NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - MIAMI (OH) VS WEST VIRGINIA

March 20, 2026

Glenn Box

Amber Tretter

Tamar Singer

Amber Scalia

Hope Coliseum

Miami (OH) RedHawks

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with questions for the student-athletes.

Q. What is it like being the first team since 2008 to go to the NCAA tournament?

AMBER TRETTER: Yeah, so I think being here for three years I think we've really seen how this program has grown and what it's shaped itself into. I think just showing the school -- our men are doing really well as well. I think being here as the women's team too, I think it kind of just shows what our school is and how our community can support us. I think we're all really excited. Walking into the locker room today we saw all the March Madness gear and everything. I think just being a part of this opportunity is a really cool experience.

AMBER SCALIA: I just think it's definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity and I think we're really excited to be here and we're ready to make some noise.

Q. What have you seen out of West Virginia and what do you expect tomorrow?

AMBER SCALIA: I think we know that they're definitely a defensive team. They pressure and we just have to be ready. I think we have to be ready to go right away. We know we can't have a lot of live ball turnovers. We have seen that's how they kill teams. So we just have to be ready for that.

TAMAR SINGER: They're a really good team, but I feel like we're ready. We work hard this week just to get ready for them. I think it's a really different game than what we have so far. They're a defensive team and they're really fast doing something that we didn't have so far, so it will be interesting, but I really feel like we're ready and, yeah.

AMBER TRETTER: Just going off what they have been saying. We've been really well preparing this week. I think our coaches have been telling us if we execute the game plan we will have success. I think we really just put that mindset into this week in practice and really focus on what we need to do to win this game.

Q. The difference in what you all do and how you do it defensively versus what West Virginia does. Both teams force a lot of turnovers, but I'm sure you do it in different ways. Can you describe those differences and how those styles contrast?

AMBER SCALIA: Yeah, I think West Virginia, I think they start out and they come out hot pressing, especially on makes. I think the difference with us is no one really knows kind of what we're in a lot of the time. We kind of just are on the fly a little bit. I feel like people don't really know what to expect. I think we kind of know what to expect with their press and people sometimes don't know are we going to trap, are we not going to trap. Are we going to be going at 'em hard or just going to lay back. I think that it confuses the defense a lot.

AMBER TRETTER: I think part of that too is our pressure we apply on and off the ball. I think just going with the game plan to make them take the tougher shots and make them do things that they don't normally do I think is something that we like to do to the other teams.

Q. Tamar, what did you do in your preparations different? Did you go against six defenders and/or what do you have to do successfully to avoid those live ball turnovers and those things you've been talking about?

TAMAR SINGER: Yeah, so obviously like I said it's a different game for us and for me especially. But I feel like I just try to be more poised and just think about before I'm doing something. I know I have good players next to me and I feel like we're trying to do it together more. I know I'm the point guard, but still like it's a team job and I feel like if we're going to play together and just become and take care of the ball so we're going to be fine.

Q. Amber, the development of your three-point game you can score from looks like any level on the court. When did that come about, was that a conscious decision that you made, hey, I've got to be able to do this from anywhere on the court?

AMBER TRETTER: Yeah, I think I've been shooting the three since high school, so I think it's just been a part of my game that I've been developing my entire life. I knew that that versatility would also help my team to make it more complete and harder to guard. So I think just having those players -- even Ilse, our other post player, she can shoot it from the three as well. So I think having those pieces on our team has really helped us have success.

Q. This first time for the players to have this experience in the NCAA tournament. But the coaching staff is pretty well experienced having been in this situation before. What did they share with you about what to expect about the tournament?

AMBER TRETTER: I think, so Coach Box, he's been to a lot of different places and especially his most recent school was IU and they made a couple runs and have been in the tournament, have actually hosted as well. So I think just having his experience, he helps us tell us that there will be people there, but it's all about keeping our poise and how we've been in situations in our season that have helped us be prepared for these moments. It's all just about being poised and keeping calm. I think we as a team I think we have some experience as well in just being an older team, I think that will help us as well.

Q. Jordan Harrison won Big XII Defensive Player of the Year, is she someone you're going to keep an extra eye on tomorrow?

