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Jan. 3, 2012

Head Coach Gail Goestenkors
On being prepared for conference play: We have played some really tough teams. We have learned to play through adversity, we were able to come back against some teams, and so we have learned a lot of lessons along the way. We feel very prepared for the Big 12, and we are ready to start.

On the competitiveness of the conference: Absolutely, every year that I have been here, we have gotten better and better. It is unbelievable because we have been the best conference in the country for the past several years, and this year, again, we have the best winning percentage of any conference in the country going into conference play and the No. 1 team in the country.

On the new round-robin schedule: I am excited about playing every team twice. This way, you know the champion is a true champion, because everyone plays the same schedule. It just makes it more difficult because we have added two more difficult games. Sometimes you might play a team that you are guaranteed a win, but in this conference you are not guaranteed anything.

On the team’s goal for conference play: We actually have not set a specific goal because I do not want the team looking too far ahead. Everything that we have done, we know that we want to excel in the conference. We want to win the conference, but that is not something we talk about. We talk about daily getting better.

On the different mentality for conference play: Actually, I compare it to a sprint and a marathon. Every game you feel like is a sprint; it needs your full attention, you are going full speed as hard as you can go. But the conference season in itself is a marathon, so it is a different mentality. You have to be able to go from sprint mode, but also understand it is a long grind. It is a long season, but every single game needs your focus.

On where the team needs to improve: Rebounding is my No. 1 concern. We have been so inconsistent with it, and in this conference, we have so many great rebounding teams, that we have got to do a better job on the board.

Senior post Ashley Gayle
On the difference in conference play: I think because we are in the best, if not one of the best conferences in the nation, every night, no matter who you play, it is a big game. I think that is the difference, whereas in pre-season, some of the games you maybe are working a little more on what you needed to work on, than playing the actual team. But in the Big 12, every game is a huge competition; no matter if it is inside play or outside play, you have to be ready for everything.

On where the team needs to improve: I think our team knows one of the big ones is rebounding, I think we have been a little inconsistent.

Senior guard Ashleigh Fontenette
On the team: I think we are better than we have been in the past. I think we are a dual threat now, with guards on the outside and a post game. I think it is going to be hard to stop us because we have a lot of things.

On where the team needs to improve: Rebounding is going to be key for us like it always is and as always taking care of the ball. We do a lot of work every day on rebounding. We do lots of drills. For transitioning, we get up and down the court a lot. I think we will be ready for it.

On conference play: Definitely, I think we have a fresh start now. It is good to get out there in conference and compete. We are all excited. Right now we are just going to focus on Kansas and not get too far ahead.

On how tough conference play is: I think you just have to be able to handle yourself because it is a battle every day. It takes a toll on you physically, so at the end of the day you have to be prepared for it.

On how to improve the rebounding: We have to crash the boards from outside. We tend to stay on the outside and get the outlet and push it, but going into conference, we are going to be facing a lot of good rebounding teams, so we have to crash hard.

Senior guard Yvonne Anderson
On what they will prove this season: I think we are going to prove that we are in the top, that everything we have been working for the past three years will come to fruition this year. I believe with this team we are going to do great things, our goal is to win the Big 12, and I think this is a team that can actually do it.

On why she thinks this team will be successful: I think we just have more fight. We refuse to die. I think that everyone is going to pull and we are going to leave everything on the floor. No matter what game or whom we are playing, we are going to leave our hearts out there. I think that has been missing in the past seasons.

On the goals for conference play: The games have been rough, but that means we have been going into every game with the attitude that it is going to be a battle, it is going to be a war. It is going to take everything basically, to win every game. It is going to take everything to prove that we are supposed to win and that we are a good team. I think that we will look at the bigger goals to win. It is not just about winning against A&M or Baylor, but to win the whole thing.