BIG 12 CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 8, 2024

Krista Gerlich

Jasmine Shavers

Bailey Maupin

T-Mobile Center

Texas Tech Lady Raiders

Postgame Press Conference

Baylor - 71, Texas Tech - 60

THE MODERATOR: We are now joined by Texas Tech Head Coach Krista Gerlich, and student-athletes Jasmine Shavers and Bailey Maupin.

Coach, if you could open up with a statement.

KRISTA GERLICH: Incredible fight. I thought, from our kids tonight, especially with the short turn around and with the adversity that this team has gone through, I thought we gave such a valiant effort and couldn't ask more from our kids. I thought they gave themselves a chance to win.

We certainly emptied the tank in the third quarter and got ourselves back in it and gave ourselves every opportunity. Obviously Baylor turned up the pressure in the fourth and caused turnovers that led to easy baskets for them, which was unfortunate for us, as hard as we were working in the first three to keep them at bay and keep the game close.

I'm really, really proud of our kids, super proud of these two and love the fact that the majority of the kids that were on the floor for most of the second half are all underclassmen that will be coming back, so that's a bright future for Texas Tech.

Q. Can you identify any positives or lessons learned from today's game that your team can build upon moving forward to the next season, especially with a lot of your student-athletes returning?

JASMINE SHAVERS: Yes, I think the lessons that we have learned, I think this whole week has just been our ability to stay together and come together even though we have faced adversity throughout the whole season. And just to know that, you know, we were desperate to play another game with each other.

I think that's definitely going to carry on to the culture we're going to have next year within the next team, next season, just knowing any adversity we face, we are going to come out stronger and on top because we have done it before.

BAILEY MAUPIN: I think we came together just like Jas said. We have been through a lot, but at the same time it's helped us be who we are. And just going into next year, with the same people, I think it will be really good for us, so I'm excited about that.

KRISTA GERLICH: Obviously when your two leading scorers are sophomores, I think that speaks to the future, especially against a team like Baylor, when their main focus are the two of these kids sitting beside me. I loved our fight. I loved our togetherness.

I just think that we really showed a lot of resiliency this year by staying together through that really tough five weeks that we played, and for them to come here and give this type of showing, it speaks a lot to their character and to what they're made of and how proud they are to be Lady Raiders.

THE MODERATOR: Thanks everyone.