PAC-12 Women's Basketball Tournament Friday, March 2 2018 Cori Close Monique Billings CORI CLOSE: I think we were getting really good looks, we just weren't making them. It's a really great thing when you can say, Jordin, I didn't know if you had Kelli Hayes a great game, but you had 27. That's a luxury. Jordin Canada But I thought Jordin was shooting really good shots. I UCLA thought Monique was getting good shots. We just weren't making them in the first half, and I think that's UCLA - 77, Cal - 74 where you have to have maturity and poise and stay the course. CORI CLOSE: Well, as usual, media, it's so huge to have you here covering this tournament and covering Credit to Cal's defense, but I didn't think we were taking our conference, and really pushing and growing our bad shots. I just think we weren't making them. game forward, so we appreciate you and your coverage. Q. Mo, for you personally, how did you go from a slow start in the first half to heating up in the Really proud of our poise. We were down 7 with 6:57 second? What kind of was the difference of left to go in the game, and then had 9 out of 11 trips things? What did you see differently or what made where we scored. I just thought we were led by our you hit those shots down the stretch? seniors. Not only statistically, but in their poise and in MONIQUE BILLINGS: I was feeding off of the energy their emotional leadership. But also, really from these two right here, especially Jordin. She was complementary of Cal. We knew this was going to be just attacking and attacking their post. So it was a battle. They've been playing so well, and I just getting them in foul trouble, so I wanted to follow that thought they did a great job on the boards. It was a and attack them too anyway that I could. I knew I very physical game, and I think it's a game that's going needed to step up for my team. So it was just a to prepare both teams really well for March. mentality that I had to take on. But I just really have to call out Kelli Hayes, we've really Q. Coach, this was an intense game from the talked all year long that this team was going to have to outset, from beginning to end. Is this the kind of have an "I will" mentality, and we were always going to game you want to have to go into facing a team like need to put the team above ourselves, and that's not Oregon, a top seed? easy to do. CORI CLOSE: It's such different styles of play, right? They're so physical. Where Oregon is much more Kelli has made so many selfless choices. For her to spread-court oriented, want to shoot the three. They're stay ready the way she was, not only shooting playing mostly zone and Cal is playing mostly player-to- approximate the three well, 5 for 7 from the three-point player. So really different styles. line, but the way we were able to switch and her to be able to rebound and defending the post in that fourth But that's one of my favorite things about this quarter was just huge for us and says so much about conference is that there are so many high-level teams her character. that play so many different styles, and what that does is it really prepares you for the NCAA Tournament. So, in my mind, she was really the difference maker for us, and really proud of the way she stayed ready. I don't know if it was a very physical game. I think it was a very intense game. I definitely think the intensity Q. You guys had a slow start. Shot 25% in the first level is going to be there in that semifinal game. But I quarter and then 30 on the half. What did -- did you think it will be a completely different game plan and think you were getting good looks or were they completely different style of play. defending you well, or what changed in the second half for players and Coach? Q. Kelli Hayes, a career high 18 points, a career Rev #1 by #170 at 2018-03-03 01:00:00 GMT page 1 of 3 high 5 of 7 from three. What got into you today? this time? KELLI HAYES: Honestly, nothing really changed for JORDIN CANADA: We have to focus on the details. I me. I know that I put forth the work this whole summer thought last game we didn't come out with a lot of and this year. My teammates really put in that energy. We were behind in every play, and we were confidence in me. They've seen me every day in playing laxadazical, and that allowed them to get on practice putting up shots, and also like putting the team the runs. So coming into this game tomorrow, we know first. If I didn't have that mentality this whole year of, we have to be composed, poised, follow the game you know, I may get three shots this game, five shots plan, be aggressive, and come out fighting because we the next game. know it's going to be a battle. It doesn't matter how many shots I get up. It's a matter Q. Sorry to bring it back to Kelli. But I want a of them being good shots for the team. Most of the follow-up from Jordin and Mo, because we always time Jordin will say -- they're usually good shots. hear about you too, understandably so. But Kelli Jordin says, not all the time, but usually. So when she Hayes is a big part of this senior class as well. So passes me the ball, I try to shoot it. If not, I'm hitting what has Kelli meant to both of you, Mo and Jordin Mo in the paint. So either way, that's what I was doing these the past four years? today. JORDIN CANADA: Well, for me, Kelli has been everything. She's our anchor. She's our glue to our It was just a good one. So I'm excited for this game team. People don't see the work that she puts in day- and what's to happen tomorrow. in and day-out, but we trust her. She's a leader on the floor. She's very vocal. She helps me day-in and day- Q. The last couple times you guys played them, it out even in the game. Even in the game she's talking wasn't really as close as this game. Did they do to me, communicating to me, 24-7. Just her passion something differently that kind of kept it close for the game, I just love it. toward the end there? CORI CLOSE: Well, I think we didn't hit open She brings that energy that we need. When we're not jumpshots in both games. We actually started the focused maybe in warm-ups or we're having a little lull game at Cal, the first one down 7-0, and then we went in the game, she's the first one to say something, she's on a flurry. But we got a lot of steal-score the first one to pick us right back up. opportunities. But I think that's the reality of March. I always tell our team, you're going to have to be more Not a lot of people see that, but in the huddle, she's solid. You're not going to turn teams over as much and always leading our group. Leading our team in get as many run out lay-ups. So we were really practice, and she's the glue to our team. rewarded. MONIQUE BILLINGS: I'm really happy for Kelli, and I In both those games they were like two and a half want her to enjoy this moment because I know it's a weeks apart or weeks apart, both in January. They're really good feeling. A lot of people do talk about Jordin growing. Teams get better, teams adjust. They're a and the majority of the time, so it's nice that we're able really talented ballclub. It didn't surprise me at all. to share some of the shine with Kelli today. We didn't make as many jumpshots early in the game. I think this is just a beginning. Tomorrow she's coming I thought that was a really big thing. They had been out with -- I don't know what you're coming out with, but hard-hedging all the ball screens, and this time they it's going to be a lot of good things. Yeah, she's going decided to double Monique Billings and sit deeper in to keep it going. the paint so our guards had open jumpshots. But we didn't knock those down. Q. For the players, over the past years that you've been at UCLA, I've noticed how you guys have sort So I think that's what kept the game close, and I think of developed nerves of steal to stay focused in that we were getting good stops, we were rebounding.