Iowa Women's Basketball
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00:00 [ Background noise ]
00:16 >> Okay. Wait a second.
00:18 I'm all messed up right now.
00:19 >> Turn it around.
00:20 There you go.
00:21 >> That second half I thought was beautiful.
00:28 I thought our players really played well together,
00:31 defensively and offensively.
00:34 I think everybody knows what this team can do offensively,
00:36 but tonight they did the job defensively as well.
00:39 Controlled the boards, had more assists.
00:42 I thought Molly was simply outstanding on Sarah Scalia.
00:47 She held 10 points below her average,
00:51 had to work for every one of them.
00:53 I just thought our defense was very, very good tonight.
00:57 And the crowd was amazing.
00:59 I don't know if I've heard it that loud ever in Carver.
01:02 I really don't.
01:03 They were amazing.
01:04 So thankful.
01:05 I mean we have a -- not supposed to be outside
01:07 because of the wind chill and we have 14,000 people in here.
01:10 It's absolutely amazing and I'm just so thankful for them.
01:14 I think one thing, you know, paint points,
01:17 Indiana had 30, we had 28.
01:21 To me that's really good defense because that is
01:24 where they are bread and butter is inside there.
01:26 So very good.
01:27 >> Coach, what was your expectation for a crowd tonight?
01:30 Did you think it would be half the ball or?
01:32 >> I thought it might be more than half.
01:34 I don't know that I expected this though.
01:36 I mean it's dangerous outside and our fans don't care.
01:40 And I'm just so thankful that -- I mean they're amazing.
01:46 And we're just so thankful to have fans that are so vested
01:50 in our team and we are so appreciative of them.
01:53 >> Molly, on your first, in your three-pointer,
01:57 I had it at like 113 decibels which is like a jet engine loud.
02:03 I mean what was it like to hit that shot?
02:05 How important was it for the team?
02:06 But also just to kind of hear the eruption?
02:08 >> Yeah, I mean obviously it was really cool hearing the crowd
02:11 and I think that sparked a little bit of momentum for us.
02:14 And I think Kaitlin's the one that drove to the basket,
02:17 drew a defender and I knocked the shot down.
02:19 So, but it was really cool to see how loud the fans got tonight.
02:22 >> So things got maybe testy in the second quarter.
02:25 You know, Kaitlin picks up her second foul.
02:26 She goes to the bench.
02:27 But how crucial was Molly kind of really taking
02:29 over that next two-minute stretch?
02:31 Because it seemed like you guys --
02:31 >> She did.
02:32 >> -- couldn't really, you know, fall on the part a little bit.
02:34 But it seems like she just kind of kept you guys on track.
02:36 >> Well, there's no doubt she did.
02:37 Again, offensively and defensively.
02:40 And Kaitlin went out.
02:41 She moves over to the point guard.
02:42 And I thought she did a tremendous job leading our team.
02:45 This is one -- you know, this is her career high in points.
02:48 But again, I think it was the defensive effort
02:50 that is more impressive to me.
02:51 >> Kaitlin, I think the first half went
02:53 about what people expected, close game.
02:55 A lot of scoring.
02:56 What do you feel like changed in the second half for you guys
02:59 to be able to take control of the game?
03:00 >> I think a lot of things.
03:02 I thought obviously our shooting got a lot better
03:04 in the second half.
03:05 I think in the first half,
03:06 our transition defense wasn't all that great.
03:07 I think at halftime they had 12 points on us in transition.
03:10 When we started playing some zone, we kind of struggled
03:11 to get back and get set up.
03:12 I think just overall our defense was better.
03:15 You know, we were physical.
03:17 We boxed out.
03:17 We didn't allow a ton of second chances.
03:19 And then we pushed really, really hard in transition.
03:22 I thought they got a little worn down.
03:23 And we just kind of kept going with it.
03:24 And, you know, we started making shots.
03:27 Kate made a three.
03:28 Sid made a three.
