Completed Event: Women's Basketball at #23 Alabama on February 15, 2026 , Win , 79, to, 71
Final
Women's Basketball
79
at #23 Alabama
71
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sweet 16 Press Conference Quotes
March 24, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Oklahoma
Head Coach Sherri Coale
Opening Comments
“It's great to be back in San Antonio. When we rolled into town from the airport, I saw the Alamodome and I was flooded with really fond memories of this city and the neat things we were able to be a part of in 2002. It's just a neat place to hold an event. The City of San Antonio really wraps its arms around sporting events in particular. There is a life and a spark to this city that is different from every place else we've ever been. We're excited to be here and look forward to the opportunities and challenges that await us.”
On the similarities between the two teams
“Stanford is similar in that they have a terrific post player that they throw the ball to a lot. She's very productive there. I'm not sure we have a Candice Wiggins on our roster. I'm not sure how far those similarities go, but Stanford is a typical Stanford team. They've got a tremendous three-point shooter, a great post player, they run the floor, play hard and get after you defensively. It's just a typical, very well-coached Stanford team.”
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On the problems Candice Wiggins creates
“She creates all kinds of problems because she can do so many things. She's really, really good in transition. She can shoot the three. She can get to the rim. Probably the greatest problem she poses is her ability to get into the middle of the lane and elevate over smaller guards and jump up over you and shoot. She's really got all three phases of the game and that's a little bit rare in women's basketball. There are a lot of challenges she poses.”
On comparing Courtney Paris to the all-time greats of college basketball
"I've been asked that over and over and I don't know that I've been in the college game long enough to give you the kind of answer you deserve to that question. I've only watched tape of Anne Donovan, Cheryl Miller and Lynette Woodard and the list of the truly greats. That having been said, I look at Courtney's numbers and her consistency and the number of really spectacular things I've been blessed to watch her do over the course of the season and I don't know she could be very far behind, if any, of those names I just mentioned. It remains to be seen what she will do with the rest of her career obviously, but for her freshman season, I don't think there has been anyone who can touch what she has done.”
On how the team has accepted the attention given to Courtney Paris
“Our team has accepted that beautifully. They read, they watch TV, they see how she is showcased, but when we are at practice she is just like everybody else. She gets yelled at when she doesn't block out. They get on her just like they do everybody else. She is a normal kid; a normal piece of the team. Our team was ready for her, I've said this a number of times. Our group was ready for the arrival of Courtney Paris and I mean that tangibly and intangibly.”
On the non-conference schedule preparing them for the conference schedule
“We're very fortunate that our pre-conference schedule ended up the way it did. Everybody during the summer was saying “Who are you playing?' and What are you doing?' What are you thinking?' By the time August got here I didn't know what I was doing or what I was thinking, but that kind of schedule prepared us for Big 12. I feel strongly that the Big 12 schedule has continually prepared us for the NCAA Tournament.
It's one of the reasons we've had the success we've had, because every single night of the Big 12 you're challenged. Their maturation and learning curve were sped up a little because of the caliber of competition that we faced from November through the first of March. No doubt that over the Christmas holidays when we suffered those two losses right before the break, that's when we became a team. There's no doubt about that.”
Guard Erin Higgins
On the attention given to Courtney Paris
“Courtney's numbers speak for themselves as to why she gets all the media attention. There's not any person on this team that worries about who is getting interviewed. Courtney has earned every bit of attention she has gotten. I don't think anybody would argue about that. She's completely humble and down to earth. It doesn't go to her head. She's earned everything that she has gotten.”
On how the guard play on the team has matured
“It's huge. Courtney's play in the post is physical, so people are going to have a hard time scoring on her. On the perimeter, we have to be able to hold our own. A lot of times we guard, we're guarding collectively, not individually or one-on-one.”
Guard Britney Brown
On Candice Wiggins
“Erin will start on her, but we're going to have a bunch of people try to stop her defensively. She's a great player. We're just going to have to try to limit her touches as much as we can and just try to slow her down.”
Memories of their last few times playing Stanford
“We're really excited to play Stanford again. We owe them for knocking us out two years ago. We're really excited and we're going to go out and play our best.”
