Women's Basketball NCAA Press Conferences

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The University Oklahoma women's basketball program was one of eight NCAA teams that participated in Saturday NCAA press conference inside Thompson Boling-Arena on the University of Tennessee's campus.

After meeting with the media and ESPN staff, the Sooners went through an hour workout on the game floor. OU, an eighth seed in this year's tournament, faces No. 9 seed Arizona at 12 p.m. ET Sunday on ESPN2.

The following are press conference quotes from today's events.

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Oklahoma Head Coach Sherri Coale
"We're excited to be here. If we stay here long enough, I'll double my body weight. You've got the food in this town. We knocked out Litton's and Copper Cellar yesterday, and we're going to Calhoun's tonight. We're good for the economy. We're excited to be in Knoxville. We're excited to have the opportunity to meet a very, very good Arizona team."

(on whether Oklahoma was over the "hump") "I'm not sure what the proverbial hump is. We've had games where we have shot incredibly well and adhered to the game plan. In the Texas game, we just couldn't get the shots in. Are we over the hump? I have no clue. The last month, we have played very well. We have had a lot of fight about us, and that's all that you can ask of the kids. It's like a breath of fresh air being in the NCAA Tournament. Nothing on the exterior affects these kids. The pressure comes from the interior. They're smart kids, high achievers, and perfectionists."

"We didn't know that we weren't supposed to be here until you told us."

(on facing Arizona) "There are so many games on TV now. We had an opportunity to get film. The first thing that we did was to go to the internet and get their roster. I thought, 'Great--a 6-5 player (Arizona's Shawntinice Polk). We're undersized in the post. Arizona is impressive on film. Their bigs are really big. Shawntinice Polk is very skilled. She can really pass. They have skilled shooters on the perimeter. They're terrific on transition. There's a reason why they've scored 80-plus points in the games that they've scored 80 points. They're very dangerous in transition. We'll have our hands full."

"We don't want to get into a running contest with them. We'll push the ball ourselves. We have to be wise about shot selection."

"Arizona is in the same situation that we are. They have survived a tough league and made it to the Big Dance, and now we can take a big breath. Our teams are not similar, but the outcome has been. We've both been able to have 20 minutes of good competition but not able to finish. If they (Arizona) string 40 minutes together, they can beat just about anybody."

"Our 40 minutes in the Kansas State game, for 38 minutes against Texas, was as good as it gets. Last night in the men's tournament--are you kidding me? I thought we should change our name from Sooner to Catamount to win one."

(on Oklahoma's offensive efficiency) "Our players get shots for one another. It's right. It's a necessary way for us to play. We don't have a lot of flash. We don't have a Stacey Dales. We're vanilla, but it's effective. Our players are taking shots at spots where they know they can make them. They're high percentage shots. Our offensive efficiency number have been very good."

Oklahoma's Erin Higgins
(Is the pressure off now that you are in the tournament) “I know that we are glad to be here. We understand the opportunities that are ahead lie ahead of us. And we are excited about playing some teams other than from our conference.”

(On playing somebody other than members of the Big 12) “It is exciting to be playing somebody other than the same team three times within three weeks. We had some great players in the Big 12 and it is a challenge for us. That is part of the excitement is playing different teams that you are not used to playing and preparing for that challenge.”

Oklahoma's Dionnah Jackson
(On being one of the remaining members from the last Final Four team) “I am not the only member left as Lauren Shoush and Antoinette Wadsworth were also a part of that team. But I remember what is was like to make it to the Final Four and hopefully I can help my teammates get to that level again.”

(On not being worthy of making it to the NCAA Tournament) “I was not aware of us not being considered worthy. We deserve to be here and we are excited about playing.”

Oklahoma's Leah Rush
(On guarded Shawntinice Polk) “ She has some great skills and her teams utilize her abilities. That is what it is about once you get to the tournament is teams using the abilities that got you here. She is a great passer and ball-handler as well. It will definitely be a challenge for me but I am ready for it.”

(On the competition level of teams from the Big 12) “We have a lot of great teams from the Big 12 South that it has helped prepare us for this tournament. We are looking forward to the challenge.”

