Pregame Quotes
Q. In this matchup, it's really going back to the ACC type of thing. Were you guys, did you consider Duke your chief rival and talk about that rivalry, if you would.
COACH FRESE: Yeah, obviously, when I first came to Maryland in 2002 you learn quickly on both the men's and women's side when you come to Maryland that it's a rivalry.
For us, we had to make it become one on the women's side, in terms of where we needed to get our program. So, four short years later, I feel like we were able to do that.
But it was as a result of how they played and how they performed and set the bar that made us better. So, classic matchups through the years, two teams with phenomenal players and rosters that have gone back and forth. Obviously interesting to have to come all the way out here to the northwest to be able to play this matchup. So, obviously we'll see how excited. For the Gonzaga fans, I don't know what that means to them, compared to everybody on the East Coast, but, yeah, definitely, it's always been a tremendous matchup for both teams.
Q. Can you talk about what factor depth might play in this matchup. Duke's had a little bit short on their bench. Do you feel like you guys might be better in that respect?
COACH FRESE: Yeah, I think our depth has always played a major part for us this season and you talk about if you're able to get a roster into foul trouble or even for us we're able to extend our depth. But we would like to take some of their size maybe to be able to utilize, when you talk about the two rosters. But they have done a tremendous job in their rotation and being able to keep the players that they need to keep on the floor.
Q. Having played an undefeated team in the second round, how much did that prep help you for this game playing a team that's probably was under seeded?
COACH FRESE: Yeah, I think for us all season long we have just loved playing great competition and playing the best of the best, to bring out of us to be able to help us get better and to improve.
So we really look forward to the matchup against Princeton. Obviously, when you get to the Sweet 16 any team you face is going to be a great team, any team you face you're going to look forward to because you want to play your best game to be able to advance.
Q. How much have you learned about your team and maybe even these last couple games, what have you learned about your team?
COACH FRESE: I think first and foremost, if you talk about just kind of this season as a whole, I don't think you can underestimate the experience a young team received last year when you talk about going to a Final Four and what it took to be able to go there.
Also, with the team, when you talk about maybe expectations were different coming in, graduating five seniors and your three‑time All‑American, you can't really define a team before a season or set a bar for them. I think this team has embraced the fact that they're going to set their own bar and try to take it as high as they possible can.
Q. The time change at all a factor for you? Is getting acclimated, has that been smooth or how is that going?
COACH FRESE: I'm great. I got an awesome massage yesterday. I mean, no, for our players, they're young, both teams you're in the Sweet 16, college players, I mean sleep for them, they're in a good situation.
Q: When you've been with teams that have made obviously long tournament runs, is there one game in this sequence that always seems to be the hardest one to get over the hump, Sweet 16 game, Elite 8 game, is there one game that just always seems like it's the hardest one?
COACH FRESE: Great question. I always feel like there is one game in there that is extremely difficult. I don't think you can define which round it's in. I think it comes down to matchups. When you know your on team and you know what kind of teams maybe can exploit different weaknesses or you'll see a roster and watch them on film and what it looks like. So I don't think you can predict which round that is in, to be quite honest.
Q. Was there a moment or a game or anything in particular where you kind had the light bulb moment where you thought this team now can move on without Alyssa, we don't have to count on her any more, we have a deep team that can do it on its own without a superstar.
COACH FRESE: Initially it took us through the non‑conference to kind of grow into who we were. I thought that our first game going on the road to Minnesota in conference play was huge. Between Nebraska and Minnesota, I would say those two road games were big for us in terms of understanding going into elements, eight to twelve thousand fans being against you and kind of having a poised confident approach as a team.
Q. What do you see is keys to this game for your team?
COACH FRESE: Obviously rebounding. When you look at the ‑‑ I'm not sure I've seen a bigger team in the country when you talk about Elizabeth Williams and Azura Stevens and Henson and they just keep bringing size after size after size into the game.
So, obviously rebounding is going to be key and then taking care of the basketball against their size. You can't really simulate their size in practice when you don't have that kind of length. So I think trying to see it on film preparing your team for it.
Q. Sometimes we see players take to Twitter or other social media and make their prediction. We saw that a little bit with West Virginia. Do you have to tell your team to be extra careful, especially now in the NCAA Tournament?
COACH FRESE: I think that's a hard dynamic, obviously, for young people. But I think our players are really well trained and know kind of the approach in terms of taking ‑‑ they all were talking about it yesterday before that game, which I was glad to hear, just in terms of fueling Kentucky and getting them even angrier going into that game. So, I'm quite confident in our young ladies that they will be media savvy.
