March 6, 2010

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Western Illinois, 68 Oakland 57
Oakland Women's Quotes

Coach Beckie Francis
About the Game
"I thought that Western Illinois did a nice job of game prep. They came into doubling Melissa (Jeltema) and Bethany (Watterworth) and it worked for them. Then, they were just on fire. When you look at their field goal percentage for the year and the fact that we were the best defensive team in the league, it is hard to believe. They don't shoot like that. But you have to give them all the credit, they hit shots under fire."

On Shooting Woes
"We got great looks and we were able to get the ball to the people that we wanted to shoot. It was just that they would not fall in. The shots would get to the rim and just fall out. It was frustrating. I felt, and I think the team was the same way, that if one of those (shots) go in it would help everything, including on defense. It was not our night and perhaps not our year to go."

On Western Illinois
"They are a physical team and (Ashley) Lord is a big presence. She was hard to get around. We had a hard time denying some of their shots. And, give them credit, they came in here and played very aggressive and shot well."

On the Loss
"I think the team is still in shock. There were two players crying in the locker room and the rest had this stunned look on their face - like what happened? We are stunned and I know I still am stunned. It has not hit me yet, maybe it will later. I think we are one of the better teams in the league and this season we proved that - just not today."

"I just think the basketball gods did not want us to win. As the game went on, I think we started getting tight. When you can't get shots to fall, you get tense and the other team gets more relaxed."

Melissa Jeltema, Oakland Forward, 16 points, 10 rebounds
"In the entire game, they were doubling me. I didn't get the looks and I just didn't hit the shots that I needed to."

Bethany Watterworth, Oakland Forward, 6 points, 10 rebounds
"Coming in, we saw the scouting reports that showed they were hitting just 30 percent from three but today they were hitting everything. We weren't talking very well on defense, about who would switch and cover who. Then, they were just knocking down shots and we weren't hitting our shots."

Western Illinois Women's Quotes
Coach Leslie Crane

About the win
"Obviously, we are extremely excited to be here and this win over Oakland. Oakland is a very good team. Our kids stayed with the game plan. They did a good job of slowing down their game. We only had 13 turnovers and I think that was a huge stat right there."

On Seeding
"That 7 and 2, something about those numbers. It's always dangerous."

Difference Between Losing to SDSU by 46 and Winning Today
"If I knew the answer to that I'd be in Las Vegas. We talked all week about how a league tournament is a clean slate... We talked quite about preparing ourselves for the tournament and getting the best seed we could. I just felt like February was a different month for us. Yeah, we didn't play well Monday, but we did some good things Saturday (Feb. 28). We watched some film on Oakland. (We tightened up our defense in the lane) and "only gave them one option - the three-pointer. They have been sketchy at the three-point line as we have. Once we took the transition away, it was a whole new game."

"Consistent scoring was a huge key (for us).When there were times we didn't score, our defense didn't let down. In the second half we just completely shut some things down. We really executed it well tonight."

On Anne Borgortoepping
"She was very important tonight. She's kind of been up and down with her scoring. We've told her all along that we have faith in her. It's a matter of her getting faith in herself. Sometimes she hasn't shot as well as she did tonight. (She averages just under five points a game and finished today's game with 20 points; six of ten from the field and seven of seven from the line)."

"Our defense really made a difference tonight. We knew they were going to be fouling us. You've got to be able to make your free throws down the stretch. We tried to keep the ball in the hands of Anne (Borgortoepping) and Jordon (O'Brien)."

On Confidence of the Team
"It's huge for the confidence of our kids and how they believe. We struggled last year and this year. This is the third season and anything can happen. It's more about the kids and believing in themselves. It's more about the kids (than our past tradition.) I'm proud for them."

Jordon O'Brien
"It's a great feeling. I remembered that upset. It felt great to be the team that pulled the upset."