AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 8, 2022

Lisa Stockton

Moon Ursin

Dickies Arena

Tulane Green Wave

Postgame Press Conference

Houston 65, Tulane 57

LISA STOCKTON: You know, I think the overwhelming feeling is we're just tremendously disappointed. You know, I think Houston did a very nice job in some things they did and they made plays at the end. When it comes down to it, we didn't start well in the first half. We didn't start well in the second half. We got the game within two, had an opportunity and from that point on they made plays and we didn't.

So, you know, this is a great league. I think it's tremendously competitive. And, you know, it's made us a better team. I wish we were playing tomorrow, but I think it's going to be a great finish.

Q. Coach, how hard is it to beat a team three times in the same season, especially when the first two have been essentially one-or-two-possession games?

LISA STOCKTON: You know, I always think that's an interesting phrase. I think it's hard to beat a good team once, you know. But, you know, I think all these games are new and we certainly know each other. I thought it was an easier turnaround for us. But, you know, I thought our players knew what to expect. So in a way that's -- that makes it easier.

But I don't know that it's anything to three times. I think it's a matter of who, again, makes plays at the end. And I think this team has been -- our team has been very good at doing that all year. If the game is in reach in the last two minutes, we can finish it. We lead the league in free-throw shooting and we got 12 tonight. We have more free throws than anybody in the league and we got 12. That's how we beat them last time was at the free-throw line. So you've got to make your own breaks.

Q. Coach, talk about that last little minute and a half when you needed a shot, either an opportunity to get to the free-throw line or a bucket and it just didn't fall for you and you felt like at some point everything -- it would all kick in for the kids without actually having to call a timeout.

LISA STOCKTON: Okay. I'm sorry. The last minute --

Q. Yeah. The last minute and a half, two minutes?

LISA STOCKTON: Well, I mean, we got it within two. You know, as you're going, I don't know what the time was on the clock. But I mean, we got it within two. Definitely within reach. I felt like our defense wasn't as disciplined as it could be. We had a look, we had a good shot; didn't go in. We couldn't make plays at the end. We couldn't make shots at the end. Didn't get the steals.

So it was frustrating. I thought our team really fought hard and we tried to make our own opportunities and just didn't.

Q. A question for Moon: The challenge of going against a team like Houston when they have their two big scorers going off like that, what were some of the challenges they posed for you today?

MOON URSIN: They was knocking down shots starting early. They came out shooting and they were hitting. I'm not taking anything away from Houston but I think some of that was on us losing our focus and not communicating well with each other.

It's hard to come back from that. They got momentum early and we got down early. So we did some of it to ourselves but they're a great team. They came out and they played well tonight. They hit some shots that we'll normally hit too to match it and ours just didn't fall.

Q. Coach, last one from me: This obviously would not be your last game of the year. There's more basketball to be played this year for Tulane. What do you have to say for where you stand right now relative to the national scene?

LISA STOCKTON: Well, I mean, we certainly feel like our future was in our hands, you know. I feel like we had a great schedule and we've done some things. You know, we've let a couple opportunities get away. But we want to play again. I think that's something, we really want to play again. And I think if we do play again, we'll be better. And we'll be ready. And we're excited about that. But I definitely think this team has really gotten some attention and made some noise and hopefully that will be respected.

Q. Coach, expand on that. You know, the conference is always talked about as top heavy, even before UConn left but now the conference has downsized and multiple teams are having an opportunity to go to postseason play, whether the WNIT or to the NCAA. Why is the future now with the conference and women's basketball? Just looking on that part of it?

LISA STOCKTON: Well, again, I think the future is great for us. I mean, you got -- I mean, I've been a part of a combination of this league a lot, between Conference USA and the American. And even when UConn was in it, I never felt that the competition from the top half to the bottom was what it is. And, you know, I think it's -- there's some great athletes, there's some great young players, there's some great young coaches. I think it's great. We're sixth league in the country this year. I think this is a place that we can stay there and move up.

I think it's going to be -- if we do the right things and we make the right decisions for this league, I think we can be a real player in basketball, in women's basketball.