BIG 12 CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 10, 2023

Jeff Mittie

Jaelyn Glenn

Gabby Gregory

Municipal Auditorium

Kansas State Wildcats

Postgame Press Conference

Texas 60, Kansas State 42

THE MODERATOR: We are now joined by the Kansas State Wildcats. Coach, if you would like to offer an opening statement.

COACH MITTIE: Well, I think a lot of things. I thought our defense was outstanding today. I thought we really defended Texas. I was really proud of our group.

We came in, we wanted to give ourselves an opportunity, get the game down to a second half game. We did a lot of things really well at the defensive end. Unfortunately, at the offensive end we couldn't get anything going.

I thought we had better shots early in the game, and then that second quarter we really struggled with some things. But proud of our group. Thought we did some good things defensively. We've got to play better against quality teams like Texas that give great defensive pressure. That he is an area that we've got to continue to grow in.

But congratulations to Texas. They did a lot of things inside that gave us trouble in the second half and ultimately that's the difference in the game.

Q. Jaelyn, seemed like when you were up 16-7 they called a timeout. It looked like they extended their defense a little bit. Did it make it harder to get good looks after that, when they made their run?

JAELYN GLENN: You said they were up 16 to --

Q. You were up 16-7.

JAELYN GLENN: Will you repeat the question? Sorry.

Q. They called a timeout when they were down 16-7 and it seemed like they extended their defense and made it harder for you guys to get the looks you wanted.

JAELYN GLENN: Um, yeah, I feel like just -- I feel like we just need to be better at staying in what we want to do. I feel like that's always kind of been a little bit of something that we struggle with.

Yes, I would give Texas credit for that, but ultimately we need to be better at that and staying in what we need to stay in and not let a defense take us out of what we are wanting to do.

Q. For both of y'all, it looks like probably WNIT is the best option for a chance to keep playing. How motivated are you to keep the season going then?

GABBY GREGORY: Obviously we want to play as many games as possible, so anytime you are invited to a tournament we want to attack it and we want to go play whatever tournament it is. WNIT, we're excited to play more basketball if we get the chance to.

JAELYN GLENN: I would add on to that, I've said it multiple times already, but I feel like we are making the strides that we're wanting to make. A pretty good time as our season is starting to wind down, so I think we are making those strides that we want to make in order to be successful, closing out the season. Yeah.

Ultimately just excited to keep playing and doing what we have to do and hopefully doing it well.

THE MODERATOR: Thanks, ladies. Questions for Coach?

Q. First of all, how is Serena?

COACH MITTIE: I think she is okay. It was a tough collision under the basket. She'll require a lot of ice and some rest. Well deserved. She plays awfully hard and plays through a lot of contact, but I think she is okay.

Obviously that's an ankle that has given her some trouble this year. So when she tweaks it, I guess the good news is she comes back fairly quickly. But she does require a couple days, and hopefully we will be able to give that to her.

Q. Your thoughts on the postseason?

COACH MITTIE: Well, you know, I think they said it well. I think we've done some good things down the stretch here. We have had a roller coaster of a year. We've got some big wins. We have had some disappointing losses, but the opportunity to play, we're a pretty young basketball team, you know. That's the one thing that -- you've got three sophomores in the lineup. Gabby is new to us, we have Eliza Maupin who is playing as a true freshman. I think anytime you have an opportunity to play for a championship, while we're disappointed we are not in the NCAAs, we will attack the NIT with an idea of going to win a championship if we get that opportunity.

THE MODERATOR: Coach, thank you for your time.