Saturday was "Media Day" at the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in South Bend, Indiana. Here are quotes from this afternoon's press conference featuring the University of Evansville women's basketball team:
On playing in the NCAA Tournament...
"We're extremely excited to have this opportunity. We're extremely proud of these young ladies and to be able to represent our university and our community. We struggled in our regular conference season but to get the automatic bid was exciting for us, and we always believed the whole time. We're on a mission to continue playing the type of basketball we have been playing."
On what they need to do to win against Texas A & M...
"We know we're going to face a lot of defensive pressure and it will be key for us to handle that pressure. We need to get back in transition and rebound the ball very well."
On how the team worked to keep believing in themselves...
"It could have been easy for them to fold and wait for the season to be over. There were only a couple of games in the conference that we were not in. Our team gained a lot of confidence from our losses, and we learned a lot. We've always had a lot of fight, a lot of heart, and a lot of guts. Our team chemistry off the court is amazing. We've wanted to do well for each other. The coaching staff wasn't about to give up on everything. The week before the conference tournament things started coming together on the court."
On the changes made before the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament...
"We put a few new twists in our offense and defense just to try to give the element of surprise. To see the focus and intensity level in our practice was really in tune with what we were doing was great. They were working hard and competing with each other like it was the first day of practice. They were so focused and determined, and they were on a mission. They had an excitement for a new season and in no way were they ready to hang it up."
On the team coming together...
"Obviously we didn't really have the season that we wanted to, especially during conference. It was really hard for us to get on the same page, to get the whole team together. Everyone wasn't really understanding their roles yet. Then finally when we got to the tournament, it kind of just all came together. Everyone was picking each other up, and it seemed like everyone was really on the same page with what we were trying to do offensively and defensively. When you have that, and you finally have twelve players clicking and having the right kind of chemistry on the court, good things happen."
On playing in the state of Indiana...
"We are still a part of the state of Indiana, and I think that a lot of people, especially alumni who have talked to me, who are from Indiana and played at the University of Evansville, are going to come and watch. So I think we'll have an advantage with the crowd."
On Texas A&M...
"They're a number two seed for a reason. It's going to be a really tough game. I think one of the most important things is to come out and match their intensity. They're a great ball team, and they know they're a great ball team. They're going to come out hungry- they expect to win the game. We have to come out and show them we're here and show that we're ready to play. We're representing the Missouri Valley Conference when we go out there. For the sake of our conference, we need to earn a little bit of respect in this game and let everyone know what the Missouri Valley's all about."
On playing in the state of Indiana...
"I think it helps a lot playing in Indiana because our parents are able to travel and make it up to this game we have tomorrow. And a lot of the fans are also able to make it, so I think it helps a lot."
On the advantage of playing at Notre Dame earlier in the season...
"It's nice to have a little bit of comfort knowing we're used to the court and the atmosphere also. Just having a little bit of a connection with the Notre Dame team also helps. My sister's trying to round up as many fans as possible for us. I think it will give us a little bit of advantage. I visited with her last night and she said she's trying to get people to come out in purple just to support us for a little bit. We'll see- I don't know about the whole purple thing but at least they'll be out there cheering for us. "
On her family’s reaction to the bracket announcement...
"I could barely understand what my parents were saying- they were so excited and screaming into the phone when they found out. They were like, `Man, did we luck out.' Natalie called a couple of minutes later and said, "You're coming to Notre Dame!" It was a pretty joyous time."
