BIG 12 CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 13, 2021

Kirsten Deans

West Virginia Mountaineers

Postgame Press Conference

West Virginia - 59, Oklahoma State - 50

Q. KK, is this your week? After the first game and then banking in the three here, are you like things are just happening for you?

KIRSTEN DEANS: I guess. I mean, I'm just doing everything I can to get a win. My teammates set me up for all the things that happened, so, you know, it's just -- you know, it went in. Trying to get another win.

Q. KK, you guys have been through a lot this season. You came out the second seed. Now you're going to get a shot at the title. How does that feel?

KIRSTEN DEANS: Amazing. We knew it was going to be here before we even got here. It takes everybody. Everybody is locked in and played their role, and we're back here for a chance at the championship.

Q. Coach was saying yesterday that you guys needed to do a better job on the glass today. How do you think you guys did, especially with Esmery down there?

KIRSTEN DEANS: Es did a really good job, and Kari did as well. We still got to get better because tomorrow we've got the best offensive and defensive rebound team. We all have to take an account and take the responsibility to box their man out. Everybody goes to the glass because it's literally going to be a physical 40, like literally.

Q. Coach mentioned that defensive job you did on the point today. Was that a focus of yours coming in, trying to shut that down a little bit, just trip up their offense?

KIRSTEN DEANS: Of course. I know I give that defensive energy on that side of the court, and I knew she was the head of the snake. If you cut the head of the snake off, it's done. So I just really wanted to not let her get her average, disrupt her a little bit, and it worked in our favor.

Q. Sam kind of alluded to it, but you lose last year's postseason, and now you're back in the Big 12 Championship game. How much fun are you having this week in Kansas City?

KIRSTEN DEANS: I love it here. Kansas City has treated me pretty well. No, I'm glad that we're back here, and out of all the adversity that we've faced, we pushed through and persevered, and now we're back in the championship to get that hardware. Hopefully, we come out on top tomorrow. We're all going to give it our all. Onto the next.