BIG 12 CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 8, 2024

Katrina Merriweather

Jillian Hayes

T-Mobile Center

Cincinnati Bearcats

Postgame Press Conference

West Virginia - 70, Cincinnati - 55

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Katrina Merriweather and student-athlete Jillian Hayes. Coach?

KATRINA MERRIWEATHER: Really proud of our second half effort. I thought we came out of the locker room and did a much better job of taking care of the ball, much better job of playing better offensively, and we defended much better. Obviously against a team like West Virginia you dig that big of a hole like we did in the first quarter, it makes it tough to bounceback.

Nonetheless, we didn't quit. We didn't give up. That's why I'm really proud of this team and always am.

Q. Jillian, you all held them scoreless the first seven minutes of the second half but you only had about six points to show for it. Was there any kind of frustration building there that you were holding them scoreless but you couldn't exactly capitalize on it?

JILLIAN HAYES: I feel like if anything it's more motivation. Getting stops is the end goal, but although we are not converting on offense, it's good to get stops, whether we're up 6-0 or 2-0 or 60-0. You know what I'm saying? So proud of how we defended to start the second half.

Q. You played them two times before. There was one game where they held you scoreless in the first quarter. Do you feel like you did a better job adjusting to go their defense the more you are played them?

JILLIAN HAYES: That's a good defensive team, and I think when you play against an aggressive defense like that, you have to be aggressive and attack. I think there were times when we shied away from that, but this game I feel like moments we did better with that.

Q. Overall what's it been like, Cincinnati's first year in the Big 12 conference? What has play been like this season compared to seasons past for conference play?

JILLIAN HAYES: Big 12 is one of the best if not the best conferences in the Power Five. It's been a great adjustment, obviously a hard adjustment though at the same time. I feel like it was definitely a year of growth for everybody and a year of learning, and I'm proud of how our team reacted.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.