Nebraska Player Quotes

#16 Nebraska 69, Purdue 59
Monday, Jan. 19, 2015
Pinnacle Bank Arena (Lincoln, Neb.)

Hailie Sample
6-1, Senior, Forward, Flower Mound, Texas

On what it’s like to finally win one against Purdue
"Well I a mean technically it’s our second time beating Purdue, but it’s really nice, and it’s nice to finally get one since we haven’t gotten one in the past couple of years. We always have battles with them, so it’s good to come out on the winning side this time."

On what they key was to coming out on the winning side
"We had to really key in on their top scorers and make sure that we were boxing out and not giving them a whole lot of second-chance points or transition points."

On slowing down Purdue's Whitney Bays late in the game
"It’s pretty much just stay in between her and the basket and don’t give her an easy shot. And then trusting my teammates and knowing that they are going to be there if she does drive on me and they’re going to help."

On guarding Purdue's best player
"It’s always exciting whenever I get to guard another team’s best player. It’s always a fun challenge. It’s definitely different though because I spent three years as a guard and now I’m a post player. It’s a whole different ball game down there. It’s fun, it’s challenging."

On the ways changing positions is challenging and fun
"Just because I’m under-sized, I’m smaller. So I have to play smarter and that challenges me to think more. I think that’s fun, learning more about the game."

On Chandler Smith’s big plays in the game
"Chandler came in and made plays when we needed her to make plays. Her three was a big jump-start and her layup, too. She just came in and proved that even though she has been hurt she’s ready to come back and be an impact for us."

On if Chandler sees the court well as a freshman
"Yeah, I think so. She reads things pretty well and she understands the game pretty well.

On how much fun they had during the game
"Yeah it’s pretty encouraging to know we have a little bit more depth now and we can go to our bench. It’s not draining. Now it’s like, we can get breathers and everybody can be excited and have more energy because we can get breathers."

Rachel Theriot
6-0, Junior, Guard, Middleburg Heights, Ohio

On what it says about Sample being able to switch to post player
"I think it’s just good to adapt to different things and take things that are thrown at you. Hailie has definitely done that the best and continues to do it. I mean everyone does it in general, but Hailie has really stepped out and really shown it."

On areas that she feels the team is playing better
"I think in general we just have to keep doing the little things. I think that is what has really gotten in the way for us, maybe in Big Ten. Especially now I think maybe we’re more under-sized and being more physical and boxing out is probably a big key and taking care of the ball. Just the little things we’ve done just to do better and keep improving in them."

On what it was like in the last five minutes when things seemed to be going right
"I mean shots aren’t going to fall all of the time and it’s just being confident and keep shooting the ball, as coaches would say. The rest of it will go and in the end shots weren’t falling obviously but getting to the line helps and is a strong point for me.

On if her three-pointer was nice jump-starter
"It always helps to make a shot."