ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

March 5, 2021

Elissa Cunane

NC State Wolfpack

Postgame Press Conference

NC State 68, Virginia Tech 55

Q. You didn't have to pass out of a double-team, so that's good. I wanted to ask you, you got the ball several times today so low that there was really nothing they could do. You just had a lot of easy lay-ins. How were you able to get so free?

ELISSA CUNANE: You know, Liz got a quick foul in the first quarter, which really affected her defense, she couldn't play as physically, just as I did as well early in that first quarter.

We knew we could attack the bigs. They don't have much depth like we're fortunate to have, so we were able to just go in and attack. They didn't want to get fouls, so we were able to make easy lay-ups.

Q. You were pretty aggressive from the start, closing out in the fourth quarter. How much of your performance was a combination of not having played in the previous two Virginia Tech games and always coming back to your home and playing in front of family and friends there in the Greensboro area?

ELISSA CUNANE: Yeah, there was definitely a lot to play for today. I had some time to make up after not playing Virginia Tech the first two times this season, and we're on a bigger stage now. It's tournament time. One loss and you're out, so we really have all notches turned up, offensive and defense.

We're coming out here because we've got business to do.

Q. Did you feel like you guys were even more comfortable and confident going into your tournament opener this year than last year knowing the success you had last year?

ELISSA CUNANE: A little bit. It helps that we have played on this stage before and know what to expect with the fans that are here and just the adrenaline. But every single tournament is different. Every single game is different. We really just had to step out here. Coach Moore said like the team that plays first always has a little bit of an advantage, so now that we've got this game under our belt we're going to be ready to go tomorrow.

Q. How comfortable are you with an opponent after playing them two times earlier? Obviously you didn't play, but just having two scouting reports on them, how much better do you feel about this game coming in?

ELISSA CUNANE: You know, it was definitely tough. Playing any game twice is hard, especially in the ACC, so coming out here for the third time, we had a lot of scout to watch, which is a benefit. And obviously didn't have me last time we played, so things were going to be different, but we were able to know what their guards were going to do and we knew what they were going to do, so we just had to execute the scout and play defense.

Q. I was just wondering your thoughts on the matchup you've had against Kitley over the years and the matchup between NC State and Virginia Tech since you've been there. There have really been a lot of good games.

ELISSA CUNANE: Yeah, you know, I always love playing against Liz because she's my friend and also a great post player. So playing against her I learn a lot about myself and I feel like my game grows. It's just cool to play against somebody from my hometown, and added on that she's have you been of any good friends.

I think us being friends and Cayla too, it's really turned NC State-Virginia Tech into a rivalry. There's a lot of friendship on both sides, but when you step on the court it's about to go down.

Q. Can you elaborate on that a little bit? How long have you been friends with them? And what was it like playing against them again in this scenario instead of in high school?

ELISSA CUNANE: You know, I was friends with Liz since like maybe my sophomore or junior year of high school. She joined my AAU team and it was really just -- Cayla was already on my AAU team so we played together for the three, four years that I was in high school. Played against each other in high school. She was at Northwest; I was at Northern.

So we've had our fair share of match-ups, not only against each other, but also playing on the same team. We've also like shot a bunch of times together, worked out. We've really just kind of like -- our games are very similar because we kind of grew up playing together in high school.

It's definitely just a battle every time we step on the court. It's tough because you want them to do good. Like I want my friends to do good, but when we're on the court, you've got to put all that aside.

Q. I wanted to know if you've ever gotten schooled by Ralph Kitley and if you've taken any of his moves and used it against Elizabeth in any games?

ELISSA CUNANE: Ralph has definitely schooled me a couple times. He's a big man so he just puts the ball over his heard and lays it in. I'm not quite able to do that yet. Maybe grow a couple more inches.

But yeah, he's schooled me a couple times. I'll admit to that.

Q. Camille came in about midway through the first quarter and played a really valuable eight minutes there in the first half when you picked up an early foul. Just knowing the way she's been able to come off the bench and contribute valuable minutes, does that help you play a little bit more free and maybe a little bit more aggressive when you're on the court, not so worried about foul trouble?

ELISSA CUNANE: You know, I always still worry about foul trouble because I know my team needs me, even though we do have Camille. And she did, she came in and she played some great minutes. She did awesome against Virginia Tech the two times we played them before. But I think all around knowing that our team has depth allows us to run the floor harder because we know we can have a sub if we get tired.

And definitely played more aggressively, not to foul, but just aggressively and used more energy to leave it all out there on the court.

Q. You were talking about depth a little bit. How valuable was what Jada did for you guys, especially when Kayla and Jakia were a little bit off offensively, dealing with a little bit of foul issues. She really gave you some toughness and a lift inside.

ELISSA CUNANE: Yeah, J.B. shows us why she was the Sixth Player of the Year. She's able to step out on the court and make a difference as soon as she gets out there and she's so explosive. When the guards were shoving a little bit she was able to step in there, defense, and just attack, and they couldn't guard her inside. She's unstoppable.