GEICO PLAYERS ERA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

November 27, 2025

Dawn Staley

Ta'Niya Latson

MGM Grand Garden Arena

South Carolina Gamecocks

Women's Postgame Press Conference

Texas - 66, South Carolina - 64

Q. Ta'Niya, on the next-to-last play where you drew the foul and hit the two free throws what was the call coming out of the timeout?

TA'NIYA LATSON: To get a stop. That was the call. We had to get a stop after that.

DAWN STALEY: Coming out of the timeout?

Q. Where you made the free throws.

DAWN STALEY: The play that she got fouled on?

Q. Tied the game.

DAWN STALEY: That was the play. Simply. That's what she's great at.

Q. You guys got outrebounded tonight, gave up 16 offensive rebounds. What stood out to you on the boards, and why Texas was able to get the edge there?

TA'NIYA LATSON: They had just the extra edge from the beginning of the game. We knew the game was going to be won on rebounding.

We've got to box out. That's something we've got to get better at, especially in games like this.

Q. Ta'Niya, this isn't the last time you'll play Texas this year. Could play them a few more times. What's the biggest thing you'll take from this match-up?

TA'NIYA LATSON: We're not where we want to be. But we're going to get there. We are going to see them again. We've just got to dig deep, have personal conversations with each other, continue to grow and build chemistry.

But we know it's hard. It's going to take all of us to get on the boards, make good plays and follow what the coaches need us to do.

Q. Raven was the primary guard on Madison Booker, and she made things really hard on her for a lot of the game. What did you like about that match-up when she was guarding her?

DAWN STALEY: Anytime you're matching up with any of the Texas guards, your number one thing is to make them be as inefficient as possible. Make them miss shots. I mean, we did a really good job with Booker up to the end where she hit some really key buckets. I think we actually had to give Raven a blow. And in that blow she got hot. Once a player like that gets hot, the bucket gets pretty big.

But I like Raven's physicality. I like how she played underneath there. I like how she chased off screens and made it difficult for her to catch, because once she gets the ball, you know, she's got some height and she can just kind of shoot over you.

Q. Joyce has such an ability to change the game for you guys and fuel runs. She did yesterday, and today helped you guys come back. But wasn't able to score in the fourth quarter, four rebounds. What's the next step for her in terms of making an impact for 40 minutes?

DAWN STALEY: Next step is you've got to be able to make plays, plays for yourself and plays for your teammates. That's the next step. I think she had about three shots in the fourth quarter that were kind of forced. But we give her the leeway to do that.

But she just has to be aware because I think she had Tessa in a corner. Just being aware. She's a young player that we have to put her in situations and show her situations in real time and also gain -- this was a great game, great SEC game. Great game for us to kind of learn what we need to do in order for us to win games like this.

I'm not upset at all at this game. This is going to help us because there are a lot of things to unpack in it. We play some players that needed to get experience in big-time games.

And then I think we found someone that could -- we're a little more comfortable with putting in the game in Adhel Tac. That gave us valuable minutes. And I like her energy and effort out there. And I like her rebounding.

Q. What are some of the things you liked about your team in this ball game that, moving forward, will help you?

DAWN STALEY: I did like our rebounding until the fourth quarter. I thought we were edging them out and rebounding.

Now, I like to say that Madina got another double-double. I just like the fact that we got some experience with this team playing a team that pretty much brings back the core of their team. And if you can give them a run for their money in that way, I mean, you're on to something. You're on to being a better team.

So, I like our resiliency. We've just got to clean up some things at the end of the game.

Q. I believe Texas shot 47 percent or better in three quarters and obviously second quarter you guys really locked them down from the field. But what stood out to you defensively tonight?

DAWN STALEY: For us? I mean, we played our style of defense. This is kind of who we are but with a new team, with new players that have to play significant roles for us. I like the fact that we can clearly see where we need to get better. It's clear.

We weren't disciplined in guarding screening actions. Not very disciplined, given them an advantage before we even actually are able to get back in front of them. So we're much more disciplined in how we guard staggers and off-ball screening.

Q. I know it's still fresh, but what are some of the positive takeaways from this tournament, and will you be back?

DAWN STALEY: Yeah, we'll be back for two more years. Positive, you get great competition. You're able to get some quality wins. Even in this loss, it's a quality loss. So it doesn't really hurt us. But I like our team. I like our team. I like the fact that they gutted it out, and I like the fact that again we could see where we faltered, and when you can see that and when you have people in the game that understand it a little bit better, we're moving the chain. We're going to move the chain in practice, that's the most important thing.