Kentucky-Texas A&M Women's Basketball Postgame Quotes
Kentucky-Texas A&M Postgame Press Conference
Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center
Feb. 11, 2024
Head Coach Kyra Elzy
On what you attribute to Kentucky’s second quarter response and making Texas A&M feel stagnant…
“You know, we wanted to start the game with trapping the ball screens, they’re really good. Playing out of the ball screens, obviously, they have a lot of talent. And we were undersized compared to them, so wanted to come in you know try to make some plays offensively, fly around, and maybe take them out of what they wanted to do offensively.”
On Kentucky’s intensity in the third quarter…
“Well, yeah, that’s an understatement. To say the least. But yes, we lacked defensive intensity. So, the third quarter when we really needed it. It was a 32-30 game. They went 16 possessions in that third quarter and scored 13. And so we got to we have to be able to step up defensively and play hard, but also it was the second and third chance opportunities that we were giving them off the offensive rebound. So, we just have to be so tough and finish the plays and we had talked about that.”
On overcoming Texas A&M’s size and rebounding statistics…
“On the body, so when the shot goes up, defensively, it has to be team rebounding, what we did in the first half. So defensively you should have five people on the boards, we got to get them out of the charge circle, find a body be physical, and push back. We have to be able to make contacts, especially when you’re undersized. So, find a body. Be tough. Push back and that will help us.”
On shot selection game plan against Texas A&M…
“You know, I didn’t think we sustained it consistently. Several times I thought once we got the rebound, we had numbers and advantage, and we have to be able two on one we’ve been working on that in practice we have to be able to finish those plays. Either finish at the rim or get fouled. Didn’t think we did a great job of spreading our lanes, we were too bunched up, so the guard should be out spreading to the corners. Point guard in the middle of the floor. Our first post down should be at the rim. So, our spacing wasn’t good. We didn’t get the looks that we wanted. And then offensively when we move the ball from side to side, four to five passes, we’re working inside, good things usually happen. It’s when we panic offensively, and we hadn’t scored and now everyone’s trying to score because we’re trying to win. But that causes us to take some shots that are probably not in our best interest.”
On Amiya [Jenkins] being out of the game…
“Coaches Choice.”
On keeping Maddie [Scherr] in the game and what made her keep her in all four quarters…
“She has a toughness and her ability to score. They have to play her honest they have to guard her. But she also can get on the boards and get her hands on balls. She’s a competitor and you need that on the floor. Plus, she brings us veteran experience, which we desperately need. I thought Asia did a good job inside. She finished around the rim. I thought she handled the ball well and we got to play through her. But, at the end of the day, we had some open shots. We need to be able to knock those down. We can’t put so much pressure on our offense. So, that’s why we need that blue-collar scoring which we talked about before the game. Transition points, points at the rim, free throws, and offense rebounds so you’re not putting pressure on your offense. Every time you come down the floor, you have to score.”
On what Elzy sees from Rowe…
“Cass is a knockdown shooter. She practices it. I have a lot of confidence in her especially, when she can catch and shoot the ball. I thought she moved and got open and I want to give her a big shoutout. She plays extremely hard. She leads the team and charges no matter the size. She is going to stand in there and take the charge. I think she has taken on 19 this year. She’s going to get one every game and that’s the ultimate sacrifice for your team, the dirty work that doesn’t necessarily end up in the headlines of the paper. So, shoutout to Cassidy Rowe and her intensity and the ability to sacrifice her body.”
Player Quotes
#5, Cassidy Rowe, G, So.
On her shots and charges…
“I thought we had some really good segments where we were sharing the ball really good, which makes it easy for me to get open looks. Coach Elzy always talks about if I have that shot, I should take it, and she has helped build my confidence. As far as the charges, I feel like those are huge momentum shifts that we need as a team. That’s something that I’m always going to do. I take a lot of pride in it. Also, shout out to Janae Walker, I thought she had an amazing minute today, and she came in and took some charges. Those were huge, and we needed those.”
On being called a blue-collar player…
“Whenever I hear blue-collar player, I think about diving on the floor, getting those loose balls, taking charges, and just doing the dirty work that doesn’t necessarily show up on the stat sheet. I feel like we have a few girls on the team that take a lot of pride in that.”
#22, Maddie Scherr, G, Sr.
On having a good handle in the second quarter but A&M taking it away…
“We think when the third quarter came out, we let them get too many o boards they got too many points from there. I think we just let it get out of control. It really starts with the rebounding. They got too many second chance points from that and it’s hard to come back from. It just comes from defensive intensity and can’t let them be so efficient in that 3rd quarter. You got to be better defensively.”
On matching up against former teammate Endyia Rodgers…
“Obviously she’s a hooper through and through but yeah that’s my girl I love her. So fun to get to see her and yeah always rooting for her and supporting her.”
