NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST FOUR - STEPHEN F. AUSTIN VS MISSOURI STATE

March 17, 2026

Harmanie Dominiguez

Ashlyn Traylor-Walker

Moody Center

Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: Okay. Again, thanks, everyone, for joining us for this NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship pregame First Four press conference with the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjacks. We're going to turn to questions from the media assembled here in Austin.

Q. Both athletes, both of y'all are seniors and y'all have made it to the NCAA Tournament for the second year straight. Both last stints for y'all and how do you feel?

ASHLYN TRAYLOR-WALKER: I feel pretty good, like, there's no better feeling. This is what we strive for the whole season, so it feels good.

HARMANIE DOMINIGUEZ: I feel really good too. I think it's just another opportunity to show that we belong here and, yeah, like she said, we have been working for it all season since summer. This is day in and day out what we work for, so...

Q. When you guys see Missouri State on film, what jumps out to you?

ASHLYN TRAYLOR-WALKER: I think they're a lot different from the teams we're used to in our conference. Like, they have a lot of post play and so that's something that we have to pay attention to.

HARMANIE DOMINIGUEZ: Honestly, I just see it as another game, another opportunity, like I said, just to go out there and play another day of basketball.

Q. You guys have been with this program for two years. You both transferred in. Talk about how it's been like building this program the last two years.

HARMANIE DOMINIGUEZ: Bishop is really big on culture, and I think that last year obviously winning, that is a start of a something and you always just kind of have to build off of that. With the young team that we have, it's good to have two seniors that have won a championship and know what it's like to build something, so I would say -- it's really nice and I don't want to say it's easy but it's definitely something that comes very naturally as a basketball player.

ASHLYN TRAYLOR-WALKER: I would agree, and I feel like this team, our solid foundation is Christ. That helps a lot with our character and then just bringing that energy on to the floor as well.

Q. Y'all won the conference tournament as the third seed, how do you car ray that momentum into the NCAA when you're technically also the underdog in this tournament?

ASHLYN TRAYLOR-WALKER: Honestly, we didn't really see ourselves as the underdog. We probably lost some games we probably shouldn't have lost in our accordance, so we were just pretty confident going into the tournament knowing that we are third seed, but, like, we could and should be higher than that. We're just bringing that conference into this tournament as well.

HARMANIE DOMINIGUEZ: We can go back to last year. We were the three seed last year as well and we still ended upcoming out with the championship. It wasn't necessarily about where we were seeded but the confidence that we had in ourselves and the belief that we had in ourselves going into not only the conference tournament but also going into this.

Q. You guys are part of the University of Texas system, so you're not that far away from home. Do you kind of see that as somewhat of a home game? You're playing here in Texas and your credits transfer right over, one of those situations. Is it kind of cool to be able to be here even though it's not home, but then you're also playing the out of state team. Does it kind of have a home vibe a little bit you think?

HARMANIE DOMINIGUEZ: Yeah, back in Texas, not too far from home. That means more people can come and support. Our support system is really, really good. Everybody that usually comes out, and I already talked to a few of our boosters that said they're going to come out and support. I guess that that is really what brings home to us, so being in Texas is really nice.

ASHLYN TRAYLOR-WALKER: I feel like as far as a fan goes, it may feel like a home game, but this is definitely not home. (Laughter) Going to locker rooms and stuff, it's just cool to be in a new place and see what other schools have.

Q. You two have been obviously with this program for two years. We talked about that. This year you've had two freshmen play a bunch of minutes: Aziyah Farrier and KK. How has it been as senior leaders to see them grow this year?

HARMANIE DOMINIGUEZ: Man, I think they had already come in very experienced. They're very experienced. Aziyah Farrier coming in with a state championship under her belt all right. She comes in, they both come in with a ton of confidence.

I have been talking with them, trying to mentor them and give them some advice. It's nothing that they don't know already. It's really good. They're really, really good players and I've enjoyed playing with them all season. It's not baby-stepping them here. They're here and they want to hoop. That's truly what it is.

ASHLYN TRAYLOR-WALKER: It's funny because, like, yes we're seniors but it honestly feels like there's no age gap in between us. If anything, we're a little bit more immature than they are. (Laughter) So, yeah.

Q. How do you feel about coming to Austin and playing this brand new Moody Center? How does it feel like?

HARMANIE DOMINIGUEZ: It's big, you know? The stage is big and I mean it's beautiful here. It's a really different environment for sure, but I'm really excited to step on that floor tomorrow.

ASHLYN TRAYLOR-WALKER: I agree.

THE MODERATOR: I'm looking to see if we have any questions from those on Zoom. Any other questions? Doesn't look like we have anymore, ladies, so Ashlyn and Harmanie, thank you so much for your time and best of luck tomorrow.