PAC-12 CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 4, 2021

Aleah Goodman

Oregon State Beavers

Postgame Press Conference

Oregon State - 71, Oregon - 64

Q. Do you agree with Scott that you guys just weren't good at all offensively in the first quarter and think that had changed?

ALEAH GOODMAN: Yeah, I think we were just rushed, we were a little out of sorts. I take a lot of responsibility for that. That's something on me to calm our team down, get us in the right offense and just playing like ourselves. So I think I came out a little rushed. Like you said, credit to Oregon. They were intense. They threw a lot of energy at us in the first quarter.

I think we were just a little out of sorts. Just kind of rushed. We just didn't execute as well as we can.

Q. What do you think changed it?

ALEAH GOODMAN: I mean, we just settled down. We got back to basketball like we know how to play. We executed really well. But, yeah, I just think overall we just completely settled down.

Q. What's the confidence level that each one of your teammates has in each one of your teammates because you guys had six players in double figures, Sunday against Oregon you had four but two more with eight you saw Jelena come in give great minutes. What's that confidence level that you each have with each other right now?

ALEAH GOODMAN: Yeah, we're all confident in each other. We know just the work that everyone's put in and the extra work outside of practice. So that builds confidence. Where confident people will make the right decisions, hit their shots. I would say our confidence level in each other is out of the roof, honestly.

Q. What goes through your mind, it was about 80 days ago, Oregon pretty much ran you guys off the floor, and now you beat them back-to-back games. You controlled both these games. What goes through your mind about the progression of this team?

ALEAH GOODMAN: Yeah, like Coach Rueck said, we just had to play some games. Get in a rhythm, just some consistency. When that Oregon game -- that first Oregon game happened, was I worried? Not really. Just because it was our third game into the season, third game in the Pac-12. And I knew what this team and this group was capable.

But, no, just the progression that this team has made. We really bought into the program, bought into our coaching staff. And just buckled down and worked really hard.

Q. Couple weeks ago could you have imagined you guys coming off the pauses and everything that you guys would be in the semifinals of the Pac-12 tournament and playing as well as you guys are playing right now?

ALEAH GOODMAN: I mean, I think we have the ability to do it. Was there some doubt a few weeks ago? Definitely. Just because we didn't have consistency. We weren't playing as smoothly as we knew we could. On the defensive end we weren't there at all. The coaches were kind of dragging us on the defensive end, especially.

So I think there was a little, I don't know, you could say doubt. But with this work ethic and this team and then we really bought in on the defensive end once we started playing like we knew we could especially on that end of the floor, I'm not surprised at all.

Q. You're probably the most experienced person on this roster. Do you forget that you're playing alongside 18, 19-year-olds that these are first-comers, first time around in March?

ALEAH GOODMAN: Yeah, I mean those girls are starting to play like veterans. Just with their swagger, their confidence, just the way they carry themselves. I forget that they are first-year. That this is their first Pac-12 tournament because they are playing so well and just their IQ of the game and how well they know basketball. Then they're just fearless.

I think that's kind of one word to describe this team is just fearless. You see Sasha going to the basket. You see Savannah do the same thing. Talia, Jele Mack has played huge for us and Jelena is becoming who she is for us. I do forget often that there's a lot of first year players on this team.

Q. On that note, with players being fearless, what did you think of when Talia got that and one, got pretty emotional? You don't see that very often from a freshman.

ALEAH GOODMAN: No, that was tough. Talia's awesome. And so to see that just enthusiasm, I mean it was an intense moment and a big game. So did I expect it? Of course, because that is who Talia is. She's extremely competitive. Our whole team is. Like I said, we play with a swagger. We have this fun, this competitive swagger about us. To see my teammates get hyped up like that I love it. It makes me even more hyped for them.

Q. How much are you enjoying going through this ride right now, how much fun are you having out there?

ALEAH GOODMAN: It's a blast. I don't remember how much -- I don't remember the last time I had this much fun playing basketball with a group of people.

I love this team. I love the coaching staff and just how well we all mesh together. It's so much fun. These are like my best friends that I get to hang out with every day and go to war with. So it's honestly a joy. Go Beavs.