Colorado University Athletics
Colorado 61, Oklahoma 57
February 15, 2003 | Women's Basketball
Colorado Head Coach Ceal Barry
GENERAL-"First of all I think that was a much needed win in many ways...We had a tough week off the floor and we needed something to celebrate. I think we won the game with our defense. When Linda Lappe got that steal from Chelsi Welch at the end that was big. When we went on our scoring drought, our defense stayed tough."
ON SCORING SLUMP-"They went to a 1-3-1 zone. In the first half we had gotten quite a bit of penetration against their man...when they went to a zone it really took away the penetration. Their zone stifled us. We had worked on it this week and its been effective against us in the past."
ON BREAKING OUT OF THE SLUMP-"I think there were a couple of calls that went our way. I think it was 48-34 and the clock was ticking. They kept gaining momentum, but when it was down to about six minutes, I thought that we would hold on."
ON GETTING THE BALL TO TERA IN THE SECOND-"We wanted to get the ball to Tera (Bjorklund). I told VJ (Johns-Richardson) that she took seven shots in the first and she's a good feeder to Tera. We like to get the ball to Tera on the inside because it creates so many things."
ON TURNOVERS-"That was key for us. Oklahoma thrives on their defensive pressure...It was really, really important that we not turn the ball over. I felt like we moved the ball a lot better."
ON FORWARD SABRINA SCOTT-"She hit the biggest three of the day and when she did, I thought she had passed up on one about three passes before and got a better one. That was huge. That was a senior stepping up. When she hit that, I knew the game was over."
ON FORWARD LINDA LAPPE-"There's nobody I'd rather have on the floor then Lappe. We talked about free throws this week and then she was 10-for-10 today. When (Chelsi) Welch hit those two threes to put them back in the game, I felt comfortable with Lappe guarding her-then she got that steal and made those two free throws."
ON BENCH PLAY-"I thought that VJ played a great game. She has speed and she gets her hand on the balls. I think she hit a big three at the beginning of the second. Amber (Metoyer) continues to play well at home and she always plays with fire."
ON THE PLAY OF GUARD MARIA BILLINGSLEY-"She played very well today. I think she moves the ball well and the stat that sticks out are her four steals. She also gets the ball of the floor."
Colorado Players
Senior Forward Linda Lappe
ON FREE THROW SHOOTING-"I have been having problems lately with my free throws, but coach (Barry) watched me at practice this week and made a few changes. It was nothing too drastic, but just little adjustments. My confidence also got a boost from practice this week."
ON HER DEFENSE-"We knew (Chelsi) Welch was going to shoot some threes, so we had to play her tight. I knew she was going to get it (the last shot), and she just lost the handle."
ON THE WIN-"It was huge. We were 7-3, and if we lost, we would have been right there with Oklahoma and Missouri in the Big 12 (standings). But with this win, we established ourselves as a big-time team."
Junior Guard Maria Billingsley
ON HER LEADERSHIP-"I'm trying to do what I can for this team to get a win. I'm trying to be a winner; I want to win very much. I just want to try to continue to win in this tough conference."
Senior Forward Sabrina Scott
ON SELECTIVE SHOOTING-"My feet were not set and I did not want to take a shot just to shoot. I thought I could get a better look if we moved the ball, and we did."
ON MID-SECOND HALF SCORING DRY SPELL-"You don't notice a dry spell; you just feel their run coming. And we knew they were making a run. It's hard when you are playing to know how long you go without making a basket."
OKLAHOMA HEAD COACH SHERRI COALE
GENERAL-"I am really proud of our girls. I thought we fought back, and did the best we could."
ON DEFENSE-"It was a really good game defensively, but I think you can look at it either way. Either it is a really good defense, or a really bad offense."
ON THE LAST TWO MINUTES-"I think we got exactly what we needed. I mean, Chelsi (Welch) knocked down the three's when we needed it, and we got what we wanted. They (Colorado) showed a good defense, and we fumbled it at a crucial moment, but you know she (Welch) is only a freshman too. I mean, bottom line is that we had a chance, and I thought we played well."
