BIG 12 CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 12, 2022

Jennie Baranczyk

Taylor Robertson

Madi Williams

Oklahoma Sooners

Postgame Press Conference

Oklahoma 76, Baylor 91

THE MODERATOR: We are now joined by the Oklahoma Sooners. We have Coach Baranczyk and student-athletes Madi Williams and Taylor Robertson.

Q. Coach, I was curious what was happening. It seemed like a player goes down, you and Nicki were kind of yelling at each other and players involved.

JENNIE BARANCZYK: You know, honestly, as soon as I saw my kid go down, and we have had that happen this year, I ran out, and I probably did push people out of the way to get to her.

So there was -- I was not trying to disrespect anybody. I was just trying to get to my kid. That's it.

Q. Jennie, I know it's not the outcome you wanted, but how much can this game really play into the post-season possibly hosting first and second round games at the Lloyd noble Center?

JENNIE BARANCZYK: I think there were moments today that we feel really good about, and there's moments today that we don't.

Obviously Baylor is an incredible team. NaLyssa Smith is one of the best players in the country. They have a lot of experience; obviously a lot of experience here, too.

I think in terms of hosting, our resume is pretty good, and I think the strength of this conference is really good. Obviously this is my first year being in this conference, but there have been some great battles, some great games.

I think just as a whole we're playing some pretty darn good basketball teams, so for us to have that opportunity to host I think is -- I think we have earned it.

I think our nonconference strength of schedule was really good, and I think the Big XII's nonconference strength of schedules were really good.

So from a whole picture, I think we have earned it; at the same time, I don't have a say. I don't get a say. I would love if we do. I would love for the people in Oklahoma to get out there and get with us and be able to really help our team.

But no matter what, we get to keep playing, and how freakin' awesome is that? We are disappointed in today. We are 100% disappointed. We get to keep going! We're taking steps in this program and we're proud to continue to take those steps forward.

Q. Jennie, you guys took a 1-point lead late in that second quarter, but they went on a run to end that quarter and to start the third. What did you see from the game over those few minutes?

JENNIE BARANCZYK: Right, well, there were a couple different things. I think when we have our player movement I think we're really good.

When we kind of stand or try to just let one person try to create or do some things, it's not as good. And then obviously defensively they just pounded it in on us and we needed to adjust a little bit better.

Some of it we could have done a better job and some of it I don't know what we can do with NaLyssa Smith. I don't know what we can do with her, and I thought Caitlin Bickle was pretty good today as well.

Q. For Jennie and then for Taylor. Jennie, do you have an update on Skylar and how she is doing? And Taylor, I heard you were the team bracketologist. Jennie talked about the potential of hosting. Do you think this team will host and do you all deserve to host in the first round of the NCAA Tournament?

JENNIE BARANCZYK: You can go first.

TAYLOR ROBERTSON: Actually, the last few weeks I have tried to not think about that or even worry about it, just not even pay any attention to it.

We needed to focus on being us so I have tried to stay away. But I do think we should host and I do think it would be a really cool opportunity for us to host.

Either way, we just get to keep playing basketball so that's exciting.

JENNIE BARANCZYK: How about that! Madi and I are so shocked! Skylar, we don't know anything yet. We're hoping obviously for the best. I don't think anything will be confirmed until we get back.

Q. Coach, I was just wondering, y'all had so much success in the regular season against Baylor. What was the difference in them maybe this time around?

JENNIE BARANCZYK: That's a good question. I think there was -- I mean, I think NaLyssa Smith was incredible, and I think -- today, I think their interior play was better today than it probably was in either of those games.

I think Caitlin Bickle was a completely different player in this game than she was in those first two games. I think from that standpoint they scored the ball obviously really well.

They've got a lot of great talent. They've got great shooters on the outside. You've got to respect their great three-point shooting, and I know it's no secret we lack size on the interior, so they pounded it on us today.

I think that was part of the difference. Offensively I don't think we kept moving as much. We scored more, there were more possessions in the game, but I feel like we just left a lot out there, too.

Q. For Madi and then Taylor, more on the Skylar injury. In that play, what does it mean to you to have a coach that will run out on to the court like she did? Obviously she cares about y'all and will run out in those situations?

MADI WILLIAMS: Yeah, it means a lot as players to see that your coach will do anything to get to you if you go down, regardless if you're down or not. Jennie is always preaching about staying locked in with her because she has got our back and we know that. We feel that.

TAYLOR ROBERTSON: I mean, She got it. She's always got us, and we know that we got her, too, and it goes both ways, and to see that, it's just really cool to play for somebody like at that.

Q. Jennie, you guys had 13 turnovers, but the kicker was Baylor cashed that in immediately for 25 points off turnovers. What did you see there as far as just making a mistake but unable to prevent it from compounding on the other end?

JENNIE BARANCZYK: I think a big part of that is, again, the hesitation on where those turnovers come from. The pick six opportunities. Then also our transition defense. You know, that was an area of focus for us, and that's an area that we -- I thought we did a great job yesterday in terms of our transition defense. Today they got us. We need to do a better job of getting back in the paint.

Q. Madi, from your view, what didn't happen today that did happen in your two wins over Baylor? What did you guys not do today that you did when you were able to beat Baylor twice?

MADI WILLIAMS: I don't even know. I think that we struggled with getting back on defense in transition, whenever we did turn the ball over today, and I'm not sure if that was the difference between the first few times that we played them and today, but I know that's one thing we struggled with today.

And also NaLyssa, we really didn't have an answer for her. She is a great player. Yeah.

THE MODERATOR: All right, ladies, thank you very much.