BIG 12 CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 6, 2025

Krista Gerlich

Denae Fritz

Bailey Maupin

T-Mobile Center

Texas Tech Lady Raiders

Postgame Press Conference

Texas Tech 75, Utah 64

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by Texas Tech Head Coach Krista Gerlich, student-athletes Denae Fritz and Bailey Maupin. Coach?

KRISTA GERLICH: Great to see you guys again. That was a fantastic basketball game. I think Utah is a really good team, and I think the world of Gavin. I think he has done an exceptional job.

I think our kids came out and they were super prepared. They understood their roles, the game plan and how we were trying to attack them on offense. And everybody played their role, and they gave us all they had.

We told them to empty the tank, and I think they did. It was a fantastic game, and it was really fun to see the Lady Raiders play that way.

Q. Do you feel there is an advantage to get that early game against some of these byes, and what allowed you to take Utah out of their game?

KRISTA GERLICH: I have always thought that, just because of my experience in the tournaments, it just allows you to get your first-game jitters out. Sometimes the first game is the hardest one just because of that, right? It's a new season. You don't get much time in the gym to shoot. Everybody is excited.

So, yeah, I definitely think that we had an advantage. We at least talked about it, having an advantage. That was the mind game, I guess you can say, that we were playing with your kids, was that it was definitely an advantage.

I felt like we knew we wanted to come in against Utah and really pressure them, and I think our kids came out of the gate with that mind-set. They were in attack mode. They were confident. And I think our pressure affected Utah, and they weren't able to get in a good rhythm.

Q. Utah had a hard time getting their shot, but every once in a while they would try to come back and cut into your lead. How important was it for you to feel that rhythm and see the shots fall?

BAILEY MAUPIN: Basketball is a game of runs, always has been and always will be. But staying consistent in all we do. Staying consistent in backcourt pressure and making open shots is what ultimately won this ball game for us.

DENAE FRITZ: Yeah, I would have to say the same thing. Both teams are going on runs, and it's just like who can get a stop on the defensive end first, honestly. I think that, when it came late in the game, that we shared the ball really well and we took really good shots.

Q. Coach, congrats on the win.

KRISTA GERLICH: Thank you.

Q. I hope you celebrate it tonight, but I really want to know about tomorrow's match-up, obviously, with Oklahoma State. You said you guys emptied your tanks tonight. You played two games, you got another fresh set of legs coming in tomorrow, how do you get the tanks back full?

KRISTA GERLICH: It's March Madness, baby, right? It's adrenaline, right? This is that time of year. We emptied our tanks because, if we didn't, we wouldn't be playing tomorrow, to be honest. We told them that. And now we will reload.

I thought our kids did a fantastic job of recovery over the last 24 hours. Their mind-set was great. They focused on our game prep. Our training staff is doing a fantastic job. Shout-out to Brenna and Kyle for just getting our kids prepared and to get them rejuvenated.

To be honest, we played in the Virgin Islands this year and played three games back-to-back-to-back late at night, and we said the entire time this is why we did that, was to prepare for this moment right now.

I think our kids will be ready for it. They're playing for their lives right now, they're playing for their season, they're playing for their sisters, so there is nothing that can replace that. They're going to give it their all. They will be ready.

Q. You haven't seen Oklahoma State since January and only played them one time. But I know you know them and players know them from years past. What do you prepare for whenever you've got to prepare for a team each and every day throughout the tournament?

KRISTA GERLICH: Yes, we are familiar with them, which is fantastic for us. Everybody is familiar with each other this time of year. We know that they are really good three-point shooters, they can really score the ball. Stailee Heard is a fantastic player, and she is the core of that team.

But we're going to go back and let these kids rest and let them recover. And then in the morning we will get back at it and remind them, you know, of the roster, of the personnel, and then just figure out a great game plan to have another great attack tomorrow night.

Q. You have a pretty upperclassmen-heavy roster, but you had younger players step up today. What did you see from them, namely, Jalynn and Loghan, that helped you guys out with the win and has helped you to this point in the tournament?

KRISTA GERLICH: I thought Loghan was tough tonight. She understood her role and how we wanted to attack. She didn't play great yesterday, I don't think she scored, and I think she had five turnovers last night. I know she was determined to play better and contribute to our team. I thought she was great off the bounce.

I thought she was really good on defense, obviously, and I just am proud of the maturity that she is showing and growing on the court. Jalynn Bristow came in and was shaky when she first game in the game, and she knew it. She wasn't happy with herself, but when we put her back in late, and she hit that big three, it was huge. Really big for her. We need her to be consistent and to play minutes because she is a really talented individual.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.