BIG 12 CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 10, 2022

Jim Littell

Lexy Keys

Lauren Fields

Oklahoma State Cowgirls

Postgame Press Conference

Oklahoma State 73 - Texas Tech 58

JIM LITTELL: Very proud of our group. I thought we flipped script at halftime, and we were getting bullied a little bit in the first half. And I thought Micah Dennis really got after it in the second half and started with pressure on the ball.

And that's where we got back to who we were and didn't let them be comfortable and pinpoint the passes inside. Lo did an exceptional job guarding Vivian Gray. She's guarded her for the last five games, and we've been 5 and 0 in those five games. So give her credit. It's a tough assignment. She works extremely hard on her. Taylen Collins went a little bit there.

We got on a good roll. We've had trouble scoring the basketball a little bit at times, and we were 9 for 18 from three and 12 for 15 from the line. But I thought the whole thing -- and we challenged our kids. We didn't talk too much about offense or defense. We talked about heart and fight and competing and let's don't go down without a fight.

And I thought our kids just flipped it at halftime. And Lexy Keys, 19. Lo, 22. Taylen Collins was exceptional, 14 and 12. And that's -- you know, she's so athletic. She does a lot of things. But proud of these two kids right here and what they've done and meant to our program for the time that I've been there. They're just two special young ladies.

MODERATOR: We're now joined by our student-athletes. And just to make sure that everybody knows, because we're videoing, we have Lexy Keys and Lauren Fields.

Q. Lexy, I guess for you first and then Lauren as well, what did the last few days, the emotions of everything that's gone on, been like for you, and what was that like for you all in the game, especially during that run early in the fourth quarter?

LEXY KEYS: I think it's safe to say emotions have been everywhere. Shocked. You have to gather yourself. And then to go and play in a tournament, that means a lot.

I think it made us grow up and get closer, and I think that energy kind of rolled over into our first quarter, because we started off really strong. This game was special, and so to get that win, that means a lot.

LAUREN FIELDS: I would say the same as Lexy. Emotions were everywhere. We were all shocked at first, and I think our main focus going into this game was making sure we get another win for Coach Littell.

Q. Lauren, Jim just talked about that matchup with Vivian Gray, and you're used to it. How has that evolved over these five times that you've guarded her, and what do you feel like tonight was the key in slowing her down, especially after that little outburst she had in the second quarter?

LAUREN FIELDS: You know, she's a good player. I think my main focus was just making sure she didn't catch the ball so easily. And I think Micah did a great job on Bryn, you know, putting pressure on the guards. That way the ball wasn't entered into her so easily.

Q. Jim, the question for you that the players answered, how emotional the last few days have been for you, and how have you just sort of been able to keep focused on the task at hand, if you will?

JIM LITTELL: Well, it's been emotional. We've been at Oklahoma State 17 years. My daughter, who's in the room, and my wife, who's in the room right now, our kids have grown up with the majority of their life in Stillwater. So it's been an emotional time. And I thank everybody for the support that we've had, and it's time to move onto Baylor.

Q. Jim, sort of along those lines, how were you able to turn attention toward this game and prepare for this with everything that's gone on?

COACH LITTELL: I like these kids. I'm a competitor, and I'm going to fight, and these kids are going to fight, too. And they were very resilient tonight. I think they responded very well. And I just thought they showed tremendous, tremendous heart and wanted this one. I wanted this one, and these kids wanted it, and I'm so proud of them.

Q. Lauren, obviously you know Baylor really well. First of all, congratulations on tonight for both of you guys. But can you talk a little bit about facing Baylor and you know this team so well, what you guys need to do tomorrow against them?

LAUREN FIELDS: I would say just come in with confidence. We played them really good at home. We played them within four. So I think the biggest thing is just going into the game with confidence, knowing we have nothing to lose. So just playing hard, fighting and trying to get another win.