Jan. 5, 2009
Notes | Photo Gallery 
Oakland Head Coach Beckie Francis
Opening Statement
"That was a fun game, wasn't it? I was really proud that this team prepared for this game in practice. We always tell them that it's the practice sessions that get them ready. They've practiced really hard, they felt prepared and they just went out and executed. I just loved how they stayed focused for the whole 40 minutes and it was the whole team again and I want to give credit to the entire team. Our bench came in and did a really good job so our starters could close it off in the end."
On this game changing the scope of the conference season
"That's a tough call. We try to take every game one-by-one, but it was obvious that everyone in the league was watching this game. Oakland has been playing some good teams and has had wins and they're wondering if we're going to knock off South Dakota State or succumb to losing like every team they've played but Maryland. But we approached it as if we didn't know who we were playing. We focused on in practice what we needed to correct from the North Dakota State game and Marquette game and focused on our stuff. I think that reduces the pressure and the hoopla of who you are playing."
On whether Oakland felt this was a must-win game
"No, I'm the opposite of (Greg) Kampe. He keeps track of all the records in the league and who needs to beat who and it's really fun when he does that it, but sometimes, I don't even look at the standings. I don't want to know, so tell me my seed at the end. When it's in The Summit League Tournament, it's about whoever is hot at the end and whatever seed you get, wonderful. I really look at it that way. If we end up winning the league at the end of the year, that's great too, but we take it one game at a time and we focus on what we have to do to get better."
On adjustments made in the second half
"They're a really good team and we worked really hard on transition and guarding threes, which is what they do, and they just had a really wild flurry for a moment. That's who they are and we just kept our composure and said, `Let's weather the storm They are a great team and they're going to make a run at us, so let's get ourselves together and regroup.' That's why I am really proud of them, because we didn't lose our cool. I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't know they were only down by two points, which is probably why we weren't nervous. We knew it was just a streak and a run they were on. I knew we could stop it because our defense is good."
Senior guard April Kidd
On thoughts coming into this game against a ranked league opponent
"I think we knew we had to prepare ourselves because South Dakota State is a really tough team. We had to forget about North Dakota State and all of our focus was on South Dakota State. I'm really proud of our bench and I love our team. We are so deep and our underclassmen are so mature. That really helps."
On giving SDSU a taste of their own medicine
"Yeah, they're a really good team. We treated this game like it was a championship game. This was a really big game for us. We just have to remember to bring it all year. We're going to face this again when it comes to The Summit League Tournament."
On thoughts when the Jackrabbits pulled within two with five minutes to go
"To be honest, I really didn't know it was that close. We practice those things all the time in practice, since we practice situation games, and I think that prepared us mentally and physically. We just came out and did what we had to do to get the game done to win,"
On how playing ranked Purdue and Georgia helped them prepare
"Any team we play, we think it's a challenge because we never want to underestimate a team. Georgia and Purdue were really good and it would have been really good to get those wins, but it helped prepare us for our league play and our league is really tough. It was really good that we had those tough teams in the beginning of the season."
South Dakota State Head Coach Aaron Johnston
Opening Statement
"The outcome of the game is exactly what should have happened based on how the game was played from our standpoint and from Oakland's standpoint. I just think they really outplayed us in most of the categories that are important for both teams. It's a very good win for them, and they certainly deserve it based on how they played."
On the lack of rebounding by his team
"Well it's more the effort. I can be disappointed with our team but also be complimentary of Oakland. I just think there was a big disparity in effort and rebounding was a big part of it. There wasn't an enormous disparity (in the overall numbers), but it seemed like anytime there was a close one, they got it and that is what my issue would be. We worked around the boards, we just didn't come away with any of the jump ball, I guess you would say, rebounds. They got all the big ones, and again, that comes down to their effort, and our lack of effort."
On finally having a first half deficit catching up with them
"It's great how much we come back as much as we have. This game to me felt very different. We just absolutely didn't show up as much, it wasn't so much as an effort thing, we just didn't execute as well and cleaned it up. This game it just didn't feel like, from the get go, that we had the type of focus that it was going to take. Oakland was much better in that area. This game felt different. You never want to be down by double digits, but this game I thought would be a big struggle to come back from. Even when we started to make shots in the second half, we were given up layups when that was going on. It wasn't because we changed defensively, or rebounded better, we just hit a lot of shots and played well offensively."
On sticking with a group of players
"We were just trying to play the kids that were playing well. Our bench was shortened tonight, more so out of our performance, rather than coach's decision. I love all of our players, by they made it pretty easy in the second half. It wasn't tough to figure out who we were going to have on the floor. There weren't a whole lot of tough decisions. It was pretty clear that we had to go with the group and see if we could get over the hump."
On running out of gas
"I'd say we got frantic. We got it back to two, and there is always a certain amount of chaos that we play with and that is a good thing for us, but I think we got frantic there. We had some sets that weren't run real well and they got some extra effort plays again. They got a couple of transition plays, an offensive rebound and once they made those it seemed like we were done."
On not playing well in front of NCAA selection committee member
"I don't think so. They're not going to look at any one particular game and make a decision I wouldn't think. I'm glad it was somebody from the selection committee rather than my family tonight, I'll tell you that."
On it being a good thing that somebody from the selection committee drove here to see these two teams
"Yes, it's definitely a good thing. It's the same thing that they do for any team that is in that ranking, or potential bubble team. I don't think they rolled out the red carpet, we really appreciate them being here and that's good for the Summit League, Oakland and South Dakota State. I think both teams are going to be in contention, whether that be an at large bid, or the automatic bid. Where you are seeded in that tournament really determines on how well you do at the event. To have someone see both of these teams, if one has a chance to move on, is only going to help."
South Dakota State guard Jennifer Warkenthien
On the first half difficulties
"We just didn't come ready to play. Rebound we didn't get, they had a ton of offensive rebounds. We had way too many turnovers and we didn't get good shots, we just settled for whatever was easy. We just really didn't come ready to play."
On Oakland's defense and if it was surprising
"I think their defense played well, but a lot of that is us not being aggressive. That goes both ways with both teams."
On running out of gas near the end
"The mindset when we came out to play was different, than when you're up by 10 or 15 points, you're just feeling good about things. Overall I think we just have to dig down a little deeper."
On first loss as a ranked team
"You just look at it as another game, not if you are ranked or not. Our team doesn't really focus on the fact that we are ranked right now. Whether or not we were, we didn't come out ready to play."