“I feel really confident right now about where we are, where the team is. Over Christmas our team really picked it up. I think that's where all this started. We're playing harder, we're more confident. We're on a winning streak right now and I think that makes us more confident.”
Center Courtney Paris
On matching up with Brooke Smith
“I just have to be physical with her. She's a finesse post. She's very good. I just really have to pay attention to her and try to push her out and make it tougher for her.”
On her freshman season
“I'm a confident basketball player, so I expected to play well. I thought I would average 15 -25 points a game, so I guess I'm not living up to my standards (jokingly). The off-court stuff, the attention I'm getting, I wasn't aware of it. I guess I wasn't expecting any of the off-court stuff.”
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STANFORD
Head Coach Tara VanDerveer
Opening comments ...
“It's pretty simple. We are very happy to be here. We are healthy, we are playing well, and we know we have a big challenge. We are ready to go.”
Speaking about (Oklahoma freshman post) Courtney Paris and her play as a freshman...
“I am not sure that there has been another player like her who had made an immediate and such a great impact as she has. Her numbers are incredible. I also think it's a compliment to the people she plays with and to the Oklahoma coaching staff on how she has developed as a freshman and how she is being used. I saw her as a high school player and I also saw her on the USA Team, and she's really come on strong. I cannot think of any other freshman who has played that position and posted those kind of numbers.”
Speaking of the similarities offensively between her Stanford team and Oklahoma ...
“We are kind of similar teams, knowing that we both like to run, and we also go outside - we go inside to Brooke Smith and Kristen Newlin. We both have good 3-point shooters. In some respects, they don't have a lot of seniors. We are a pretty young team, and they are a young team. The type of numbers that Courtney is posting we don't have anyone on our team doing that. She really is kind of the “X” factor.”
Talking about how Oklahoma always says, today it was Courtney and “X” player stepping up... They don't always have the same players putting up the numbers every game with Courtney. As a coach, how do you prepare for that, not knowing who exactly is going to step up for Oklahoma besides Courtney?
“I guess they do have more than one player, obviously. Chelsi Welch is a great shooter for them. They bring people off the bench like (Kendra) Moore, and then there's the point guard, (Brittney) Brown. But, we've got to play the numbers. We've got to look at who has consistently done well for them and try and take away their strength. At the same time, I think you can really get distracted with them. We've here for a reason, too. We've got to really just concentrate on doing the things that we've done well all season. We're going to need a couple of different people stepping up for us.”
Is it an advantage that some of the Stanford players know Courtney Paris and have played against her and actually saw her play in the first/second rounds in Denver last weekend?
“It is important and an advantage in that, first of all, someone like Candice (Wiggins) has played against and with her in high school. She's seen our team a lot, too. I think being in Denver with them in the first and second round it's different when you see someone on tape and when you see them play in front of you in person. Courtney is much more impressive in person. I thought our players were really paying attention this week in practice. They saw it (her play) in person and they said, Wow, OK, we know what we need to to'.”
In terms of circumstance and planning, OU and Stanford have met five times in the last six years ... What does she think of that?
“It started because we had a player for us (Sarah Dimpson from 1998-2001) from Oklahoma City. Then, the NCAA fueled it by putting them in our bracket, like four times. I think we have a good, positive rivalry. I think we'd like to play them again, especially with Courtney and Ashley (Paris) being from the Bay area. So hopefully we can keep it going.”
Talking about Stanford sophomore guard Candice Wiggins and what she does the best...
“Candice is a great leader for us, scoring and playing defense and doing all the things a great player does. I feel just like probably Oklahoma feels we are more than just Candice Wiggins. Brook Smith has done really well, Kristin Newlin, Krista Rappahaha ... Our freshman have done well. It's a team game. It's great when you have a great player who can lead the way for you and who you can depend on to get baskets, but it is more than one player.”
Assessing posts Brook Smith and Kristin Newlin as defensive players...
“I think Brook has really improved her defense, and Kristin Newlin works really hard at it, too. Having said that, we'll see tomorrow I guess, huh?”
The dunks by Candace Parker were they really “dunks”, or, as many have suggested, just disappointing; either way, has the women's game erred in trying to market them...
