BIG 12 CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 7, 2025

Krista Gerlich

Loghan Johnson

T-Mobile Center

Texas Tech Lady Raiders

Postgame Press Conference

Oklahoma State 62, Texas Tech 59

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by Texas Tech Head Coach Krista Gerlich and Loghan Johnson.

KRISTA GERLICH: I could not ask for a more valiant effort from our kids. Everybody saw that game and saw it go down to the wire, and our kids gave everything they had. And it's a cryin' shame that somebody had to lose that game, to be honest. But our kids had every opportunity to come to this tournament and not give a damn, to be honest, the way our season went in February.

And they all gathered together. They've believed in what we were doing all year long. They continued to fight, and they were making a hell of a run in this tournament.

And it's unfortunate that they could not have made some history, because there has never been a lower seed than 10 make it to the semifinals in the Big 12, and that should say something right there.

But I'm super proud of these kids and all that they stand for. And they believe in the Lady Raider basketball program and the Texas Tech that's on their chest. Everybody that watched that game knows how hard they played and how much integrity and how much guts they have.

Q. Coach, Stailee Heard with 17 of 20 from the foul line. You guys played great defense against Oklahoma State, but what kind of a challenge was it to contain her at the rim?

KRISTA GERLICH: It's tough when she gets to shoot more free throws than our entire team does; right? She is a terrific player, poses problems for defenses. We are a really good basketball team defensively, and I thought we had a really good plan for her and the team. But if she can get to the free-throw line that many times, it's going to be difficult to win a basketball game.

Q. Coach, what's impressed you most about your team over this three-game run? Seems like balanced scoring.

KRISTA GERLICH: Just the fight that they've had. And the belief in what we've been doing, and just the faith in what we've been doing. Like I said, February was a really, really hard month for us. They continued to fight. Everybody that we played we were right in the ball game. So during this three-game run, I felt like we finally were firing on all cylinders. We finally put the pieces together. They were playing really well together and for each other. But, man, I loved their heart and their fight, and that's all I can ask from them.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.