03:28 Gabby made some threes.
03:29 And, you know, when you have that kind of going,
03:31 it's really hard to guard.
03:33 >> Kaitlin, you've got, including Molly,
03:35 three 50-year seniors who, I mean, they seem to know
03:40 where you're going to get them in the ball.
03:43 You seem to know where they're going to be.
03:45 What kind of difference does it make as opposed to, say,
03:48 you know, playing with people
03:50 who you haven't played with this long?
03:52 >> Yeah, I think all of them just kind of understand, like,
03:55 you know, I don't always have to say what I want.
03:57 Like, when I'm on the court,
03:58 I think they can just read my eyes really well.
04:00 Especially Molly.
04:01 She had a couple really nice backdoor cuts tonight
04:04 where I was able to hit her.
04:05 And that's just a high basketball IQ play.
04:07 Molly's, you know, that type of player.
04:08 She can run the one for us.
04:10 And to play the one, you have to have high basketball IQ.
04:12 But, you know, Gabby and Kate,
04:13 people I've started with for four years now,
04:15 they kind of know what's going to happen and what's going on.
04:17 So it's nice.
04:18 It's just kind of a comforting thing to be out there
04:20 on the floor with three other people that you know,
04:22 you know, really have your back
04:23 and really know what your mind's thinking,
04:25 even if you don't have to say it.
04:26 >> Molly, what kind of three-point defense did you guys use?
04:30 They only shot 25 percent and came in, you know,
04:35 a really hot shooting three-point team.
04:37 What did you guys actually do to keep them from drilling those?
04:41 >> Yeah, I mean, we wanted to find them early in transition.
04:44 We know that they get a lot of transitions threes.
04:46 And then, especially on Scalia, I knew I had to go
04:49 over every single screen and find her early in transition.
04:53 But I think everyone did a really good job
04:55 of finding their person in transition and living
04:57 into those open threes and contested all of the threes.
05:01 >> Lisa, what adjustments did you make at halftime
05:03 on the defensive end?
05:03 I mean, holding them to 20 points
05:04 in the second half is pretty impressive.
05:07 >> You know, we didn't make a lot
05:08 of defensive adjustments, actually.
05:10 You know, we talked about a couple offensive things
05:14 that we wanted to do, you know,
05:17 including the play right out of the shoot.
05:19 And I thought that kind of, you know,
05:20 really gave us some momentum.
05:21 And she gets that, you know, layup, really, you know,
05:25 and we're already up six.
05:26 Puts us up eight right off the bat.
05:27 But defensively, we just talked about boxing out Sydney Parrish
05:33 because she was crashing much harder than she usually does.
05:35 But we kind of adjusted a little bit
05:39 of how we were helping on the post.
05:41 We did some things there.
05:42 >> Kaitlin, do you feel the energy go
05:44 out of opposing teams when you had two shots near the logo
05:48 and, you know, you have the defender right in your face?
05:49 I mean, do you feel that's hard for teams to sort of try to hit?
05:52 Like, what do we do?
05:53 I mean, do you feel that those kind
05:54 of shots are back-breakers at times?
05:56 >> I feel like it's more so just like energy for our team more
05:59 than anything, and honestly, they played really good defense.
06:01 I thought they were up in my space a lot.
06:03 They were pressuring me.
06:04 I think once I slowed down and kind of, you know,
06:06 let the game come to me a little bit more,
06:08 I wasn't forcing as many threes and, you know,
06:10 got some good looks where I was able to get to my set back
06:12 to my left, but yeah, I mean, I don't know.
06:16 I can't really speak for them.
06:17 But I think more so, like, it's huge for our team.
06:20 I think we made a couple threes there in a row,
06:23 especially at the end of the second quarter,
06:25 and then early to start the third, we got on fire.
06:27 Gabby, I think, made a couple.
06:28 I made a couple, and, you know, that's deflating when we're
06:31 on defense, too, so I can imagine how it feels for them.
