Recap | Box Score | Notes
OAKLAND VS. ORAL ROBERTS
POSTGAME QUOTES
Oakland University Head Coach Beckie Francis
On the team's big win today
"I'm speechless. Oral Roberts doesn't lose at home, and the fact that we played solid defense and kept them to an 0-for-16 stretch is an attribute to our toughness, focus, and preparation, and again, we had some really good play with Anna Patritto playing well off the bench, and Hanna (Reising) sparking us, and April (Kidd) just getting ten rebounds again and locking up (ORU's Mariana) Camargo."
On whether or not shutting down ORU's Janae Voelker was a focus prior to today's game
"Yes. Voelker had a very good game against us in the semifinals of the Summit League tournament last year, and our players are very competitive and remembered that. Yes, it was our focus to stop their three leading scorers, just like it is for any team we play. We look at their best scorers, put our three best defenders on them, focus and try to win that war."
On maintaining the offensive gameplan despite some shots not falling
"We did show some composure. Oral Roberts made a run at us, and a couple shots didn't fall, but we kept our composure and kept battling, and I really attribute that to our toughness."
Oral Roberts University Head Coach JERRY FINKBEINER
On the flow of the game in the first half, where ORU charged back to within two at the half
"I credit Oakland. They started a lineup that is probably more mature than our lineup. I think we were in a catch-up mode all night long, despite being up by one or two in the second half. It just felt like we were in a catch-up mode. The tempo of the game was skewed towards Oakland, and we were never in a comfort zone all night long."
On the team's 0-for-16 field goal drought in the second half
"We tried different kids off the bench. I played everybody in the second half to find out who could make a shot, and nobody ever did. This is one for the record books, I'm sure. We shot 16 percent in the second half and 22 for the game. You have to credit your opponents any time you shoot that poorly on your own floor. We're going to have to look at the tape, and try to find the reasoning for it so hopefully it won't happen again."
On the competition thus far in the Summit League
"I expect it to be the same as every year. I think there are going to be three or four teams that, at the end of the year, have a chance to win it. Right now we're on the outside of that three or four, but we're hoping that in a month and a half's time, we can sink back into it. Until then, Oakland is playing well, South Dakota State is playing well, Western Illinois is on the rise with new kids in their lineup, North Dakota State is really tough at home, so I think it'll be like any other season. The one through four or five seeds have a chance to win a three-game tournament. Right now I'd say we're not there, and it's our goal to get there."