TAMAR SINGER: Obviously she's a good defensive player, but I feel like they're a good team defensively, like they're just good in defense and we know that and we just need to take care of the ball. We will pay attention to her because she is a very good player. But in general we just need to do a better job and we will do.

Q. Is it intimidating to be here and have to play the host? It's going to be a big crowd and they're not going to be on your side tomorrow.

AMBER SCALIA: Honestly, you would think that we would be intimidated, but honestly we've kind of been in this spot all year. Box says it all the time. We have been the No. 1 seed all year and then going into the tournament just being like the No. 1 seed, like it's a lot of pressure and I think we've handled it really well. So coming into this game we know no one is going to be on our side, but we haven't really talked about it all that much. We just know that we need to be poised and ready to go.

AMBER TRETTER: I think one of the most exciting things as a player too is to almost quiet a crowd. If we can do that tomorrow I think we'll be pretty happy with that as well.

THE MODERATOR: All right, thank you very much. We'll take questions from coach in a few minutes.

(Pause.)

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with an opening statement from Coach.

GLENN BOX: First and foremost, I want to thank God for putting us in this position. I, it's been a great journey, but it's a journey that we feel like we have unfinished business. There's a lot of basketball still left for us. There's a lot of food on the table. And we certainly want to take advantage of this opportunity. West Virginia is a good team and they're in our way. We know what we need to do, we'll be prepared, as far as I'm concerned they're just another game for us.

THE MODERATOR: We'll take questions.

Q. What's your early scout, I guess it's not early anymore, of West Virginia and what jumps off as soon as you turn on the tape?

GLENN BOX: Obviously their pressure game is pretty good. They're able to force a lot of steals and create a lot of havoc, especially at home, so our ability to handle their pressure is paramount. We've been prepping for a week, I feel very confident that we're going to do what we need to do. They have a mixture of defenses that they utilize, makes and misses traditionally. We're prepared. We know how to handle things. They're a good team, they have size, they have girth, they have good guard play, they have kids that understand their systems and they seem to be well coached. Those are the things that jump at me.

Q. On the defensive conversation there, I asked your players, want to get your input as well, both teams turn opposing teams over at a really high rate. Can you compare what you all do and how you all do it versus West Virginia and what they do?

GLENN BOX: They play totally different than what we do. It's not remotely the same. I mean, it's still effective for them, the way that they play is effective for them and obviously they have had a lot of success, but I've had a lot of success doing it my way too, for a long time. And I feel very comfortable in what we do and how we go about things. I think they have been rewarded handsomely. Obviously winning a Big-12 championship and having an opportunity to be at home, they are a defensive minded ball club, and you have to tip your hat off to them.

Q. First time for your players to be in this situation, not first time for you or your coaching staff. But what are some things that you told them what to expect throughout this week and how they have kind of responded this week?

GLENN BOX: Well, first of all, I think it's important that you're consistent. Our practice today is not going to be any different than how it typically is. We have to maintain a high sense of urgency, understanding our purpose, our mission at all times. As far as we're concerned, I don't want to say it's like just any other game, but we treat it pretty much like it's any other game. Our kids are going to be prepared and ready to go, and I really believe in them. I believe that what we do and how we do things sets us up for a lot of success so I don't think we need to be anything than who we are I think is the clear cut message.

Q. You wanted to talk about your defense. All year you used Nuria as a defensive stopper. What kind of makes her kind of excel in that role and how much confidence do you have in her in that role?

GLENN BOX: Well, first of all, you got to have something to you to be able to play here. You got to definitely have something within you to be able to stay here. She has had that. So she's a kid that has grown up in the system. She was already a tough kid, but I think being in our environment she became even tougher. I think having that having some of those tough characteristics allows her to take on any tough challenge. She's arguably, not arguably, she's the best defensive player in our league. It it's shameful that she wasn't named even on all defensive team. So because we know who she is to our program and what she's about and she's about the right things. I'm proud of her and she relishes in this role, and that's not really going to change tomorrow.

Q. Defense is obviously getting a lot of attention. Is there one or thing that stands out to you about West Virginia, or something that you have to neutralize or counter in order to get a win?

