MOUNTAIN WEST WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 9, 2025

Gordy Presnell

Tatum Thompson

Abby Muse

Thomas & Mack Center

Boise State Broncos

Postgame Press Conference

Boise State - 54, Nevada - 48

GORDY PRESNELL: Excited for our players. Nevada played terrific defense. We had a hard time getting a shot off, we felt like. They had limited reserves. They have some kids out. And if we could get them into the second and fourth quarter maybe they'll do something.

But I never dreamed that we would have seven and four on the first and third. We were fortunate to win. We had some kids step up. It was a really fun game, fun for our players. So glad we won.

Q. Slow start to the first and the third quarters. What's needed in those moments to get a rhythm going and get some offense?

ABBY MUSE: I think a big thing for us today was we stayed together. We stayed the course, and we knew what we had to do to execute the game plan. So when we had those slow moments that Coach was talking about, we were able to kind of grind it out with our defense. And then our offense was able to fall and our free throws luckily were able to fall.

TATUM THOMPSON: I also think we didn't let any moments bring us down and we stayed up and together the whole time. That was what carried us through to the end.

Q. Trading buckets like that towards the end, is that what got you through in that moment?

ABBY MUSE: Yeah, I think so. Like I said, we gritted it out. And our guards had some really, really big free throws. So I think just controlling the game at the end and controlling the ball and keeping our heads level in that process.

Q. Dani especially, she went 0-for-8 from the field, but hit 7-of-8 free throws, I think three or four in the end to pull away. What did you think of that?

TATUM THOMPSON: I thought it was good that she could hit those culture free throws at the end and put us over a little bit to finish it off.

ABBY MUSE: Dani is the definition of resilience. That performance is not a surprise at all. So really happy for her and happy for the team.

Q. Tatum, about five minutes to go in this game, you guys are behind by a single possession. Really close game the whole time. You seem to want the ball in your hands at that time. Can you just talk a little bit about what your mentality was when crunch time came and the game on the line?

TATUM THOMPSON: My mentality was just to look for my go-to shot, a jumper, try and go off the killer cut because they're doubling down in the post. That's what I was thinking in that moment.

Q. How much of an emphasis was on physicality inside tonight on defense, just given that's where they want to operate and that's how they get going?

GORDY PRESNELL: Physicality and communication. When we played them at their place, they outrebounded us by 20, which is a large margin in basketball. We were really committed to being physical.

And I have great respect for their program. The last play that Amanda run it was a terrific play that we were not prepared for. Obviously I think they turned it over, missed a shot, but it was a great play.

It's hard in those moments to come up with those kind of things. I know you've worked on them, but it still has to get in your brain that's what you're going to run. They did a great job. They just didn't hit the shot.

Q. Just a follow-up on the question I asked a moment ago to Tatum. I think it was a TV timeout at just under five minutes. I think you guys were down by either one or two at that point. What did you talk about with the team? It seemed like you wanted to go inside, pound it inside, get to the foul line, but what were you seeing and what were you telling your team in that moment?

GORDY PRESNELL: We tried to run some isos down low and they were doubling. Then we tried to get it out to Tatum. And Tatum is the one player on our team that can create her own shot instead of us creating shots for each other.

So in a panic mode or in a mode where the play breaks down, she's the person that we can go to because she is maybe the best vertical leap I've ever coached. And she's able to get her own shot.

Q. About Dani, her free-throw shooting in the end, not her best night from the field. Just what did you think about her resiliency?

GORDY PRESNELL: Yeah, you can't get worse, 0-for-8 and 0-for-5. But she was 7-for-8, and she didn't let that affect her. I was proud of her. She messed up at the end of the first half -- she didn't get in the mid-line and they scored right at the buzzer.

Then she came in the third quarter and apologized, and she was ready to go.

I'm proud of her. She's gone through a lot this year. I'm proud that she made those free throws.

Q. Can you just talk a little bit about how important it is to start out a tournament like this with a nice win, get some momentum going? And also kind of should have asked the players this, but what it's like for your team to be playing in a big environment like this, big arena, big professional arena, you know with all the sights and sounds, a big event feel, how does that feel for your team right now?

GORDY PRESNELL: I think we were prepared for that part of it. We've been in this situation before. And we played a pretty big event down in Florida. We played West Virginia and Butler and our kids have been in this position before. We're excited to get the win, excited to get the chance to play UNLV, which is just terrific.

But we have really good facilities at our place, and our crowds this year have been great. So I think if anything that prepared us.

Q. Your thoughts on tying the tournament wins record tonight?

GORDY PRESNELL: You know, I didn't make a shot. But I'm proud of that. I'm proud of who I get to represent at Boise State, and I'm proud of the players that I get to serve.

So, yeah, I didn't take a shot, didn't make a pass, but I'll certainly take it.