NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - JACKSONVILLE VS LSU

March 20, 2026

Special Jennings

Tatum Brown

Carmaya Bowman

Pete Maravich Assembly Center

Jacksonville Dolphins

Media Conference

LSU 116, Jacksonville 58

THE MODERATOR: Once again, good evening. Welcome back to Baton Rouge for the Women's NCAA Tournament Baton Rouge regional. We're joined by Jacksonville, by Head Coach Special Jennings, and then we have Tatum Brown joining us and Carmaya Bowman.

We'll invite coach to make an opening comment, and then we'll address questions to the players.

Coach, if you'd like to comment.

SPECIAL JENNINGS: Absolutely. We've had a phenomenal year, right? I'll stick to that. My players have been resilient all year. They've played extremely hard for me. They've played for each other. They celebrate each other.

It's unfortunate that Priscilla Williams went out with an injury and was not able to finish her career on her terms, but we've had a great run, right? I'm extremely proud of these young ladies.

THE MODERATOR: I saw her arm in a sling. Is she okay?

SPECIAL JENNINGS: She's not.

THE MODERATOR: Okay. She was here yesterday. We had the pleasure of meeting her.

SPECIAL JENNINGS: Yes.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Carmaya or Tatum.

Q. For either player, LSU came out and started scoring right away. Did they take you all out of anything you wanted to do? Did they surprise you at all with how much they were able to score right from the start?

CARMAYA BOWMAN: I don't really think so. I felt like I could still do what I wanted to do. Even so, I could do more because of the way they were playing.

TATUM BROWN: I mean, they came out and played LSU basketball, played hard and strong. I feel like after the first time that we were able to adjust, but they didn't do anything we were unfamiliar with.

THE MODERATOR: Any other questions for players?

Q. You made a lot of shots, especially in the second quarter. Coach Mulkey commented on how well you did offensively in that quarter. Did you feel that part of your game was fine?

TATUM BROWN: Yeah. I mean, that was great. We got to slow them down and play our style of basketball. So, I mean, y'all seen we didn't lose that quarter by much, as much as we did in the first.

THE MODERATOR: Carmaya, thank you. Tatum, thank you for joining us. Congratulations on your season.

TATUM BROWN: Thank you.

CARMAYA BOWMAN: Thank you.

THE MODERATOR: Any questions for Head Coach Special Jennings?

Let's talk about the start. Scott asked your players about the start. You called a quick time-out. You saw that pace going. What were you trying to tell your team in terms of the way they came out of the gates?

SPECIAL JENNINGS: It wasn't so much the pace. It was us, right? I'm looking at my players. We were uncharacteristic in the beginning. I called the time-out to settle us in, to get us settled.

LSU is a good team, right? Really good team. Again, they've been a National Championship contender. I just thought we got away from the things that makes us really good.

THE MODERATOR: Yesterday, you made the point that you all like to run like LSU did. LSU made a point a few moments ago to emphasize how good you played in the second quarter. They were disappointed in themselves. Did you see that? What was the feeling with the team when you came out of the second quarter after getting behind in the first quarter?

SPECIAL JENNINGS: It's hard. We're one of the best teams in the country getting to the free-throw line. We didn't get as many attempts this game. I thought we put ourselves in position a couple times to get fouled. That's a big part of what we do from an offensive standpoint. It just didn't go our way today.

THE MODERATOR: Moving forward, after the success of this season, how do you take this as a building block and start getting ready for next year?

SPECIAL JENNINGS: Like any competitor, right, you go get better. Chin out up, chest out, figure it out, right? You don't put your head down. The game is built on wins and losses. You either win or you lose. There is no in between.

We understand that. My job is to make sure our roster is intact to be competitive again next season.

Q. You mentioned Priscilla Williams. Can you say what happened to her in the game?

SPECIAL JENNINGS: I'm not all the way sure, but I know that she's out for a while.

THE MODERATOR: I happened to be sitting in front. I think it was on the inbounds.

SPECIAL JENNINGS: She went down, and it's unfortunate.

THE MODERATOR: It was a pleasure meeting you.

SPECIAL JENNINGS: Thank you.

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on your season. Wish you the best of luck in the future.

SPECIAL JENNINGS: Thank you so much.