Arizona Head Coach Joan Bonvicini
“We're very excited to be back in the NCAA Tournament. Oklahoma is an excellent team. They're well-coached and have great guard play. I'm impressed with their point guard (Dionnah) Jackson. Their perimeter game has a combination of excellent shooters and penetrators. Their post gamethey're not the tallest, but they play bigger than they are. We know it will be a good game. We're excited to be back.”

(on bouncing back from their last couple of games) “We've been inconsistent our last couple of games. Part of that has been our injury situation. Now, we're as healthy as we have been at any time in a long time. The two weeks off has been helpful. The big thing is that we have to play hard for 40 minutes. Rebounding will be a huge indicator of who will win this game.”

(on post match-up of Arizona's Shawntinice Polk and Oklahoma's Leah Rush) “This will be a real key. We have a big size advantage, but I'm sure they will make adjustments. They may double down, play zone, whatever. Teams do all kinds of things to defend Polkey. They (Oklahoma) start four guards. We will have to show a quality inside game and also a quality outside game. We're at our best when we are balanced.”

(on Shawntinice Polk) “She's a very good passer. She sees her teammates. She has the passing skills of a guard.”

“We have had a number of big games this year. We've been good at times and struggled at other times. We're very excited to be playing in this tournament. We've had two good weeks of practice. Dionnah Jackson is a very good player. I haven't seen as good of a rebounding point guard in a long time. She does whatever her team needsrebounding, scoring, making an assist. They also have good players coming off the bench.”

(on Coach Bonvicini coming from Connecticut and coaching in the West) “I didn't go to UConn. I went to Southern Connecticut State. I played in the first four AIAW Championships. After my senior year, I played in a summer league in Los Angeles. When you're from Connecticut and get a free trip to Los Angeles. . .I liked it. I was offered some good jobs and had an opportunity to move up. When you come to the West Coast, you get used to that lifestyle. I was at Long Beach as head coach for 12 years. I started at 25 years old. Then I had the opportunity to coach at Arizona for the past 14 years.”

(on Oklahoma's rebounding prowess) “They'll send someone back. We like to run, too. They're not tall, but they can board. I have been real impressed with them (on tape).”

Arizona's Dee Dee Wheeler
(on playing Dionna Jackson) “I did not know much about her until I started studying film on her and the guard play this week. She is a quick guard and is good in transition. You never really can stop a great player like that, you can only slow them down a little. The only thing I can do is try and slow her down and alter her decisions.”

(Is this team coming in here struggling having lost two straight, or are they even focused on that) “The great thing is we are coming in here with a clean slate as is everyone else in the tournament. We don't dwell on the past and we are ready to move on. We are going use this as a turning point for our season. We are focusing on the thing that we struggled on and work on that to improve and get better.”

(on playing here in Knoxville when it is considered one of the women's basketball capitals) “I watched Pat Summitt and Tennessee ever since I was a little girl and it is a dream to play for a team like Tennessee. I think every girl dreams of playing for a team like Tennessee when they are growing up. She is a great coach. It is a great place to play and a great atmosphere. It is a dream come true to play in a place like this and should be a fun atmosphere.”

Arizona's Shawntinice Polk
(on playing in big games and where does this rank) “It means a lot to us to be playing at this time, especially after the loss to USC in the Pac-10 Tournament. Mentally we have to keep it an up tempo game and keep it going for 40 minutes.”

(on rebounding and her role that will play in her team's success) “It is big for me, as I need to be able get to the boards and get our team in transition. We are at our best when we are rebounding, getting it to the outlet and running. I need to get every rebound I can and set things up. But our team has to do the same thing, because if everyone is not doing there job we won't be successful.”

(on playing against Rush) “She is a very smart post player. She has good moves for her size, and although she isn't very big size doesn't matter, it is your determination. It is a good match-up for me. I am sure there are things I can show her that she has not seen before, but I know there are things she will show me that I have not seen before either.”

(on playing here at Tennessee in this atmosphere) “I think they have the best colors in the country. I love orange. It is a really nice atmosphere and I am excited about playing in an arena where they sell it out and support their team. It also gives you that little extra umph to play at your best.”

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Women's Basketball NCAA Press Conferences

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