Oregon State and Gonzaga Quotes: March 21
2015 NCAADivision I women’s basketball championship
Second Round · Oregon State Saturday Pre- Corvallis Region Championship Game
Gill Coliseum -- Corvallis, Oregon
Saturday, March 21
Scott Rueck, Oregon State Head Coach
Opening Statement:
“Very pleased to get that first win. It was a great battle yesterday (vs. South Dakota State). Everybody uses the cliché about surviving to the next round; and that is what I think we did. This team found a way to brush off the rust from a two-week layoff and competed like crazy to stay in that game (SDSU) early. I loved the way we played the second half and now we are looking to carry that momentum forward. We have a big test tomorrow against a really good Gonzaga team and we are looking forward to the challenge.”
Did Gonzaga do anything differently when you watch them last night that you hadn’t seen before?
“I was most impressed with their energy level. We know who they are; they know who we are. We recruit in the same circles. They had a great energy level yesterday and were very competitive. They had a great defensive performance and that was the reason they were able to control the game yesterday.”
Defensively, what are the keys for you stopping Gonzaga?
“Limit them to one shot. Keani Albanez is such an explosive scorer; we have to do a good job limiting her. When their point guards are allowed to create that makes them better. Yesterday their backup point guard comes in and gets six assists; I thought that was key and maybe the pivotal factor in the game. We can’t allow their point guards to create.”
Is it interesting that you are playing a team that you are familiar with as opposed to scrambling to find something out about a team from out of your region?
“It’s fun; it’s regional. At the same time, it’s not like I have seen a lot of Gonzaga games this year. But, it’s fun.”
Do you feel these are two similar teams that played a little better earlier in the year?
“We are two programs that have something to prove this year – expectations were high entering the season. I think both of these teams have been grinding all year and both of us are in the unique situation that we both locked up our conferences early. I think that plays into it a little bit.”
Ali Gibson, senior guard Oregon State (1:17)
Does it help that you were in this position last year?
“I think that definitely helps. Anytime you are in this situation with game experience it definitely helps.”
What are your initial impressions of Gonzaga?
They are a hard working team and they have great three-point shooters. It’s going to be a great battle; they (Gonzaga) bring all they can to the court.”
South Dakota State couldn’t match up with you in length, but Gonzaga can a little bit. How is that going to change how you approach this game?
“They have a lot of lengthy guards. They like to crash the boards, so it will be a matter of boxing out and it will be a matter of doing what we did throughout the year when we played guards like that. It will be a battle.”
How much confidence do you take away from yesterday’s second half when you got back into a grove?
“The second half we remembered where we were (during the season), what we were doing and what we want to do in this tournament. I think that leaves us with confidence going into tomorrow.”
Does it add anything to this game that Elle Tinkle is playing and that there will be added support in the stands for Gonzaga or is she just another player?
“Probably just another player. Any game like this away crowds are bigger and you have a lot of people rooting for the other team.”
Deven Hunter, junior forward Oregon State
Does it help that you were in this position last year?
“I agree (with Ali). We know what to expect with this game due to our experience from last year.”
South Dakota State couldn’t match up with you in length, but Gonzaga can a little bit. How is that going to change how you approach this game?
“It’s going to be a bit of adjustment, but it’s something we have seen all year. They have some high-post players, so I think it’s just adjusting back to that.”
What is the key to matching Gonzaga’s intensity after seeing it have a big lead against George Washington yesterday?
“We have to come out strong; we have to bring our A game from the start. We have to stop their offense.”
2015 NCAADivision I women’s basketball championship
Second Round · Oregon State Saturday Pre- Corvallis Region Championship Game
Gill Coliseum -- Corvallis, Oregon
Saturday, March 21
Lisa Fortier, Gonzaga Head Coach
“We are excited to be here. We are proud of how we played yesterday, but we know we have a long road ahead of us today in practice and we have to come out with the same kind of intensity tomorrow. Oregon State is a very good team. They have a lot of weapons offensively and defensively, and they work really well together. They are very well coached. We are going to have to come out ready to go.”
You talked about earlier how seeding didn’t really matter at this point, are you taking that approach with this game or are you playing off (the seed differential) for this one?
At this point it really doesn’t matter; we have played a home game on their court. Every game is zero-zero at the start. There are a lot of opportunities for both teams; it comes down to whoever wants it the most.”
About playing on Oregon State’s home court
“It is a definite advantage for them. We have beaten other good teams on their courts and we have lost a couple. That happens during the course of the season. I don’t think the time of the year makes it any more difficult. Being on the road you have to have a tough mentality, a bend but don’t break mentality, and you have to know that some things are not going to go your way.”
Is it kind of unique that two Pacific Northwest teams are playing each other?
“It’s not the same conference type situation, but it does have that feel. We have watched a couple of their games (OSU); we know their coaching staff and recruit a lot of the same players. Scott (Rueck) and I were at a coaching conference last summer – we sat at the same table. We have a lot familiarity with each other and I think that adds to the excitement of the game. I had to watch as much game video and find as many articles as I could to become familiar with George Washington; I have some background and knowledge about the Oregon State program.”
Shaniqua Nilles, junior forward, Gonzaga
Oregon State has a lot of length inside, more so then even GW, what issues does that pose?
“We are going to have to play really well defensively. We are going to have to make sure we have good ball pressure. We are just going to have to try as hard as we can; it’s going to be a team effort for sure”
You talked a lot about the defense, but what other keys are there for you going into tomorrow?
They (OSU) are playing on their home floor, so they are going to be aggressive, hyped-up and have a home crowd advantage. We have to match their intensity and make sure we check out/box out on every possession. Team defense and toughness is the key to staying in the game and playing in the NCAA Tournament as long as you can.”
Lindsay Sherbert, senior guard, Gonzaga
(Comments on the first question that was asked to Nilles) We have talked a lot about it (OSU’s inside presence) and it’s a matter of playing team defense – that’s the key for us throughout this tournament – that’s where a lot of our success last night came from.”
Oregon State and Gonzaga Quotes: March 21
