Locker Room Chat with Tyra White

Gabe & Logan: Locker Room Chat with Tyra White

On getting back healthy and playing well…

“It meant a lot after sitting out the last tournament. It was needed for my foot, but being able to come back here and play the first two rounds in College Station means a lot. The other guards really stepped up last week in the Big 12 Tournament.”

On stepping up and playing well in the first half…

“I think it was really big to get the momentum. I had a talk with the coaches last night, they actually called me and told me to be more aggressive in this tournament, so that’s kind of what I wanted to do.”

On the difference between the first and second halves…

“I think it was our defense and pressuring them. We gave up some offensive boards that could have been avoided but overall we wanted to get the ball inside and have Kelsey (Bone) create off of the double team and I think she did a good job of passing out of it. (Alexia) Standish hit a couple threes so I think we did a really good job in the second half.”

On the matchup against Arkansas…

“We haven’t watched film so we’ll probably do that tomorrow. Coach Blair talked to us about him being at Arkansas and they play just like us with the style of tempo. They get good rebounds with their post players so it will be a challenge for us, but I think our posts and our guards will handle it pretty well.”

On the 14-2 run early in the second half that helped push the team to victory…

“Every time we get a run it’s a momentum booster for us going into the next phase of the game. When (Sydney) Carter hits a shot, it gets everybody pumped up, so she is kind of like the Energizer bunny out there. Whenever she gets "crunk," everyone follows her.”

On her approach in the NCAA Tournament as a senior…

“It’s always good motivation because you never know when your last time to play is. Being able to play in College Station against Arkansas, who Coach Blair and Coach Harris coached for is letting them pump us up. Then A&M is going to the SEC next year, so that is another booster, too.”

On playing for the departing Vic Schaefer and defending the national title…

“Vic (Schaefer) came to us when he made the announcement after the selection show. He said he wanted to finish this ride out for the next three weeks, so he has our dedication and we have his. We’re just trying to get back to the Final Four and defend our national championship all at once. It’s going to be tough, but it’s something we can handle.”