POSTGAME QUOTES: Texas State 61, Houston 56
11/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HEAD COACH Ronald Hughey
Opening Statement
"That's a good Texas State team that came in and competed. They came in and did what they do. They rebounded the basketball, drove downhill, and that was it. They didn't show us anything outside of who they are, and we couldn't capitalize on it. Our starters started off really slow. That first half we walked through: I have no idea. The second half, we finally got some effort with some substitutions and different people. We almost were able to make a game out of it. It's an embarrassing loss and I want to apologize to Cougar nation for it."
On what changed from the first to the second half
"Energy and effort. Willing to put your pride aside. You know sometimes when you are a player and you think you are entitled to something you go out there and play like that. Well hey, also when you are a bench player and see 'I could get some minutes and an opportunity to get out there and help us win' then you play like that. Just energy and excitement, nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm and it's just as simple as that. We have to change our body language, we have to get up beat, and we have to be physically and mentally ready to go."
On what he saw from his freshman players
"They tried to follow the game plan. The game plan was to get up and pressure them, as you all saw. This team ended up with 28 turnovers. We could have forced them into 38 turnovers if we played like that in the first half. But again, they didn't want to play with the energy and effort that they needed to.
The other thing is they all were ready, alert and ready to jump in and do what we ask them to do. We coach them hard every day, and they got in, and the thing about freshman is you have to live with some of the mistakes, and you know they are going to make mistakes at crucial times, and that's the thing that's crazy about your freshman. They are going to play hard and be energetic, and they are going to try and do everything that you ask them to."
On Freshman Guard Angela Harris' game
"Angela played a good game. 17 points, but only one assist. That's the thing we're trying to get her better at, to be able to get in the gaps and find somebody else. She didn't shoot the ball particularly well like she normally does. She played long minutes and was cramping a little, but if we can get Serithia Hawkins to step up a bit every single game, with the 15 points and 14 rebounds she had and then get a few others to come along, we should dominate. With this team, we should have easily dominated this game. When you're not mentally prepared to do that, these things happen. People come out and punch you in the mouth."
On getting ready for Mercer
"Mercer is a really good team. They just beat Illinois on the road. Another team that is going to come in and play 2-3 zone, so we have to open up the game enthusiastically and get some pride and be ready to play, first of all. Second of all, we have to attack the zone. We were hesitant when we got the ball on the inside, and we didn't cut when we needed to. Shooters didn't move in the open spaces. We didn't shoot the ball with confidence.
Then on the other end, they have a young lady that can really score the basketball. She averages 22-23 points a game, but we have to defend her. You have to get up and guard. You see in the second half when you get up and guard, you can come from 20-25 points down and be able to be in basketball game the way that we practice every day and that's the difference. In the second half, we played how we practice. The first half, I have no idea who that team was."
