Whiting, Gustin, Smiler and Falatea represent at Big 12 Tipoff

On Big 12 Media Day

“The Big 12 has done a fantastic job with this event. It has been well organized, they move us right along and it’s been awesome to be here and interact with the other Big 12 coaches and players. I love it.”

On the readiness level of the team joining the Big 12

“I’m excited to see what we can do. I like where we are picked because I feel like being the underdog lets us have a little motivation and fire in our bellies. I feel like every day in practice we are getting better and better and learning how to play together. We’ve tried to play a different way this year and a different style so that we can have a better opportunity to succeed. We’re trying to be more read and react, and less scripted.”

On the team’s new style of play

“We want to get out in transition a whole lot more than we did last year. I feel like we have a little more depth this year to do that. Obviously, defensively we have to crank it up higher than what we did last year and lock in a little bit better that way."

On the team’s ability to play full-court basketball

“Yeah, we have more depth that has come in. But I also feel like getting to know us and getting to know their strengths. We’re ready and willing to bring it. They’ve put that out there and they’ve been preparing for this.”

On the mantra of faith over fear

“That’s me. I wear it every day, faith over fear, it’s how I live my life. I feel like if you’re prepared, and not just in basketball, but specifically in basketball when you go into a game you can’t go into it fearful. You have to go into it fearless. The only way to get there is to make sure you’ve prepared and done everything up to that point."

On the starting five

“It changes daily. It depends on who’s going to have a good practice today and who’s going to show up,  also matchup-wise, who are we going to be playing against? Are we going to go small? Are we going to go big? What are we going to do? We’re trying to learn it all right now.”

On the newcomers

“Lauren Davenport transferred in and has done really well and my four incoming freshmen have killed it this summer in the weight room and on the court. Granted they have their freshmen mistakes every day, but they are pushing our upperclassmen every single day.”

On the additional resources the program has received entering the Big 12

“BYU and the administration have been really good. We operated like we were in the Big 12 last year. The way we travel, the way we eat and when we leave for games, things like that. We did that so the change this year wouldn't be so drastic and they’ve kind of already been living that way. So now they are going to be heading out onto the court to take that. I feel like the changes aren’t drastic off-court it’s just on-court where we need to change.”

On faith over fear

“Coach has said it a lot and I think that’s something that we all know. She wears a little necklace that says faith over fear, so she believes in it strongly and she’s focused on that with all of us too that we need to be prepared and take on whatever comes our way. So we focus a lot on that.”

On the biggest things the team needs to work on heading into the Big 12

“I think just competing all 40 minutes of the game. Starting strong and finishing strong. I think that’s something that we slacked with a little bit last year. Coming out in the second half being a little bit slow or not finishing the whole game. That came because we didn’t have a lot of depth last year and this year, we have a lot of depth. We have a lot of girls that are ready to go and compete for 40 minutes. Every day in practice is a battle and everyone is trying to fight for those minutes and that spot. I think we are ready to go full go for 40 minutes and I think we are in great shape, and it will show on the court.”

On if the team’s success in the WCC will carry over into the Big 12

“Yeah, with the team that we have, the tools and the coaching, we are going to be a good team and work well together. It’s going to be a different challenge and new competition, but I think we are ready for it and we are going to be able to compete.”

On the newcomers

“All of them have come in and really done well, especially the freshmen. They want to work hard, and you see them putting in a lot of work off the court. Behind the scenes, they are always getting up extra shots and they’ve all done really well."

"You can tell they all want to compete which is really good for the upperclassmen to have that pressure of someone who can come in and fight for everything that is up for grabs. So, they come in and really compete and push us. I think that coach has done a really great job at recruiting, and I have been super impressed with all of them. I think they are a great fit and they are going to do a lot of great things for this team.”

On what makes her an effective rebounder 

“I think it’s just grit, just going for it and the mentality to be tough enough that when the ball is up it’s up for anyone and anyone can go get it. I just focus on one possession at a time and I want to go get that ball.”

On Big 12 Media Day

"It’s been really cool. Coming in, I was a little bit nervous and anxious about it, but I think the Big 12 does a really good job of making everybody feel welcome and comfortable. It’s been fun and a lot of these stations I feel like we’ve just been laughing so it’s been nice.”

On if the team is equipped to handle basketball in the Big 12

“Yeah, there’s been a lot of progress and growth from last year, especially having the players to help and more depth with what we have now. I think it’s going to be helpful. Also, there’s a lot of work being put into that specific thing. We have a coach who’s dedicated to figuring out how we are going to get through those presses and what’s the best options for those and we are just going to trust them to get us through.”

On Lauren Gustin and Kaylee Smiler

“She’s [Lauren Gustin] someone that we know we can always depend on. At the end of the day, if we have a rough practice, we always know that we have Lauren and Kaylee [Smiler] on our side so everything is going to be alright. That’s one of my favorite things, that I know a lot of teams don’t have. We know they can always depend on Lauren and Kaylee.”

On areas of growth for her heading into the Big 12

“Definitely strength and conditioning. The Big 12 is bigger and faster. I think that’s one area, but another thing is chemistry with the girls. That’s always going to be something that is super important, if not the most important. It takes all 18 of us including the staff and I think that’s going to be super important and it has been.”

On faith over fear

“Amber (Whiting) didn’t come up with it herself. It’s just a belief that we have all had and that she put words to it. It was something that we all individually thought, yes, we believe in faith over fear and that was the slogan that stuck with us. It’s short, sweet and easy to remember.”

On the continuity of the team going forward

“I think we can continue with the chemistry that we already have and set that culture. So that when the freshmen and transfers come in, they already know what the standard is and what the expectations are. So that we can lead by example, and I think that’s one of our advantages as well that we have played together for a while, we know each other’s tendencies and we have been able to grow that chemistry.”