NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: SECOND ROUND - OHIO STATE VS LSU

March 20, 2022

Faustine Aifuwa

Ryann Payne

Kim Mulkey

LSU Tigers

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon. Welcome to Baton Rouge on this Sunday afternoon for the pregame press conference for LSU as they are set to take on Ohio State Monday night, 7:00 Central here at the Maravich Assembly Center.

The two lady Tigers we have joining us this afternoon, to my left is graduate senior Faustine Aifuwa, 17 points, 14 rebounds, 7 blocks in the win on Saturday night against Jackson State. To the far end of the table is junior guard Ryann Payne, who had 4 points and 5 assists in the win against Jackson State.

With that, ladies, welcome. Congratulations on the win tonight. We'll open up the floor for questions.

Q. This is a question for both athletes, Faustine first. Was yesterday's game physical like games in the SEC, or did it take a step up?

FAUSTINE AIFUWA: It was definitely physical. Coach told us before the game how difficult Jackson State was going to be, and we had to match that and be more aggressive. I think it started out in the paint.

Williams is definitely a good post player. I think it started out there, and kind of outrebounding her and being physical with her and attacking the paint. So I think we did a great job with that.

RYANN PAYNE: Yeah, Faus hit all the way on it, especially with the guards. They were very athletic. Jackson State all around was a very athletic group. I think we sustained our momentum. There were times where they had the lead, and then we took it back. It was a good game.

Q. A followup for Ryann. I noticed you discarded your face guard after the first few minutes. Can you talk a little bit about that and how it went playing without it.

RYANN PAYNE: Yeah, I know it's still healing, so I wanted to wear the mask to continue to protect my face, but after some time, I was just like I can't see. It was getting a little too foggy. So I just decided to get rid of it and protect myself in case somebody tries to hit me or anything. I think it worked pretty well without it.

Q. Faustine, you had your senior night against Alabama, where they honored all you guys, but you knew this was probably coming down the line as far as hosting games. This is without a doubt going to be your last game in the PMAC. I wonder if you had any thoughts about that for yourself and your fellow teammates, playing here for the last time.

FAUSTINE AIFUWA: I just know that we just have to go all out. I mean, it's win or go home, and doing it in our home court with our fans for the last time is definitely going to be needed. We're definitely going to need all the fans to come out and support us.

So just kind of taking it one game at a time. So just going to enjoy the moment.

Q. For both girls, just give us a preview of what you've seen of Ohio State, if you've seen anything. Have you seen anything yet?

FAUSTINE AIFUWA: Yeah, we just watched film. They're a great three-point shooting team. I think we have to take that away and just kind of limiting them to one shot.

Q. They have a big 6'4", No. 23, who has pretty good game about her. Obviously you had a challenge yesterday, but Autumn and yourself were kind of equal, if not taller, than their bigs. So I guess maybe the challenge of going up against a real true center.

FAUSTINE AIFUWA: Again, just kind of being aggressive. Hitting them first, throwing the first punch. Definitely just rebounding is our straight line defense. Limiting them to one shot, I think we can do a great job with that. Autumn is a phenomenal rebounder. I think, if we take advantage of that, it can definitely lead us to a victory.

Q. Ryann, you've had to step in because of the absence of Alexis Morris. What would you say you've done well so far?

RYANN PAYNE: I think for the team alone so far I've just been -- yeah, like you said, stepping in Alexis' place has been the number one goal and just making sure that I take care of the ball, give everything I can on defense for the team, score when I need to but just making sure I play well as a point guard, get everybody involved the right way, and just play hard. Do everything I can for the team. We don't want the seniors going out. So just continuing to play hard no matter what.

Q. Ryann, just the technical you got yesterday, was that something you knew?

RYANN PAYNE: Oh, yeah (laughter). Sorry, I did not know. She claimed that I held the ball because I tried to talk to her, have a civil conversation. I guess I was just supposed to let the ball go, but I gave her the ball. I didn't know it would be a tech. So yeah, that was kind of my fault.

FAUSTINE AIFUWA: It was technically my fault because it was delay of game on me first. If I didn't get that, she wouldn't have had the technical.

RYANN PAYNE: I probably should have paid better attention, but that's what I get.

Q. That's what you get for being nice.

RYANN PAYNE: Right.