“So much is made of the dunk. We actually had some of our male managers say, wow, that was a nice dunk'. Well, yeah, it wasn't like a dunk that you go in and throw down with two hands. She didn't go in and hit the back and have it jack out like some people do. I think it is exciting for the women's game. It's something that I feel sometimes that the women are darned if you do, darned if you don't. If you don't dunk, the game's boring, and if you do dunk, then it wasn't a good dunk. If it brings excitement and attention to the women's game, I think it is good. Is it the meat and potatoes of our women's game? No.”
As someone who had such a great freshman like Candice Wiggins last year, and thinking about Courtney Paris at Oklahoma .. how do you get your veteran players to buy into having such a great freshman, who probably will cut into their playing time and time with the ball, etc.?
“That is a really great question, and from what I can see, our teams welcomed and embraced Candice Wiggins. And I think the Oklahoma team did the same thing with Courtney Paris. They are a team that was in the middle of the Big 12 last year. I am sure that Leah Rush, more than anyone, wanted Courtney and Ashley (Paris) in the middle so she could play her natural position again. The players who want to win will welcome the great players to the team. Courtney seems mature and is someone who seems to be all about the team. She seems exceptional like Candace was exceptional for us last year.”
How has Stanford simulated the play of Courtney Paris in practice?
“We are fortunate that we have a young man, one of our practice players, who goes about 6-2, 220. We told him to eat a lot and come back bigger the next day. Really, we studied a lot of tapes on teams that they have played. Honestly, our focus is on helping our post defense. At the beginning of the year, we put in a system that would get us ready to play against great post players. So, we really focused on our stuff as much as theirs we didn't have a lot of time. It's really important for us to stick to our game plan and not get caught up in what they do.”
In talking about the guard tandems of both teams...
“For anyone who has watched us play this year, our team development came with the development of our freshman point guard Rosalyn Gold-Onwude. Both she and Candice, they have developed good chemistry and they have a great bond. Candice is a great role model for a young player like Roz. They do play really well together. When you talk about Brown and Chelsi Welch or Erin Higgins for OU we both play three-guard lineups. Those three people together are very similar to us. Brown runs their offense, Roz runs our offense, Welch and Higgins and Wiggins and Rappahahn for us are the 3-point shooters. How they screen for each other and how they play together has been the key to our development.”
How does she view playing teams like Oklahoma?
“Rivalries are great for the game, whether it be Tennessee and Connecticut, us and Oklahoma. We are trying to develop those out-of-conference games and rivalries. It's important, and with TV having more games on, it helps. We want people on the East Coast to know about Candice Wiggins and Brook Smith. I would like to play Duke, North Carolina, DePaul, UNC, LSU and bring them out West and grow the game, so to speak.”
Is there a part of Courtney Paris' game which surprises her, an aspect that has developed quicker than most thought?
“I don't know if there is any single thing that surprises me. She is very efficient. She has great hands, and her footwork has improved a lot. She doesn't waste a lot of emotion. She reads doubles very well, passes well.. she doesn't seem to get frustrated. She doesn't foul a lot. She is exceptional and mature. Coming from an athletic family I think probably helped her a lot. I love watching her play, except for when I'm on the other bench.”
Sophomore Guard Candice Wiggins
On devising the perfect plan to stop Courtney Paris' game...
“I don't know if there is one. She is so dominant. You have to double her. One on one, she is the most dominant player I've seen on the low block. No one has been able to figure it out. I think the best way is to go two-on-one, I guess.”
On whether anyone this past summer (foreign opponents) could stop Courtney when she and Wiggins were teammates on the USA U-19 World Championship Team ...
“Well, we had a size advantage all the time, so no. The opponents seemed intimidated. They could not stop her, and mostly were confused when going against her. She could do whatever she wanted to do. We were a really, really good team, with a lot of great players.”
On whether it was difficult for her to fit into Stanford as a freshman, being as heralded a player as she was and was it hard to be accepted...
“I wasn't really a leader last year, and I went off the experiences of my older teammates. My experience was the best. I never felt like my role should be any different than it was. There was no bitterness. We wanted to win, and that's what we cared about each day. For us, we never know things like who the leading scorer is in a game, or who has the most rebounds. That's not our focus, and everyone accepts what is working for us.”