GLENN BOX: Yeah, I think I think we have to be really emotionally mature. We recognize it's going to be a monumental task, but you can't achieve great things if you're immature. I think we have a mature ball club. I really feel strongly that they have a high sense of belief, and that's what it takes. We feel like we belong here and we deserve to be here. And whether we are here or at South Carolina or wherever, our expectation and our standard here within this program is to win championships, and win games. We don't care who we play. We don't -- we respect West Virginia and what they have done, but when it comes time to play, we expect to compete at a high level. We expect to win. That's how we move around here. We've gotten here in three years and there's a reason why we got here in three years with where we came from. We didn't come here by taking a back see the to anybody. We had to beat people out. We're recruiting, we had to turn people into ball players. We had to do some tough things to get here. And we are here now. So we don't have any intention on taking a step back to West Virginia. As a matter of fact, we welcome the 10,000 people here. I want the whole state of West Virginia here. So, you know, that's how I feel about it. Like we expect to win.

Q. As you talk about the emotional maturity of the team, both you guys and West Virginia are coming off conference championship victories. There's obviously excitement for you guys coming in for the first time to the tournament since 2008. And West Virginia being hosts. How are you guys focused that energy differently than your opponents are going to, to try to get some sort of edge from an emotional level?

GLENN BOX: I don't care what our opponents are doing or thinking or anything like that. It's all about our team. As far as getting our team ready to go, maintaining a high level of seriousness. This is not a clown show in this program. We intend to win. And in order to -- my way works. My way works. And we're very intentional in everything we do. There's time for fun and games and there's time to get serious, and this is a serious program. This is a program that's won two championships this year this. Is a program that's won some really good games. We have been the hunted for a really long time. I feel like for us I don't want to say it's a relief, but it's almost like a relief. We've been playing -- I mean, Ball State's been on our tail the whole conference season, we knew we couldn't lose. So we've had to win every game for two months. When we finally took our foot off the gas, we lost to Ohio. But then we won again. So we've been in high-stress situations for two months now. So I think our kids understand maintaining a high sense of your begin see and being in a proper mental state.

Q. Offensively this year you set a record for assists in a single season. I know Tamar set the individual single season record as well. How have you seen her improve from last year to this year and how much confidence do you have in her to run that offense?

GLENN BOX: Oh, I'm very confident in her. I love her. I think she's the best point guard in our league. I think she's proven that. I think I have a really good relationship with her. As I do, I feel like, with all of my kids. But in regards to Tamar, she's certainly someone who has matured immensely in her time here. You see her growing up, you see her more confident in her decision making. Sometimes even the decisions that she makes she realizes in the moment that she made 'em, which is, you know, part of -- which is progress. But she's a kid that can certainly get hot and carry a team without shooting a basketball. But her ability to defend is I feel like at times she's even better this year than she's been in the past. With us being a defensive ball club, we need her to play high level on the defensive end, and she does that for us.

Q. Following up with that on Tamar, how much is she an extension of you on the floor? Like the quarterback.

GLENN BOX: That's a really good question. I think most of the time she's an extension of me (laughing).

We vibe really well. We vibe really well. I have a lot of respect for her and her high level of competitiveness. I couldn't be more proud to be her coach so I think even as she continues to grow and mature as a player, certainly wasn't the system, the system fits her on both sides of the ball. She's just going to continue to build her value. And it's already really high.

Q. Can you speak to what Amber Tretter does really well, especially on the offensive end and especially too with her rebounding numbers. It seems like she's, that's one area she really excels in?

GLENN BOX: Yeah, so Amber is someone who, obviously her versatility -- our bigs are extremely verse till, probably more versatile than any bigs that you've seen. We're able to score, relatively speaking, obviously we play smaller posts in our league than what West Virginia plays, but both of our bigs, Amber in particular, as the ability to score on the block. Certainly against other 4, even some 5s. But the thing that really separates our bigs from other people is their ability to make shots. They can shoot the ball, so they're pick and pop threats, they're ghost threats, they're slip threats. They put a lot of pressure on you, which opens the floor for our ability to attack the rim and be able to make plays in the paint. So, which obviously increases Amber's Scalia's value, Tamar's value, Nuria's value, Clara's value. So, you know, and then you couple the fact that she's our heart and soul, everybody knows her journey. She came here when we were getting popped by 40, 50 points a night and some nights her freshmen year we had a really hard time. She was a part of all that. Now she's here and so her presence speaks very loudly to our team. She's a heck of a leader. So she's invaluable to us.