06:33 >> Molly, you've had a lot of big,
06:35 big games in Central Michigan.
06:37 But to do it in front of 15,000 and national TV,
06:42 is this what you imagined when you came here?
06:45 >> No. Just to, like, think of where I was
06:49 at Central Michigan to here now.
06:51 I mean, it kind of chokes me up a little bit talking about it.
06:54 But it's really cool just for Coach Woodard
06:57 to, like, give me an opportunity to play at a place
06:59 like this really means a lot for me.
07:00 >> Lisa, when she was in the --
07:02 when Molly was in the transfer court, what led you
07:04 to try to get her to Iowa?
07:05 >> Oh, we knew Molly because Raina Harmon recruited her
07:09 at Central Michigan, so we had the connection.
07:11 So we knew what kind of a person she was.
07:14 She also competed against us in the NCAA tournament and lit us
07:16 up for about 18 or 17, something like that,
07:19 in the NCAA tournament.
07:21 So we knew how good of a player she was.
07:22 She'd done everything at Central Michigan, and so we needed
07:26 to have somebody that could not only back up Kaitlin
07:29 but could also play the off guard for us, and she's done it.
07:32 >> And she did that tonight.
07:33 I mean, when Kaitlin went out at the same time,
07:35 she had that big stretch there of seven points.
07:37 >> Did a great job.
07:38 Absolutely.
07:40 >> You guys -- I mean, this was a tie,
07:42 pick top, pick 10 standings.
07:44 You know how good Indiana is, was, will be.
07:47 This kind of effort to beat Indiana by, what, 27 points.
07:53 I mean, what does this say about you?
07:55 What does it say about your team
07:56 and where you guys could go from here?
07:57 >> I mean, I hope it thinks --
07:59 you know, we all feel really good
08:01 about the way we're playing.
08:02 And I mean, the way that we're --
08:04 the culture of our program, everybody's attention
08:07 to detail is really good.
08:10 I mean, I think the sky's the limit.
08:12 You know, right now, I'm just worried
08:14 about beating Wisconsin on Tuesday, though.
08:15 That's my only concern right now.
08:17 >> I know we've talked about a lot of firsts and big moments,
08:21 but to have a primetime Saturday night game on Fox is a --
08:25 seems like it's a big deal, and then also opposite
08:28 at NFL playoff game, which I'm sure you guys are
08:31 very interested in.
08:33 What does -- again, what does that say about whether it's the
08:36 sport or your team or the superstars you have?
08:40 What is it?
08:41 >> It is a big deal.
08:42 I mean, this game being televised was a big deal.
08:45 And I think it's partly because of the atmosphere
08:49 that we have here at Iowa.
08:50 You had two great teams competing against each other.
08:54 You got the best player in America.
08:56 I mean, that's -- must watch CTV.
08:59 So why wouldn't you want to have this game on?
09:02 And we're going to have a couple more on.
09:03 So, you know, we're very thankful for the coverage
09:07 that we got tonight, because obviously it doesn't hurt
09:10 recruiting or building fan support.
09:12 It certainly helps the University of Iowa.
09:14 But it is a big deal, and we recognize that it's a big deal.
09:18 We don't take it for granted.
09:19 We appreciate it.
09:20 >> Kaitlin, for you guys, I know you guys can get frustrated.
09:23 You guys can kind of -- you know, you're getting red hot.
09:25 It just seems like you're so even keeled on the court,
09:27 though, in terms of your style of play.
09:29 I mean, how do you guys kind of keep being level-headed as far
09:32 as your style of play and kind of the way you do things,
09:34 despite maybe emotions flaring up from time to time?
09:36 >> Yeah, I think, you know, what we've done is always what we do.
09:39 Like, we play Iowa basketball.
09:41 That's what we're going to do every single time we step
09:42 on the court.
09:43 I think we understand, and we have a very experienced,
09:46 mature group that understands, you know,
09:47 there's going to be high points.
09:48 There's going to be low points.