On knowing Courtney Paris, on seeing her play in person in the Denver first/second round, and what her characteristics are...
“It was helpful for all of us to see her in person. Courtney brings great energy to the floor, and in person, you see that. When she gets a stop, or a basket, or a block, the players around her get picked up and get energized. That is what we got from watching Oklahoma in person.
Four years ago, I met Courtney. I was a sophomore and she was a freshman and we played in the state championship game at the Arco Center. The captains met early, and when I saw her, I said, oh my gosh!'. She was so imposing. But, she is very different off the court than on the court. She is funny and a real genuine person.”
Junior center Brook Smith
On playing in the post against Courtney Paris...
“We know she has great hands and is really strong in the low post I played against others this summer and in the past like her. Offensively and defensively, you have to read what you get from her and then go after her.”
On the offensive strengths of the Stanford team...
“We have scoring inside and great shooters outside, with Ros (Rosalyn Gold-Onwude), Kristen (Newlin) and Candice. We can hit from the outside as well as Oklahoma.”
Junior forward/center Kristen Newlin
On playing against Courtney Paris and the guards of OU...
“The whole team, not just one player, has been working hard on defense this week. We will keep working at it and will try to contain her ... Like Brook said, Courtney blocks well and has great hands. But, the guards for Oklahoma are strong as well. Welch and Rush and Higgins they move well without the ball. And Brown, the point guard, gets layups off the double-team in the post. They make you pay for that when you double.”
On the offensive strengths of the Stanford team...
“We have confidence in our team to knock down shots when we need them. That helps even things out in the court in terms of post play and guard play.”
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LSU
Head Coach Pokey Chatman
Opening Comments
“What I want to take from the first two rounds of the tournament is that we have played relatively good defense and have held our first two opponents under 50 points. DePaul is separated by their outlet offense. Once they get in their half court transition, all of our defense will be tested.”
On if there is any difference in the team in the last two years
“Our seniors are trying to help our freshmen along and help them understand that at this stage, every opponent is tough and requires 40 minutes of execution.”
On the similarities between the two teams
“I wish our transition offense was similar. They have the players to do that and that's how they get their shots. We just want to put ourselves in a position to win the game.”
On if the women's team has gained any inspiration from the men's team knocking off No. 1 seed Duke in this year's NCAA tournament
“The way they have won games this year and the youth of their team is enjoyable to watch. There is no elite player. Every player on that team has contributed their part. What I did remind the team was that Duke was a No. 1 seed and LSU was a No. 4 seed.”
On playing in San Antonio
“Our fan support has been an instrumental part of our success and gives us momentum going into our match-ups. We are happy with our seeding. It was also nice to get a chance to go home a couple of days and get a chance to play basketball.”
On the recruiting pipeline in Miami and if it started with Marie Ferdinand
“There are so many good players from the state of Florida and it did start with Marie Ferdinand. For kids to want to play at LSU and follow in her footsteps is great.”
On the terms of better play from the team
“Our scrimmage guys have been locked into our competition and have done a good job at preparing our team for the tournament. We have played a tough schedule and that has carried over to our practices.”
On the importance of Sylvia Fowles right now
“For Sylvia, November was now. There is a young girl in there and she knows that the stakes are a lot higher and that she has to up her level of competition.”
On DePaul's No. 4 seeding
“We try not to focus on seeding and national rankings. We primarily focus on the competition and try to set the seeding off to the side.”
On changes from Seimone Augustus in her last year at LSU
“The game will dictate when it's over. I know she realizes it's the last run. She knows what is needed and she has spoken volumes on the basketball court this year. She didn't have to do that much last year.”
On the game plan against Khara Smith
“It's never about one player. We have to respect her ability and a player who produces a double double each game. It's difficult at this point to focus on one player. We have to focus on the whole team.”
On the hype about Tennessee freshman Candace Parker dunking and how that brings attention to women's basketball
“Sometimes negative attention is ok. It will make a few more people watch the game and put more fans in the seats. That will give them a chance to see how hard the kids play.”
