow of the game, I didn't realize we had five players in double figures. That's big for our young bunch. I thought Chattanooga did exactly what I expected them to do, lots of on-ball screens and hard play. They aren't going to go away; they are used to winning championships in their league."

On the team's composure
Composure is something a coach can't control. I can call a timeout and walk them through it and tell them what to expect, and I can motivate them and do all those things, but until they experience for themselves--that's when they grow up. We've been in that situation many times before. The unfortunate thing for this team is they have the word Baylor on their jersey. Everyone thinks this is a national-championship team, and they're not, only two players on this team were a part of that. You are going to get everyone's best effort, and I feel this team has had to fight through the other teams' extra effort. This bunch had done more than I could have ever expected them to do. I thought the composure was something they have been able to establish in the course of playing in the Big 12 this year.

On the bench
I thought our bench played a factor today. Not just Danielle Wilson, she got the majority of the minutes, but if you look at the scoring from our bench and their bench it was very competitive. We might have outscored them just a little bit, but three freshman off of our bench got valuable playing time in their first NCAA tournament.

On containing Alex Anderson
"We threw a lot of people at her. I thought Danielle Wilson, more so than anybody. Her size, when she got caught behind, she was able to block some shots and contest some shots. I think when she is guarding an undersized post player, sometimes I think it is beneficial for her to stay behind. Rachel Allison started out on her and matched up pretty even.

On N.C. State Coach Kay Yow
Coach Yow was an assistant coach on the '84 Olympic team, which I played on under Pat Summitt. In this profession, half the coaches like you and half the coaches don't like you. It's just the way the profession is. I don't know of anybody who doesn't like Kay Yow. She is as fine a Christian woman as you will ever be around in your life. For her to be able to do what she is doing for her team under those circumstances tells you a lot about her. It tells you how she affects kids' lives. She has five seniors in her top seven players. Seniors have a sense of urgency without needing extra motivation. But when you watch your coach show up for a game as sick as she feels sometimes, you can't help but play hard for her. It's quite an opportunity for me to say I have coached against Kay Yow.

On the match-up with N.C. State
They're big. We didn't see that in our league this year. We see big but we don't see height. Danielle Wilson is as big as we have, and we will throw a lot of people at Gillian Goring and try to do the best we can. Their inside is a problem. We're going to do what we always do and fight and claw to the end. In this game, Baylor is no longer the hunted. We're the hunter. And it's not many games where we are like that. They are supposed to be beat us, they are the higher seed. We are playing in their neck of the woods, and we are going to try and make it a game as much as we can.

Bernice Mosley, Senior /Forward

On coming through in tight spots
We've been doing that all year. We trust in each other, and we've been in situations like this before. We are comfortable with situations like this. When I'm not hitting shots, I can depend on Jessica Morrow to step up and give us a boost. We are confident enough that when we are down, we can count on each other.

On Danielle Wilson coming off the bench
She gave us a big spark. She is very long and big, so once you have a player like that in your program you are just grateful. She was blocking shots and did a great job holding Alex Anderson. She just finished for us tonight and we are so proud of her and hopefully she brings that to the next game against N.C. State.

On previous experience playing teams big on the inside
I hope it prepares me a lot. I think they have a great player in Gillian Goring but you can't just look at her. We are going to have a tough time playing Tuesday and shutting their post players down, but just like Coach said, we need to hold them and try to stop them.

On the team's defensive effort
The whole game was based on our defense. We've been going over it at practice for a week and that's just helping us a lot in these tough games when you aren't scoring as much. Our defense really helped us tonight.

On the difference in the second half
In the first half I got a little frustrated, I wasn't making shots. Coach calmed me down and in the locker room my teammates talked to me. I took a lot of pressure of myself and just went out and played. The difference was I was more aggressive.

Jessica Morrow, Sophomore / Guard, Forward

On the team relying on each other
We've been in that situation before, and the difference is we don't get rattled. We keep our composure and we know how to play through it when teams make their run.

On hitting a key shot
It came with the flow of offense. I knew we needed the bucket and it just went in.

On the score getting close
I think we tightened up a little bit. When we had that timeout Coach gave us a spark and pumped us up, and I think that helped because we had a chance to gather ourselves.

I came into this game very proud of our student-athletes. At halftime, I wasn't quite as proud. But at the final horn, I was prouder than ever. I was real impressed with the way they battled back. We came out-I think we were scared, we were tentative.

They had us on our heels. But for us to fight back and cut it to one point shows a lot of character. I wish we would have played like that from the opening tip, but I think they can hold their heads up and know they gave it their best. The good news is we've got everyone back, so hopefully we can make another run at it next year.

On being an underdog and bouncing back and having an opponent hit a big 3-pointer You hit it on the head. The killer blow was Darrett. With about two seconds left on the shot clock, it was a five-point game, we had a great defensive possession, and they penetrate and kicked and she hit a three.

The clock went off, but that bumped it to eight (points behind), and all of a sudden you're in panic mode. There was also a stretch there where they looked to lob on us some and take advantage of their height. I probably should have gone zone some to give them a little bit of a different look. But then it got so that we were down by 8 or 10 points, and the clock became a factor.

You've got to give Baylor credit. They struggled some offensively, and I'd like to think our kids had something to do with that. But when Baylor needed to hit the big shots, they did, and that's what champions do.

Their strength is their balance. Our key to the game was to try not to let Mosby beat us. And I thought our kids did a good job of that. They were there helping, doubling, and making it tough for her to get a good look.

The player who hurt us as much as anything was Allison because she knocked down a few threes. I've seen seven films of them. I knew what they were capable of doing. So we knew we had our hands full.

Our kids did a good job overall. We knew the shots weren't going to be as open and as easy as some teams allow. Baylor is long and athletic. As far as Alex goes, I don't know that I'd want to be in her shoes. There was a lot of pressure on her. Every time we come down, she touches the ball. We wouldn't be here today without Alex Anderson. She bounced back in the second half. On Baylor and N.C. State's game Tuesday

They're two athletic teams that can throw some size out there as well. It'll be a great game. I'll definitely make plans to watch that. I have a soft spot in my heart for Kay Yow. I love Baylor--I grew up in Texas. I grew up a Baptist. I love Baylor. But this time I've got to say I want to see Coach Yow advance and go as deep in this thing as they can. But again, it's going to be a tough game.

Alex Anderson, Junior/Forward

We were nervous. We wanted it so bad that your nerves get to you. You've just got to go out there and play the game and not think about it too much.

On the team settling down in second half
I guess we had no choice. We had to do it. We didn't want to go home, so we had to fight and play. But we didn't get the job done.

Baylor has great athletes. They got to me, they're bigger than me, and they blocked my shots. They're great post players, and they did a great job.

One defensive job on Mosby
We really did what we wanted to do in the first half. We kept her to two in the first half, so we were happy about that. But she still scored 10 in the second half.

Brooke Hand, Junior/Guard

We were definitely tight at the first of the game. I think we relaxed more after halftime. I wish we could have done that in the first half.

On making shots after missing her first few
That seems to be what I've done all year. It's like when I get my first air-ball, that's when I really get going.

As a shooter, you just keep shooting and hope that they'll fall.