09:49 But you've got to lock back in, no matter what it is.
09:51 And I think that just speaks to, you know, our team
09:54 and what we've been through together, whether it's Kate,
09:55 whether it's Molly, whether it's Gabby.
09:57 You know, we have that core group of players
09:59 who have been through a lot,
10:00 been through some really great wins,
10:01 been through some really great losses.
10:02 Understand the flow of a basketball game is, you know,
10:05 you kind of just got to stay very level,
10:06 even when we go at 15 points, we're like, come on, lock in.
10:08 Like, the game's not over.
10:09 There's still 15 minutes of basketball to play.
10:11 So, but yeah, I mean, we just play Iowa basketball.
10:14 We're more worried about ourselves
10:16 than obviously we're worried about the other team.
10:17 But at the end of the day, you got to be great in what we do.
10:20 And that's what kind of what Coach Bluter preaches every day.
10:21 >> Kaitlin, your stardom engenders a lot
10:24 of high highs, love, and frankly, a lot of hate,
10:27 a lot of crap talk.
10:28 What have you learned over your years here about blocking
10:33 out the high highs and the low lows, staying steady?
10:36 And Lisa, I'm curious if you've given her any advice about that.
10:39 >> I mean, that's not something I worry about.
10:41 I think I just worry about, you know, being in this moment,
10:43 enjoying this moment, the people that I really care about,
10:46 the people that I really love, they'll always have my back,
10:48 even, you know, when I take off my basketball shoes,
10:50 take off my uniform, and I'm done playing one day.
10:52 Like, those are the people that are really going to matter to me.
10:55 Those, their opinions are going to matter to me.
10:56 My teammates' opinions, those are what matters to me,
10:58 my coaches' opinions.
10:59 But yeah, I mean, that's what kind of comes
11:02 with it when you have the stardom.
11:03 I think something that I try to live by is, like,
11:05 all the level you feel the praise,
11:06 that's the level you're going to feel all the hate, too.
11:08 So you've got to stay right in the middle.
11:10 You know, I think I've been through enough games in my career
11:13 where there's all these wonderful highs,
11:15 but there's also lows, too, and that's just competitive sport.
11:17 That's just basketball.
11:18 Yeah, so I think just staying level-headed is
11:20 super important, but also, you know, we're going to celebrate
11:23 and enjoy every success that we have,
11:24 whether it's my teammates, whether it's mine,
11:26 whether it's a win as a team.
11:28 And, you know, I think that's super fun, too.
11:31 I think she's incredibly mature for her age.
11:35 And, you know, she's had really good parents
11:37 that have kind of kept her grounded throughout this.
11:40 I do know that, you know, she almost is best in the big moment.
11:47 Really, she is.
11:49 And we talk a lot about, you know, playing with emotion,
11:53 but don't let your emotions control you.
11:55 And she's really come a long way in that.
11:59 Kaitlyn, last year, I think it was at the Maysmith,
12:01 you and Mackenzie, I think we're,
12:04 it's a youth group or something like that.
12:06 And at the end of it, you had them say, "Go Hawks."
12:10 Did she say that, too?
12:11 No, I don't think she would ever,
12:13 but Mack's a great person.
12:15 She's, you know, one of the best people,
12:18 great basketball player, and it was fun to get
12:20 to spend some time with her.
12:21 Like, you realize at the end of the day,
12:22 basketball is just something you do.
12:23 It's not who you are, and Mackenzie's one of those people
12:26 that is just tremendous through and through.
12:27 And same with Coach Moore, and she was there.
12:29 And I have nothing but respect for them.
12:31 And, you know, I always want the best for them,
12:33 because I think, you know, they're tremendous.
12:34 And I have so much fun playing Indiana.
12:36 We've had some amazing battles in my time here at Iowa.
12:39 So it's been a lot of fun.
12:40 Thank you.
12:44 Thank you.
12:46 Thanks, guys.
12:48 [indistinct chatter]