Seimone Augustus, Sr., Guard
On how much it has helped the team going home a couple of days in comparison to last year's NCAA tournament team
“We were on spring break last year when we didn't have a break in between sites. This time we got to go home a day or so and have a recovery period. It's still the same though. We'll have to remained focused and not let it affect us.”
On dealing with being a No. 1 seed three of the last four years
“It's about focus and motivation for us. Teams are going to try and knock you off. They will be bringing their A game, but you have to match their intensity and play your best basketball and try to win a national championship.”
On the doubling that Khara Smith will bring down low
“She is a great player and doesn't let the defense dictate her shots. It will be a total team effort. We must make the pass difficult for her to receive and lock in on defense. We'll try and contain her the best we can.”
Scholanda Hoston, Sr., Guard
On watching the LSU men's team defeat Duke
“Coach Chatman said it best, we have to realize that a No. 4 seed beat a No. 1 seed. We need to go out there and take care of business.”
On Augustus, Hoston and Fowles all being from the same area and how it has created a bond
“It has created a nice environment and makes it easier as a freshman. Sylvia had two people here that she already knew and that made it more comfortable.”
On how well DePaul shoots the 3-point shot
“We have to keep a mental focus and play like we're capable of playing. We just have to go out and do it.”
On getting a lot of media attention from Candace Parker's dunk
“It does bring a lot of attention to the women's game. People don't follow women's basketball as much as men's because it doesn't provide as much excitement. This will make more people watch and motivate other players to elevate their game and try and out do her. A woman getting to the rim is impressive and is not expected.
On if she considers Candace Parker's dunk a dunk
“What constitutes a dunk; who makes that rule?”
Sylvia Fowles, So., Center
On being conservative about fouling
“I can't worry about what the officials will call. I'll play tough defense and try to shut the other team down.”
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DEPAUL
Head Coach Doug Bruno
Opening Comments
“We are the four-seed, LSU is the first seed. They are a very deserving one seed in this tournament. They have a player of the year returning, and a player in the post that every WNBA team that exists would love to have. It is a great one-two punch that they bring to the table. The kids are all very talented players. We are going to have our hands full. We are very excited about being here.”
Do you expect this game to be a run and gun, because you have sort of a high powered offense?
“I really think that if you look at both basketball teams, we both score similar amount of points, but we both run a motion offense. I think that there are some similarities to how we play. There is some misconception around the country that is all we do is run-and-gun. You can't play into the tournament without the ability to play in the half court. Both teams are going to have to execute in the half court. I think we are both going to try and exploit the open court when we can, and punch it out in the half court the rest of the time. That is what tournament basketball really becomes.”
Psychological advantage over LSU after watching the LSU Men's team defeat Duke last night in a 1-4 match-up
“It would give us an advantage if we had LSU's men's junk yard dogs. Since we don't have the guys that LSU's men's have I don't think there is any advantage at all. I think our players understand that fours beat ones. I don't see how it would be an advantage for us.”
What is getting to the Sweet 16 for the first time do for your program?
“We are excited to be at the Sweet 16. We're still not a BCS football school. Getting to eleven has been an achievement, but once you achieve that, there develops a frustration. You want to go further, not just being satisfied getting there. It's competition.”
Khara Smith, Sr., F
What is the most important thing you have to do to be successful tomorrow (Saturday)?
“As a team, we always have to always stay together through whatever kind of adversity or anything comes our way, just always have to stay positive with each other throughout the whole game just in case things aren't going our way and I think if we stay positive and always stay together and never give up, we will be fine.”
Allie Quigley, So., G
What has Khara meant to the program?
“She is definitely our leader on and off the court, vocally and what she does on the court.”
Jennie Baranczyk, Payton Verhulst, and Raegan Beers Postgame vs South Carolina
Saturday, March 28
Jennie Baranczyk, Sahara Williams, Aaliyah Chavez, and Raegan Beers Media Availability - 3/27/26
Friday, March 27
WBB Highlights: OU 77, Michigan State 71
Sunday, March 22
Jennie Baranczyk, Raegan Beers, and Payton Verhulst Postgame vs Michigan State
Sunday, March 22
