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NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - SAINT LOUIS VS TENNESSEE


March 18, 2023


Kellie Harper

Jordan Walker

Jordan Horston


Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

Thompson-Boling Arena

Tennessee Lady Volunteers

Media Conference


Tennessee 95, Saint Louis 50

KELLIE HARPER: Obviously, I'm excited about how we played. I thought our team came in, handled business, did what we needed to do. You know, Saint Louis has been on a run. They've been playing some really good basketball. They've had a lot of momentum. I thought defensively, in that second quarter, we were able to really set the tone of how the game was going to go for the duration. (I'm) really proud of our team. Every single person that went in the game did something positive and productive on both ends of the court. You know, it's been a long couple weeks. I think our team... we've had good practices, some good energy, and, again, we were just dialed in today.

Q. Looking at the stat sheet here, 13 team steals. Jordan Walker, you had three of those 13. How were you so effective on defense in this game?

JORDAN WALKER: I think with our team's defense, when we're able to play as a team, it helps us just be in positions to make those steals and get those opportunities. I think one of them was on throwing an in-bound, and I know I saw on film they do that. I was like, okay, maybe I could get one. So that was just something that I had been thinking about before the game.

When the opportunity came, like, okay, let's just do it right now. Yeah, I think just really playing team defense helps us and allows us to be in those positions.

JORDAN HORSTON: Just being aggressive and emphasizing on that. We're always aggressive, finding ways to find deflections. It was important to us, and we wanted to make it happen.

Q. Both of you, but Jordan Horston, you missed the tournament last year. Going into this NCAA tournament, how important was it for you guys to get a win like this to set the tone and send a message about who you will be in March?

JORDAN HORSTON: It's very important to get a win now, because if you don't, you're done. Like I said, every team has the same mindset, it's 0-0. (The) score is 0-0, record is 0-0. Nothing matters except for when you step on that court. It's very important from here on out for us to focus in on the little things and capitalize on their mistakes and just do everything that we need to do so we can figure out how to win. Doesn't have to be pretty, but we have to figure out how to get a win.

Q. This is for both of you. That second quarter, a 21-0 run. Speak to that quarter. What were the adjustments coming out of the first y'all made to go on such a run like that?

JORDAN WALKER: Those adjustments were really on the defensive end. I think we all just kicked it into another gear and really just sat down and guarded. When we do that, we're able to go on those runs. I think that's really what stretched it out for us. And then of course being at home and in front of the home crowd. Let me just say it feels good to be at home.

JORDAN HORSTON: Yeah, definitely.

JORDAN WALKER: Definitely miss being here. So (the fans) definitely were a part of that, too. They're into it, we're all into it. You feed off it, feed off each other. So I really think that's what helped us.

JORDAN HORSTON: I don't even... I didn't realize it was 21-0. I didn't realize like we had that many stops. It was just like, okay, so we have these kills. I don't know if I'm supposed to say it? So we have kills. Like we got to get a stop. Get so many stops we get a kill. So we were just focusing on, all right, let's get this stop in this possession so we can get a kill. That just leads to offense, like I said. I've been preaching that since the beginning of the season. Our defense is what motivates us and fires our offense, along with the great atmosphere that we're playing in.

Q. You were able to clear the bench at the end of the game with such a big lead. How much fun was it to see your teammates that might not play in every game get a chance...

JORDAN HORSTON: So it's so much fun. They put so much work in. You want everybody to be happy, but like sometimes it just doesn't work out like that. For them to be able to come in and be productive and shine, I mean, it's just like a -- I don't know how to explain it.

JORDAN WALKER: Just makes you feel good.

JORDAN HORSTON: Just makes you feel good inside and happy for them. Good feeling. You know they put the work in. They're working hard every day in practice, and it can be hard. When they get in, we're always going to root for them.

Q. Follow up on that, the way they finished, they scored exactly the same amount of points in the fourth quarter as you did in the second quarter. How nice is it to see that 28-9 in the second and fourth? Is that kind of consistency something you all can help feed off and build on?

JORDAN HORSTON: For sure, just knowing that you have somebody to come in and produce, hold their own. Like I said, I've been preaching this since the beginning of the season as well. We have a lot of people, a lot of pieces. It's good for us. I feel like having that depth allows us to have -- we can maximize our minutes.

JORDAN WALKER: Yeah. And I'm just really proud of them, because like Jordy (Jordan Horston) said, they come every day and they work hard. They put in the time. They have never stopped working. So to be able to see them out on the court is really like just a good feeling for us just to be able to see them get to play and get in the game.

JORDAN HORSTON: I know y'all probably don't know this, but Edie Darby, she's a baller. She's our -- she is usually on the practice squad, so she does a lot of the scout team. So, I mean, she be cooking us up in practice. I knew that shot was going in when it left her hands, because it's like she does that every day in practice.

JORDAN WALKER: Yeah, what y'all saw was nothing new.

JORDAN HORSTON: Nothing new. She's a baller.

Q. Jordan Walker, that 6-0 run to start the second quarter felt very important for you guys just because it was a 24-point lead, but crazier things have happened. For you, I mean, you're very involved in that as well. What was your mindset coming out of halftime and how important was it for you to set that tone immediately in the third quarter?

JORDAN WALKER: My mindset coming out of halftime was really just like you said, set the tone, setting that first punch. We were up by quite a few, but anything can happen. It's March. So really just coming out, start off strong. I knew that would be critical for us just to set the tone for the rest of the game as well. So that was really my mindset. We have had some games where in the third quarter we don't come out and have that, but I think we have grown from that. I think that's a testament to what we've been working on and how we've come together this season.

