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Press Conference: UCA and McNeese
KATY, Texas – The two-time Southland women's tournament champions are still in the building, one step closer to a possible third title.
No. 7 seed McNeese overcame a seven-point deficit, rallying to defeat Central Arkansas 66-62 in a second-round game at Merrell Center on Friday afternoon to set up a Saturday date against No. 2 seed Stephen F. Austin beginning at 2:30 p.m., CT.
“I thought our kids really fought hard today,” Cowgirls coach Brooks Donald Williams said. “I thought we did just a great job in answering their runs.”
It was McNeese's (19-12) last run that proved to be the difference.
Trailing 60-56 with 1:02 left, the Cowgirls came out of a timeout with a play for second-team All-Southland guard Allison Baggett, whose 3-point attempt took one long bounce before falling in to cut the margin to one with 56 seconds remaining.
“Whenever I released it, I was thinking that it's in,” Baggett (14 points) said, “but when it hit the rim, I got frustrated, but it went in and everything's good.”
Things got better when guard Jayln Johnson (19 points, six assists) scored on a fast-break basket and then converted the ensuing free throw to give the Cowgirls a 62-60 lead with 20 seconds remaining.
Still, McNeese had to withstand one last shot from the Sugar Bears (18-12), who put in the hands of Southland player of the year Courtney Duever. The senior had a good look at the potential game-tying basket, yet the ball fell short of its destination and into the arms of the Cowgirls’ Cecilia Okoye, who then made two free throws to make the score 64-60.
“MVPs are supposed to be making those shots, and I didn't,” an emotional Duever (13 points, five rebounds) said afterward. “I had the shot and I didn't knock it down.”
The Sugar Bears got a stellar performance off the bench from senior Micah Rice, who scored a team-high 19 points and added four rebounds and four steals in 35 minutes of work.
Central Arkansas was also hampered by their lack of size, as McNeese held a 40-26 edge on the glass while also getting a double-double from Okoye (18 points, 15 rebounds) in what was a physical contest between the two rivals.
“That's what you're supposed to be come tournament time,” Sugar Bears coach Sandra Rushing said of the physical style of play.
Central Arkansas was able to use its quickness, which resulted in forcing 15 turnovers from McNeese. The Sugar Bears made the most of the opportunities, scoring 21 points off the miscues.
Brittany Agee had 18 points and six assists for Central Arkansas, which shot 42 percent from the field.
Postgame Quotes…
McNeese State Coach: Brooks Donald Williams
“It was such a tough effort from our girls. UCA is a great team. We have had a lot of tradition with our rivalry. I thought they played really hard…they are extremely well coached. But our kids really fought hard today and I thought we just did a great job of answering their runs. We fought and answered runs better than we have all year. I am really proud of our kids.”
On coming back from four-point deficit late in the game:
“I think the message in every timeout was about getting stops. We couldn’t continue to trade baskets…we needed to really score and get a stop. That was the biggest emphasis in all the timeouts at the end. It was about getting stops.”
On her approach to this game:
“We are just a different team…that’s the bottom line. I don’t think we were the same team when we played Central Arkansas at the Civic Center. We felt like if we could keep the tempo that way, it would be to our advantage.”
On facing Stephen F. Austin in semifinals:
“SFA is playing really well. They were really tough at their place. It is going to be a tough challenge. But I don’t have any doubt that our kids will go back to the drawing board and get to work and our kids will show up ready to go. Similar to Duever (UCA), Porsha (SFA) is just tough inside and we respect her game a lot. It is going to take a team effort to stop her.”
McNeese State guard Jayln Johnson
On go-ahead lay-up in the closing seconds of the game:
“Transition was a big part of our whole game. I knew once it came off the rim that I had to go.
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McNeese State forward Cecilia Okoye
On how long of rest she will need after the game:
“Not too long because we have to worry about our next game.”
McNeese State guard Allison Baggett
On if she thought her late three-pointer was going in:
“Yeah…whenever I released it I was thinking that’s in but when it hit the rim I got a little frustrated. But then it went in and everything was good. I had a feeling it was going in. As soon as it went in…I knew we were about to rally and win the game.”
Central Arkansas coach Sandra Rushing
“Of course, I’m disappointed. I felt like McNeese really took it to us. They’re a tremendous team. They had a great game plan. I’ve got to give credit to them. They’ve been here; they’re an experienced team. Maybe it was first game jitters. Any time you lose, it’s always difficult. I think we gave up 40 points in the paint. I just really think they wanted it more than us. I do want to say I’m very proud of these two seniors and what they’ve done for the Sugar Bear program. It’s been a privilege to coach them. I can promise you we haven’t always agreed but I’m happy I had the opportunity to coach Courtney (Duever) for two years and Micah (Rice) for a year and a half. I am proud of what we accomplished with so many new players and so many freshman and we needed to get here so they could get the experience.”
On the physicality of the game:
“I guess that’s one of my biggest complaints this year is that I don’t think we’re physical enough as a team and that goes back to some of the things we need to change. If you’re small you need to use your quickness. I want to fight back a little more, that’s all.”
On what it takes for UCA to get over the hump in March:
“I think players do it. I’ve got some great players on this team and I’m so proud of them. I think McNeese had a little more depth than us and that’s huge. They’ve got great players and they’ve got a bench. We still has some young people on the bench and some injured. You’ve got to have players and depth and its coming. I thought we had a great recruiting class last year and it helped us finish third.”
Central Arkansas guard Micah Rice
On McNeese’s up-tempo pace:
“I think they played up-tempo because we weren’t stopping the ball in the break. They saw that was a weakness for us and they wanted to attack it. It took us a while for us to adjust to them pushing up the floor because they didn’t do it the last game.”
Central Arkansas center Courtney Duever
On physicality of the game:
“I think it was pretty physical but that doesn’t mean we don’t need to come out and play. I think that this whole year it’s been a physical game and that doesn’t have anything to do with us losing.”
On legacy left for returning players:
“I think Coach Rushing is a great head coach and they just have to get in the gym and work hard. They’re great girls and they’re definitely going to win some more. Micah and I are leaving but that doesn’t mean much. The coaches will recruit and they’ll get girls in here who will win championships.”