Q. Obviously you guys have had a great season, I presume your expectations were high going in, but is there anything that you guys have done better that surprised you about your success this year?
SHATORI WALKER‑KIMBROUGH: We're just taking it one game at a time. Focusing on the opponent in front of us. I thought it was great that we were on this 26‑0 streak, but right now we're just focused on Duke and surviving and advancing.
Q: Laurin, can you talk about the senior season a little bit and getting toward the end of it and how you feel about making things last as long as possible.
LAURIN MINCY: I'm feeling really great, really excited, obviously. It's a blessing to get to another Sweet 16. It's just a lot of emotions going on now. Obviously, I could speak for all my teammates, we know that we don't want to end our season here and we're going to keep fighting and keep playing hard. At the end of the day, we want to be the ones to determine if our season's going to be over.
Q. For Laurin, you've been around in years past the old ACC rivalry with Duke, so you're familiar with Duke. What are your thoughts on having to travel all the way to Spokane to play a rival?
LAURIN MINCY: We're really excited. It's a little added motivation that we'll be able to play Duke, but they're just another team in our way to the championship. So, the Duke and Maryland rivalry it's always usually competitive, so you're going to see a really good game on Saturday.
Q. Lexie or any of the players, can you talk about social media a little bit and how you approach it, the fun and the pitfalls, I guess, of what we saw with Kentucky yesterday and how do you guys deal with it and being careful but having fun, too?
LEXIE BROWN: We're, we have relationships with a lot of these players that we play against but we're at that age where you know not to say too much on social media.
Like you said, yesterday, the Kentucky game, that completely back fired on that player's part. But Rose does a great job with helping with us what to say, whatnot to say on social media and starting tomorrow night we'll be off social media completely until we win both of our games or until our season is over. So we got to stay locked in and you can't let the outside world influence how you play.
LAURIN MINCY: Just piggybacking on what she said. We know what and what not to say. And from the fun aspect, we do a great job of when we do post something, it's about the team or about Maryland, period, so we usually stay positive on social media.
SHATORI WALKER‑KIMBROUGH: Just be smart. I know like I'm looking on the outside, if someone says something about our team, that would just be added motivation. So I guess the other night he was using that as some confidence that he had, but like Laurin and Mincy said, just knowing how to be smart and a time and place for everything.
Q. What does the Duke/Maryland rivalry mean to you who doesn't have as much experience as maybe some of the other players?
SHATORI WALKER‑KIMBROUGH: I've been an outsider for like the past couple years, but definitely this last year, obviously, but we only played them once and that's the only experience that I have. I have a bad taste in my mouth from that last game and that's what I've been kind of focused on. I don't want another 20 point loss against Duke. So that's all I've been worried about.
Q. Lexie, same question for you, what does it mean to you as a player who doesn't have as much experience as a couple of your teammates in the Duke Maryland rivalry?
LEXIE BROWN: I grew up watching those games. I remember specifically watching a game with my high school team of that Duke game where Coach B got her technical foul. So I know that those games, they get extremely intense. I was extremely excited to be a part of that rivalry. And for us to be able to bring it back, especially in March here in the tournament is extremely exciting. And like Shatori, my one and only Duke experience left a horrible taste in my mouth, so we're really excited to redeem ourselves.
Kiara Leslie #2 (Freshman|Guard)
On playing against an opponent from her home state…
“It is very exciting to play Duke since we switched conferences and I didn’t think this day would come. I also know a couple of their players, so it’s just exciting to be able to go back and play someone that I used to play against.”
On the team’s mindset this week…
“We just want to go out and play Maryland basketball, run, keep our tempo up, and not play to Duke’s tempo. We want to go out and play the way we know how to.”
Malina Howard #5 (Junior|Center)
On the Maryland-Duke rivalry…
“Playing my first two years in the ACC, we got to play against Duke and it was always an intense game. I think what makes it such a big and intense rivalry is that it is always competitive. No matter what the game is we are always going to play our hardest against each other and it is fun to watch. It’s fun to play against them when there is such a big rivalry.”
On excitement to try to break Duke’s three-game winning streak over Maryland…
“We’re really excited to get back at Duke, but we know we have to focus on us. We have to make sure we play Maryland basketball and not let too much of the hype and the talk get into our heads. We have to focus on playing the best basketball we can play.”
On trying to control Elizabeth Williams…
“She is amazing. We give her credit, she is a great player. She brings a lot to the court, but we just have to make sure we play good team defense. We all are going to have our moments where we have to help out on her. We have to make sure that we are there for each other and it’s not just the person who’s guarding her with responsibility, but everyone on the team.”