Q. That comfortable lead let the starters get some rest in the second half. Especially after having played the three games in three days in Greenville, how important is it to you guys to get some minutes off at the end of the game?

JORDAN WALKER: It's important, but it's March, so you can't get tired. Like, I mean, you've just got to push through. So I do, I understand what you're saying with getting your legs up for a few minutes. But it's March, so you got to do what have to do to win.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for coach?

Q. I know you guys probably just take it one game at a time, but knowing that you either face Iowa State or Toledo, has there been some look-ahead or potential strategies you would hope to implement?

KELLIE HARPER: Yeah, so we have -- we assign our assistant coaches to the scouts, and we already have probably two scouting reports ready to go depending on the outcome of the game. I've looked at it sparingly. I really try to stay locked in on game one. But I've talked to our staff, and we did a few things earlier this week that could translate to these two teams. Without our players knowing it. Just some drills here and there. Obviously, they're both really talented and very efficient offensively. You know, it's going to be a challenging, tough game regardless of who we're playing on Monday.

Q. Just wanted to ask you about that start to the third quarter from Jordan Walker. All season she sets the tone for you guys. How great was it to see that come about in a really crucial moment for you guys?

KELLIE HARPER: Yeah, I thought coming out of the half, obviously, we talked about wanting to set the tone for the second half as well. And we did. I mean, we came out, and we were really aggressive on both ends. Obviously, Jordan Walker makes plays. She has been so good and so consistent. She's just tough. You love that about her. I think they just fed off each other and the energy in the building to start that second half.

Q. The SEC, which was maybe a little maligned during the regular season, is off to a 6-0 start in the tournament. How nice is it to see that? To follow up, for this team to come out with a fairly dominating performance, and earlier to score as many points in the final quarter when you're subbing and have pulled your starters, as you did in the second quarter when you took control, how nice is it to see that combination?

KELLIE HARPER: Speaking of the SEC, you know, our league was so tough this year and so competitive. There were teams that didn't make the tournament that are playing well, and it's really cool to see. I think Alabama is after us, but every SEC that's played in the NCAA tournament and NIT up to this point won. It just speaks to the competition and the toughness and the talent that's in the SEC. So we're pulling for each other, that's for sure. Was really proud of how we finished that game. You know, we wanted to go low minutes with our starters but give them a couple more in the fourth quarter just to look... it's nice for them to have the breaks, but they would rather play, trust me. We gave them a couple more minutes to go and then brought our subs in. They did an excellent job on both ends of the court. Obviously, to put up 28 to 9. That's a really good job for them. They stayed with it, didn't get sloppy despite the score. Sometimes that happens. So, I'm just proud of our team on both ends of the court for 40 minutes. We had a little dry spell at the end of the third where they went zone. We were getting great shots, we just didn't knock them down and get offensive boards. Jasmine Franklin finally put one in that put us back on top in the third.

Q. Obviously, an amazing amount of steals, 13 as a team. Was there a moment in the game where you noticed, okay, Saint Louis, they're running this set or doing these plays offensively; here is how we can shut it down?

KELLIE HARPER: I think our players started feeling comfortable with their actions. Not necessarily so much anticipating the plays, but seeing the action. I thought we were, for the most part, we had really good awareness off the ball. I thought that's where some of our steals came from. Sometimes when you're off the ball, you're chilling, right? I thought we were off the ball ready to make a play. Our awareness was good. One thing that Saint Louis gets is a lot of steals. Our players might have been a little upset with me, because all I've talked about the last couple days is how many steals they get and how tough they are. They're ball hogs. They do a great job taking advantage of your mistakes, and it was really special for me to see our players be able to make some of those plays as well.

Q. Last year both games were kind of tight. How nice was it to set the tone with a win like this in the first round?

KELLIE HARPER: Listen, a big win takes a lot of stress off the coaching staff sitting over there, so it was nice. And the coaching staff's family. I know my family likes the big wins, our administration likes the big wins. You get to relax a little bit. But you can't expect them, that's for sure. I'm proud we did what we were supposed to do, and I think the score is a result of that. But, you know, it's the NCAA tournament. You've got to think that every game is going to be tough and competitive down to the wire.

Q. I was just hoping you could speak to the intensity of your team during an NCAA Tournament run. Obviously, the program is no stranger to this tournament. But what your team is feeling? And also with Rickea Jackson having her first ever NCAA tournament game.

KELLIE HARPER: Yeah, there may have been some jitters early on, because we had a few players that this is new to them. So I thought we settled in pretty well. Our intensity was good I thought. I thought we played hard. I thought we were aggressive. I think that's important. I thought we were pretty physical. Those things are things you have to do to get wins in the NCAA tournament. (I'm) proud of them. In terms of going into the tournament, it's been a long couple weeks, it really has. I feel like about a week ago they were ready to play and as a coach, you feel like they're ready and you've got another week to wait. I was a little concerned that maybe we had prepped them a little bit early. But (I'm) proud of how they've handled this last week and obviously, how they came out and played today showed they were ready to go.

Q. How incredible was it to see such huge fan support for this game, especially considering there are many students still on spring break, the men are playing a tournament game, yet still a really good turn out for this game. How great was that to see?

KELLIE HARPER: Yeah, you know, I was so proud of our fans. Not surprised, but proud anyway. They made a big difference. I tell you, they gave great energy today. They were... I thought it got loud. Our team responded. I mean, I was so excited for our team to get to play at home. You know, so excited that we were rewarded with that opportunity. (We) took advantage of it today. You know, again, this is a great environment. This is a great venue for women's basketball. It's so special here. Glad we got to experience it today.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

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