NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - IUPUI VS OKLAHOMA

March 19, 2022

Jennie Baranczyk

Taylor Robertson

Madi Williams

Oklahoma Sooners

Media Conference

Oklahoma 78, IUPUI 72

JENNIE BARANCZYK: I can promise you I've been on the bad side of seeding and I think IUPUI is a little bit better than a 13-seed. They are a very good basketball team. They have got great experience and it was great March Madness in the nap center, that's where I used to be, the Lloyd necessarily center. That's the first time I've done that the whole year, the first time. I'm sorry it's coming out now.

The other thing, how about our fans, it was amazing, nine o'clock at night, I just couldn't be more proud to be at Oklahoma with everybody's support. It was phenomenal to be able to see that and feel that energy tonight. What an awesome way to host our first NCAA Tournament game.

Q. Did you feel like early with the pace that you could wear them down, and the third quarter, you started with that run there early, did you feel like you all were really starting to do that, tire them out a little bit?

TAYLOR ROBERTSON: I think as the game goes on, our pace wears against everybody we play against because we try to get up and down so fast.

I think that we were able to get more open looks because they either start running to the paint or running out on shooters and we just get wide open looks at the basket and I think that our transition game was pretty good.

MADI WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think we did a good job running. And like Rob said, that wears people out. We just make sure that we keep doing that.

Q. Seemed like a couple times in the second half, you were going to run away with it and they responded. What did you see from your team's response in that second half?

JENNIE BARANCZYK: I think our balance just continues to come out and teams do make runs. Honestly, obviously the free throw line, we'll be practicing some free throws tomorrow to be prepared for our next game, and some of those shots look like they are in and they didn't go in. I was proud of most of our decision-making in terms of our shot selection. Some of it, maybe we could work it a little bit more, especially in that fourth quarter.

But I thought overall our pace was pretty good, and we also knew they had runs in them. They have had a lot of games like we've had this year. They have been down 18 and come back and won. We've been down 19 and come back and won. We are very similar in that sense.

So you never felt like oh, we are going to go run away with a game and we knew we were going to keep playing. I felt like when we needed to get some stops, we got some but we needed to key on a couple of things, especially the rebounds.

Q. You needed all hands on deck and you had Skylar back on deck. How valuable was it to have her tonight and how happy was she to get to be a part of it? A week ago, it didn't look very promising.

TAYLOR ROBERTSON: She was happy to be back and we were even more happy to have her back because she's a huge part of our team, and she gives us such a lift when she comes into the game on offense and defense. Having her back to the paint was huge.

MADI WILLIAMS: Having her spark, having her energy, her points, her rebounds, her defense, her versatility is something we needed tonight and something we're excited to have.

Q. Was playing in the NCAA Tournament everything you expected it to be, first time in your careers?

MADI WILLIAMS: Heck, yeah.

TAYLOR ROBERTSON: It was pretty cool. Glad we won. That helps.

MADI WILLIAMS: We ain't going home.

TAYLOR ROBERTSON: Yep. (Laughter) it's late. It's past our bed time.

Q. In the second half, you really turned this game around, I thought, on the defensive end. You forced them into a lot of stops and then you guys got going one-on-one and you got going. Talk about the transition when you were able to stop them how you guys got going offensively.

MADI WILLIAMS: Yeah, defense helps our offense tremendously. It gives us energy and it allows us to run and not think about the previous play.

And it allows us to come down and execute our offense.

Q. You finally got some shots in the second half.

TAYLOR ROBERTSON: Yeah, I think a lot of it was we were able to get stops and actually get rebounds so we could push the tempo on offense and a lot of people were able to set a really good screen where they hit my girl and the help wasn't there on the screens. It was really good screens and awareness by my teammates that did that for me.

Q. The energy from the crowd was really good, probably some of the best crowd you've had all season long. How much did you guys feed off of the energy and how much did it just help you guys win tonight?

MADI WILLIAMS: Yeah, the crowd was great tonight. We had people come out and they were cheering and they were up on their feet. They responded whenever things were going bad and whenever things were going good. It's just great to see the Lloyd Noble start to fill up again.

TAYLOR ROBERTSON: Like she said, it's really cool to see a ton of people here because we haven't always been able to have that since we've been here, and it's just really cool to be able to have that March Madness feeling in the air. You could feel it in the crowd, and it's just a really cool feeling when you have so many people behind you and will you to win.

Q. What's it like to see everybody getting the ball and everyone scoring, and just even seeing Lampkin hitting a three like that?

MADI WILLIAMS: It's great. It gives us energy and that's one of the things we need to be able to keep playing with the intensity that we're playing at.

TAYLOR ROBERTSON: Yeah, same. And it just gives everybody confidence because we all have confidence in each other especially when Di just steps into a three and knocks it down, that just is like is a huge confidence boost to everybody on the floor.

Q. Does she hit threes in practice often?

MADI WILLIAMS: Yeah, they have to shoot them -- and practice free throws tomorrow.

Q. What does it mean to you guys after somewhat of a rough season last year to now be going into the second round of the NCAA Tournament? Simple question, just how are you guys feeling?

MADI WILLIAMS: Feels great. It wasn't just last year. It's been rough for the last three years since we've been here. But we made it and we're here, and we're blessed to be here. We're excited to be here.

TAYLOR ROBERTSON: Yeah, same. We are really excited and we're not done. We are not going home yet so we get another chance to play and then hopefully we get even more chances after that.

Q. You mentioned the defensive adjustments in the second half, Macee Williams, 14 first half points, three in the second half. What was your message to the team at halftime?

JENNIE BARANCZYK: Well, we had to defend her a variety of ways to be honest. And in watching her, you knew that she was good; you respected her. But when you go against somebody life, you really get the real story, and she's good. She's a very, very good basketball player, and she just makes everybody around her really great.

What really hurt us, though, was the offensive rebounds and that was in both halves. That's one adjustment that I don't think we made. One we made, I think we just tried to change up different looks, so we obviously fouled her a few too many times. At the same time I felt our team did a really nice job of being able to adjust every few minutes on changing what we were trying to do.

Q. The timeline with Skylar, when did you feel good about having her produce, and how good to see her score two quick baskets if the in the first minute of the game?

JENNIE BARANCZYK: Yesterday was the first day we actually knew she would get some time. She was a little bit limited although she played quite a bit tonight. You know, Skylar is just one that she just always has a smile on her face, or she just gets to work.

And she just got to work. And I love that about her. I love that you know nothing really phases her, and so she's such an integral part of this team just with the energy that she brings every single day, so we are so happy that she got to step on the floor today.

Yes, you know, obviously there was some production and she did some really good things but more than that we're happy she gets to keep playing.

Q. I want to ask you about the perimeter defense. You held them to 21 percent from beyond the arc. Obviously they are shooting more there at the end, but what do you feel like you did well there in trying to take away other options other than just Williams?

JENNIE BARANCZYK: I think in the first half, we were a little too patterned in our game plan, and so you know, obviously Macee Williams was able to do what she wanted to, but then also she's a great player to be able to pick apart with her passes. So there were a lot of set people that had their feet set, and they were able to shoot the ball pretty well from three.

I thought the second half we caused a little bit more chaos. So some of it, you know, they hit some shots obviously at the very end. Those are the ones I'm not super happy about but some of the other ones, you've got to give them credit for, too. They are a good three-point shooting team but a lot of it was the adjustment our players made at halftime.

Q. The scramble, even when they put up three shots, you eventually got the rebound and Madi would go one-on-one and you've got Taylor open. Talk about that kind of offense because you needed that and never felt comfortable in the game.

JENNIE BARANCZYK: That's fun to be able to have because a lot of times, you know, those two could put a lot of pressure on themselves in a game like that and it's not always easy to play in a game like that and you see teams all over the country that get a little bit tight. I don't think we did that.

I thought Madi was incredible from the very beginning. I really thought she did a great job of really trying to get to the basket. Sometimes she overpassed a little bit and sometimes she read what they were giving her at the same time, too.

I think both of them do a very nice job of having a balance of still being able to focus on themselves and not try to fix everybody but still build everybody up. They are constantly having a conversations at a time-out. If you watch our time-outs, there's conversations and it's not just me talking at them and I love that. I love that they are strategizing and talking to each other. I think from that standpoint, they bring a lot more than anybody what everybody sees. They bring a steadiness, a competitiveness and they are definite leaders on the team in terms of strategy.

Q. You mentioned they were under seeded. What made you think that when you watched video, and what do you do to counter that in preparation for this game? Your team is fairly unique, hasn't been in the NCAA for several years. Is there anything that you have to do to make sure they know this isn't going to be a walkover?

JENNIE BARANCZYK: Yeah, I don't think anyone thinks that we don't have to show up with everybody giving everything they have. I mean, obviously Notre Dame is a very good basketball team and so is IUPUI.

I say that partially because I do think, as I say that, with them having a 13-seed, what makes me say that is they beat some pretty good teams in the non-conference, and sometimes you can't help your conference schedule and there's reality to that. I've seen that side of it and trying to strategize in different ways to be able to improve that number or that RPI number.

They have got a lot of experience on that team. There's a lot of fifth-year seniors on that team. They missed the tournament a couple years ago because COVID shut it down. They were more than prepared, so that's why I say that.

Now, I also think, how about women's basketball and the parity of our sport right now? There's upsets all over the place in the last couple days, and so that's pretty awesome from a parity standpoint. You can see we're heading in an incredible direction with a lot of talent and a lot of great teams, and so this is a March Madness I think that is one that's just a snapshot of where we're going as a game.

Q. On a night you have a great crowd, you also get a pretty substantial donation for your program. What does that mean in the totality of the evening and what you can possibly do with that gift?

JENNIE BARANCZYK: Yeah, Suzie (Glazer), she's an incredible person and I love what's behind the gift, it's perfect timing, our game is heading in an incredible direction and women supporting women is incredible right now and that's what we need to be able to do. I've talked about it; I have young kids, and we need to see more people coaching their young kids, and we need to see more gifts like Suzie's, women supporting women's programs.

Again, we are just starting the tip of the iceberg of what these things can do but these women that see Suzie do that, it's an incredible example and so I'm really proud of that. Really proud of this program to receive that and I know that there's going to be more as we go.

Q. When Liz Scott got into foul trouble, did that have any effect on the minutes for Skylar Vann in the game?

JENNIE BARANCZYK: It did. It does, yeah. Liz is important to me. She had some great handful of plays but unfortunately we had to get rid of some of those fouls. So if we can get rid of some of those fouls, she's just a tremendous asset to our team because she does have some versatility. I thought those minutes were really good. We just have to get rid of those fouls.

But yes, that is definitely a reason where Skylar has to play a little bit more. Honestly, I thought Lampkin did a really nice job for us, too.

Q. You just talked about the parity in women's basketball, with that being said, how impressive for the Big 12 to go undefeated?

JENNIE BARANCZYK: Isn't that awesome? It's incredible for our league. You know, this is obviously my first year in the Big 12 but I can't -- I have said this countless times at how great this league is, especially our non-conference scheduling. Obviously the NCAA Tournament the first round, but we have to play each other two or three times, and I think that makes it a little bit challenging.

And so a lot of leagues don't have to play everybody twice, and we do. And it's not good or bad but I think it just shows how great our league actually is, and the preparation that our league has given us for this tournament.

Q. So tonight was your tenth win of six points or less and when you have got nine of those in your pocket and things start getting tight and it's the NCAA Tournament, how much do you rely on those earlier experiences?

JENNIE BARANCZYK: I think it's just the makeup of who you are. It's part of the whole season. It's part of who we are this whole year.

You know, it's also probably, I don't know what game it's been that they have had a dominant center tonight -- I don't know what game it's been where we've got to do a better job rebounding in what game it's been or we've done a better job in terms of our transition offense.

I think it's just part of who we are. I love that our players manage it really well and sometimes the ball goes in and sometimes it doesn't. I think the really nice thing is learning, and especially helpful for this time of year is it doesn't affect the other end. I think one end doesn't affect the other end as much as it maybe would have early if we didn't have that experience.

Thank you everyone for being here, it means a lot to our fan base and all of us.