AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 6, 2023

Lisa Stockton

Kyren Whittington

Dynah Jones

Dickies Arena

Tulane Green Wave

Postgame Press Conference

Tulane 61, Cincinnati 52

LISA STOCKTON: Well, again, it's great to be playing again tomorrow. I think that our first thought is that the game was very physical, and I thought we didn't adjust very well in the first half. We felt like we didn't play very well the first half and were still within four points. We challenged our team to hold on to the ball, make better decisions with the ball, and get out and run. I think that's where we're really good is to get out and run, and we were able in the second half to get some things in transition.

I'm proud of this team. I think coming into a tournament like this, they're really focused, and it didn't matter if it's ugly, we're just glad to be winning.

Q. Plus 16 on free throws, plus 13 rebounds. Is it that simplistic to say that was the difference in the game?

LISA STOCKTON: Definitely. I think what really kept them in the first half was our turnovers, so we cut those down, but the rebounding was really key. I thought we did a good job in that last quarter of not giving them extra opportunities. The free-throw line, I looked up one time and we were shooting like 96 percent from the free-throw line, so we were trying to get there as much as we could.

Q. In the fourth quarter you had two field goals in total, but were able to salt it away with 15 at the free-throw line. How much of a difference was that down the stretch?

LISA STOCKTON: Well, I was really happy when they kept fouling Hakes. That was good. And we felt like if we kept the ball in her hands, she's really confident there. But yeah, finding a way to win at this time of year I think is important, and we did.

Q. Did you have a sense that the game was going to look like it did tonight with two pretty good defensive physical teams? Further on the rebounding, 19-17 in your favor on the basket you're shooting at.

LISA STOCKTON: I mean, they beat us at our place. They got hopped on the three and so we knew we had to guard that up there. I thought it was really physical up there. But this was definitely more so.

Everyone comes to this tournament and it's a new season. For Cincinnati, this was their chance to really make the season something different. So we knew we were going to get a good game from them, and again, I thought they were going to be really physical, and they were. I think we handled it pretty well.

Q. Kyren, in a game like this where defense is at a real premium or points are at a premium, particularly in the first half, how much did you feel like you had to shoulder the load, finishing with 18 points and carrying the load offensively?

KYREN WHITTINGTON: I just think I've been saying this all year, just doing what I need to do for the team, whatever it is, I don't care, offensively, defensively. Of course tonight I had the most points or whatever, but that's what I felt like the team needed. Just executing, and if it's my turn, it's my turn, if it's her turn, it's her turn. I don't care, just try to get a win.

Q. Dynah, you've played a few games in this tournament. You know what it takes to advance. What was your sense of how things progressed tonight and then looking ahead?

DYNAH JONES: We definitely didn't start off how we wanted to with the turnovers and things. But we really locked in on defense in the second half, and we cut down our turnovers, and I think that's what really helped us get the win tonight.

Q. Coach, if you would just look ahead to tomorrow's game. You've had the split with East Carolina during the season, each team winning on its home floor. What do you expect to see tomorrow?

LISA STOCKTON: Well, I think we just played them not long ago, which is kind of helpful as far as a one-day turnaround. But they have had a tremendous season. I think you look at the conference awards, they've really done a great job. They definitely have some players that can really make a difference in the game.

For us, having that win at home on senior night, I think that certainly gives us confidence going into it. I know we can't have these turnovers against them. If we have these kind of turnovers against them, it won't be a game. Maybe we got them out tonight I'm hoping. But we're excited about it. I think that you're playing a team that you have played well against. That's a little bit of confidence. For us, fatigue, I don't think it'll be a factor because I think we're really excited to be playing.