Q. You all had that week off before. How was it to really be tested yesterday to get right back into what it's going to take to win in the postseason?

RYANN PAYNE: Yeah, the week helped because we were able to work on each other and ourselves, but I think yesterday, for as aggressive as it was, that kind of opened us up for March Madness and how it's going to become. So now I think we're ready for whatever.

FAUSTINE AIFUWA: Just going off of Ryann, we had that week, really two weeks to kind of prepare and correct the mistakes that we need to correct. That game with Jackson State, again, gave us more things to work on. I think coming out and practicing today, I think we're going to correct them all and try to correct them and bring it on the court again Monday.

Q. For both players, Faustine first, it was your first NCAA Tournament game. Was there something special about it? Did you feel an electricity inside of you that lifted it above other games you played?

FAUSTINE AIFUWA: Definitely in the PMAC it was packing. It's the last game. It's March. Win or go home. We didn't want it to end, especially for our seniors. We wanted to go all out and just give it everything we have.

RYANN PAYNE: For sure. The fans, the energy was crazy. I never experienced anything like that in my life. So let's just keep it going honestly.

Q. For both of you, Ohio State is a great three-point shooting team. Are they comparable to maybe Iowa State or a Missouri team that you all faced already this year?

FAUSTINE AIFUWA: Most definitely. They definitely shoot the ball really well, all those teams. I think the biggest thing is to try to limit them. They shoot about eight threes a game. Kind of want to cut that in half and kind of doing that and limiting them to one shot again with our rebounding and defense and not allowing them to get easy shots, that's the biggest thing.

RYANN PAYNE: We definitely faced opponents similar to Ohio State. I think now we'll be ten times more locked in on what we need to do to stop those offensive players with our three-point shots and locking in on defense, taking it a play at a time.

Q. I have to ask both of you because we didn't get to talk to you last night. How was the locker room after the win?

FAUSTINE AIFUWA: It was crazy. We were playing the music. We were kind of playing Neck a little bit, but we were kind of just dancing and enjoying the moment.

Q. To both players, what did you sense from Alexis getting her back involved and getting her back on the floor and everything? Do you think conditioning is a big part of that too as far as getting her back in the game?

FAUSTINE AIFUWA: Yeah, we're just taking it day by day with her. We don't want to rush things. But it felt great seeing her on the court with us. She's a big part of this team, and you know important she is in our scheme on the team. I think she was doing everything she can. She wasn't trying to do too much. She was just trying to do whatever she needed to do to win the game and just help us out as a team.

RYANN PAYNE: If you could speak to your role and then Awa yesterday as well kind of coming in, and she played more minutes than we expected, a couple of rebounds, a couple of baskets as well. Like being ready when your time comes. Lex may not be full go again, but just the thought process of being ready and being able to contribute.

RYANN PAYNE: I think it's a comfortability thing. We're both getting comfortable the more time that we're given. And we know that, when we go in there, our role needs to be fulfilled the right way. Just going in there and making sure with Awa she's doing a really great job of getting every rebound, being ready to shoot when she's given the ball, and just pursuing everything.

With me, just defending who I need to defend at the right time, or just running the set, being ready to shoot, getting everybody involved. So I think the more we're playing, the more comfortable we're becoming. Yeah, that's been the biggest thing.

Q. I was curious of your impressions about Jacy Sheldon. Obviously she had a really good game yesterday, but she appears to have been kind of their leader all year long and kind of someone who can -- you have to guard in the perimeter, but she can also get inside. So both of you may end up having to deal with her at some point. What do you guys think?

RYANN PAYNE: Essentially what we just saw on film, she's very good at attacking and scoring the three ball. So we just need to lock down on her, making sure that we do not allow her to get the downhill attack. Yeah, if that's the case, then I know our bigs will be trunk tight with being in help side and just limiting their three balls too.

FAUSTINE AIFUWA: Yeah, just protect the paint, just do what I do.

Q. On tape at least, is it similar to Florida Gulf Coast? Are you guys going to have to be chasing and closing out like that?

FAUSTINE AIFUWA: In a sense, yeah. They're going to have to try to attack and try to kick and just take away that penetration is the biggest thing as well.

