Postgame Quotes

Jan. 27, 2008

OKLAHOMA HEAD COACH SHERRI COALE
On the game:
"It was a big win for our program. We built this as an opportunity game coming in. We had a couple of opportunity games earlier in the year and we were so close in the Tennessee game and weren't able to finish it. I felt like this was yet another opportunity with perhaps some post-season ramification. When you play on national television late in January, out of league game, you'll get some attention, hopefully. But beyond that this is just another game where we're trying to get better. We felt we were more like Oklahoma on Wednesday night against Texas Tech and felt even more like Oklahoma today than we were on Wednesday night. "

On the team's effort in tonight's game:
"I thought our effort from the beginning was extraordinary and the defensive game plan and the job that these two guys (Ashley and Courtney Paris) did on their interior game was special. Tasha Humphrey is a very good basketball player and we really guarded her with the team. Probably the most misleading stat line would be Jenna Plumley. She played for 40 minutes and couldn't make a shot but she wreaked all kinds of havoc defensively. She just really made them not know what was coming or where it was coming from. Top to bottom our bench was incredible being on the side of the floor and talking to the guys on the floor was giving energy and life. It was just a good 40 minutes of basketball for Oklahoma.

On responding when down by two points:
"I think that's even the most impressive piece of it because that's a developing maturity in those positions where we've been challenged in the past and there's been a run we've kind of become unraveled and found ourselves down and having to fight back up a hill. We never gave up the top of the mountain today. I thought that we really important in the second half. There were a couple of huge offensive possessions that we were able to convert that sent it back to a four-point game. They weren't easy shots and they weren't easy possessions, we just executed extremely well and made big baskets."

OKLAHOMA JUNIOR CENTER COURTNEY PARIS
On establishing an offensive chemistry:
"I think that the number one thing is we are just getting better at executing our plays and that is something we have been struggling with. We want to come out and do what Coach drew up in the timeouts. Part of the reason we are so excited and what gave us a little bounce on defense is because we are starting to get better and getting things."

OKLAHOMA JUNIOR FORWARD ASHLEY PARIS
On her ability to find openings in the defense:
"To me, it is just everyone is doing their job so well. Courtney (Paris) is demanding the ball so well that they are going to her. Amanda Thompson is shooting great and, of course, Jenny Plumley and Danielle Robinson are playing great that I don't have a lot of attention on me when the clock is going down."

OKLAHOMA SOPHOMORE FORWARD AMANDA THOMPSON
On her improved play:
"The whole confidence thing, composure and making smart decisions when the game is on the line. Just working, playing together and feeding off of my teammates and I think that helps me a lot and makes me play better."

OKLAHOMA FRESHMAN GUARD DANIELLE ROBINSON
On defensive energy and play:
"I think it was execution and Coach in the huddle said that we needed to get a stop and every time she told us that we would get a stop. It was also knowing that we had to make the plays. Our confidence on defense -- we had a lot more pride tonight and I think we just had fun playing defense, which I don't think we have had this season but tonight I think we had fun."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

GEORGIA HEAD COACH ANDY LANDERS
On the inside game:
"There is no question that both teams are good inside. We came in knowing that 30 of the points Oklahoma averages come from the high percentage shots that the bigs take. We were reasonably successful down low. I think we were really good with our transition defense. They scored on turnovers, but they didn't score more than four points off of missed shots."

On Oklahoma's Ashley Paris:
"I will create a little dissension since I'm here and I'm leaving in a few minutes, but if I'm Ashley (Paris) I would ask the coach why didn't you play me more last year. I told our players that she might be the tougher proposition, because she moves her offense around a little bit. She is a little bit more mobile with her bounce, and a little bit more creative or shifty with the bounce. Courtney (Paris) will use the bounce but it is more powering you straight to the basket. So Ashley might be the tougher proposition. Her field goal percentage is outstanding and she is having a terrific year."

GEORGIA FORWARD TASHA HUMPHREY
On the game:
"We knew it was going to be tough coming in here, because they are great in side with Courtney (Paris) and Ashley (Paris). We knew it was going to be a challenge and they out played us. It is as plain and simple as that."

On rebounding:
"I think we knew that we had to rebound the ball better because we knew coming in that Oklahoma was a plus-16 rebounding team. We had to rebound in order to have a chance in this game."

On the difficulty of earning the double-double:
"It was tough, but we play in the SEC and we expect challenges like that every game. I think coming in, we knew it would be a tough challenge for not only the post but for everyone on the court because Oklahoma is such a good basketball team. For the most part we stepped up to the challenge, but there were some key times where shot ourselves in the foot. Those times gave Oklahoma the chance to get some easy baskets in transition and some easy layups and it was small things like that that cost us the basketball game."

GEORGIA GUARD CHRISTY MARSHALL
On her play today:
"I feel like it's my job to bring energy into the game. My team needs me and they need that energy coming off the bench. Coach and I had a talk before the game and he told me that I needed to step up today. I feel like I did that today."

On cutting the Oklahoma lead to two a couple of times:
"We were trying to fight and execute like coach told us to do. At one timeout, Coach gave us a goal to come back to the huddle tired for the next timeout. We just tried to fight and unfortunately we came up short."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors