Feb. 25, 2009

Recap | Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery |

NO. 6 BAYLOR 83, TEXAS TECH 53
FERRELL CENTER - WACO, TEXAS
FEB. 25, 2009 - ATTENDANCE: 6,204

Baylor Head Coach Kim Mulkey
Opening Statement:
"I thought it started with Kelli Griffin. We challenged Kelli after the Oklahoma game ... You can't play at the level we want to play at without having a quarterback that runs the show. I thought the whole play of Kelli Griffin tonight dictated the flow of everybody. I was happy Danielle (Wilson) got her 1,000th point, I was happy how Jhasmin Player played ... I was even happier the minutes the bench got, because late in the year the more you can play your bench, the more you save your legs."

On the key to the win:
"I thought transition set the tone with Kelli pushing the ball up the floor. We would get a rebound or turnover, and we were gone. I thought we got a lot of loose balls in the paint; really helping our posts and we just took off.

Junior Post Danielle Wilson
On reaching 1,000 points for her career:
"Anytime a player reaches 1,000 points, that is a special milestone. But it is one game and we have to continue playing."

On the quick pace of the game:
"We are a transition team. We like getting out and running the floor and getting transition baskets. Coach says we are at our best when we are running from free throw line to free throw line.

On Baylor's defensive play:
"It always starts on the defensive end. If we are not scoring as well as we should be, we have to start on the defensive end to spark that transition offense."

Senior Guard Jhasmin Player
On rebounding from the loss at Oklahoma:
"Everyone thinks we did a good job at Oklahoma, but when you get in the film room and watch film, you find things you could have done better. You don't want to do those things again, and so that's what we brought into this game.

On her scoring streak in the second half:
"That was intense. That was extremely intense, the situation we were in. I got a couple sets called for me and just read them correctly. My teammates are really confident in me and I was just able to knock down some good looks."

Sophomore Guard Kelli Griffin
On Baylor's quick start:
"All week we worked on transition, getting out and running and I think the last couple games we didn't do that, so today we really focused on getting out early."

Texas Tech Head Coach Kristy Curry
Opening Statement:
"You have to give Baylor credit, there's not much more to say beyond that. There's not much else you can do. We got punched and never got up."

On their offense:
"They were passionate about what they were doing on both ends of the floor. Tonight's the kind of night where you just have to take it. We still have a lot to play for."

On Texas Tech's NCAA bid hopes:
"Our goal now is to get two out of the next three. Having come to Tech three years ago and do what we've done so far, I feel like we have a good chance to turn the corner."

On the way Tech matches up with Baylor:
"I think one of the biggest problems is Baylor's guards are so big and physical, they got into us early into the game and we shied away from a challenge. When you get out rebounded by 20 you know you're walking into a situation where you have to get tough and physical."

Texas Tech Freshman Kierra Mallard
On playing Danielle Wilson:
"I just had to play my game and step it up."

On rebounding and second chance points:
"We just didn't box out and you need five players to box out and Baylor did that."