SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

March 6, 2024

Robin Pingeton

Mama Dembele

Hayley Frank

Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Missouri Tigers

Postgame Press Conference

Florida 66, Missouri 60

THE MODERATOR: We're now joined by Missouri. We'll start with an opening statement from Coach.

ROBIN PINGETON: Yeah, obviously just another tough game for us. I feel like it's been kind of our story of the season, our ability to win three quarters, just not quite get over that hump.

But I am so proud of this team. I've never had a team in 30-plus years of coaching that's been just from top to bottom, they do things the right way. Their characters, their work ethic. You feel like good things should happen. But sometimes that happens in life.

I think it speaks volumes about their character, the way they continue to show up and pour into each other.

As hard as it's been this season, coming up short on the scoreboard, this group is winning in life. I couldn't be more proud of 'em, and just blessed to go through this journey with them.

THE MODERATOR: We'll take questions for the student-athletes.

Q. What will you take away from your time at Missouri?

HAYLEY FRANK: Well, it's just been an honor to wear this jersey for the last five years, to get to play for Coach P. I told her, when we were going through some adversity my freshman year, it's like (tearing up)...

I came here to be a better person. It's not just all about basketball. I think she helped me do that. This program helped me do that. I was blessed with some really great teammates, best friend sitting right here. Definitely don't know if this is completely it, but if it is, not quite the end that we wanted.

I'm just really thankful that I got five years to represent my home state.

MAMA DEMBELE: The same thing as Frankie, just the relationships, how much I've grown as a player but also as a person. I love basketball, but I understood that just being that far away from home, just finding another family, it's the biggest thing for me. Just proud of everyone. Proud of Coach P, the staff, all my teammates. They're just great.

At the end of the day it's bigger than basketball (tearing up). I just love them.

THE MODERATOR: We'll let the student-athletes go at this time. Thank you, ladies.

We'll now take questions for head coach.

Q. What has Frankie and Mama meant to this program?

ROBIN PINGETON: Well, you just got a chance to see what incredible young ladies they are. They meant a lot, certainly on the court, but I just think incredible ambassadors for this university. Couldn't find two people to represent our program better than what they have.

They're just big picture of just learning and growing and embracing. It's just they're incredibly special. I mean, we've got a lot of records. Frankie, everything she's been able to do in her five years. Then Mama, just her consistent growth, now where she's at today, the All-Defensive Team. Finally found her voice and took the reins from a leadership standpoint.

There just aren't words. It's crazy because the outside world values so much of the win on the scoreboard. We do, too. We are so freaking competitive, it's not even funny, in that locker room. And not satisfied.

But it is bigger than that. How they show up every day, what they've done, they're winning in life at a high, high level. They got a lot to be proud of.

THE MODERATOR: Coach, thank you for your time.

ROBIN PINGETON: Thank you.