Q. Ryann, about your face mask, was it your nose? I heard it was in practice.

RYANN PAYNE: Yeah, practice two weeks or so go ago I got elbowed by a scout player in the nose. Yeah, it broke. So I just had to wear the mask for two weeks.

Q. And how comfortable -- can you be fearless without it?

RYANN PAYNE: Yeah, the first -- I would say the first game I had it, it was an adjustment. I had to get used to it. It was foggy, and I couldn't really breathe well. I gradually got used to, but now I'm just going to thug it out and not wear it (laughter).

THE MODERATOR: Welcome back to Baton Rouge, the Baton Rouge regional of the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Kim Mulkey joining us as LSU advances over Jackson State. They'll face Ohio State Monday night at 7:00. Coach Mulkey said she'll pass on opening comments and just open it up for questions.

Q. Was that game last night a rise up in level of physicality from the regular season? I mean, did you see it that way?

KIM MULKEY: No, I didn't. I saw just tremendous athleticism, kids that could leap out of the gym. That one girl went up and leaped onto the rim with two hands. Athleticism, just quickness, kids shooting unbelievable from the three that haven't done it all year. But I wouldn't say it was any more physical.

Q. I don't think we heard you talk too much last night about going to -- using the zone, which again we know you don't do very much, and pressing which you hadn't done much all year. Could you just talk about trying to do the things you had to do to pull the game out. Did any of those things work particularly well or made a huge difference, or do you think it was just kind of like we've got to try something?

KIM MULKEY: Well, I read what you said or wrote, and I heard what the coach said, but I really didn't go to 2-3 zone, so I don't know what you all saw. I went to 3-2 zone, and they hit a shot in the baseline one time, and that's the only time I ran it.

The press, you always have to prepare for situations in the game. We were in -- I don't want to use the word desperate, but we had to change the pace. Time was running out. So you go to a press and you just try to create momentum your way. So it was a press, but it doesn't mean anything to you. We're one face, we're man-to-man denying the ball, or we can go to the zone press. That was more of just trying to get back in the ball game late.

It wasn't like we were going to change who we were, but we have to be prepared. But I only did the 3-2 that one time, and they hit that three right there in front of Faustine.

Q. Coach, what was your evaluation of Alexis and how important was just conditioning? Is that the biggest thing after all these weeks is getting her out and getting her used to running up and down the floor again?

KIM MULKEY: I think I gave her a little bit of trying to make it comfortable for her. When you're up -- what were we up? 17. Do I need to play her more? Do I not? Do I save her for Monday? She's ready to play. She hit all those free throws for us, so that was good.

She's cleared to play, and I think the game will dictate when she goes in and how much she plays. I don't know about -- she's such an athlete. I don't know if conditioning will hurt her because in the span of the weeks that she's been away, she's conditioning without putting pressure on that MCL. It's not basketball conditioning, but yet it is a form of conditioning in rehab.

Q. What do you see in Ohio State?

KIM MULKEY: Oh, outstanding team. They were co-champs of their conference with Iowa, am I correct? And they got a 6 seed. Iowa got, what, a 2 seed. So the only thing I think that separates them is the NET. It had to be NET is all I can figure and that Iowa went on and won the tournament.

So if you're champions of any league, you're pretty dang good. Their two guards are as good as anybody in the country on three ball. Mikesell, I think she's third in the country on made threes. She gets it off so quick. She's played in three programs now, and at each program they allowed her to have the freedom to shoot it. When you're that old and you've been around a while, you're very comfortable, you're very mature.

But they have people around them that play their role and do what they do best. So it's a very, very challenging team for us to play. Their 2-2-1 press created a lot of trouble for Missouri State yesterday. I thought it was a good game. Then their press was really effective against Missouri State.

Q. Would you say you guys have struggled on the close-outs?

KIM MULKEY: I think the scheme is so good now, if you're talking about one-on-one defending dribble penetration, I think people have trouble defending us as well. I think Khayla Pointer can get by anybody. When you're a talented basketball player, it's almost impossible to stop one-on-one dribble penetration. So you're going to have to have tremendous help side defense. You're going to have to do some things because they've got some players that can dribble penetrate. Jackson State had players that could dribble penetrate.

We know Ohio State averages eight threes a game. Well, we thought Jackson State only averaged four, and they hit eight last night. So we're prepared for the three. We know how good they are. We just got out of the film room. We watched them in person yesterday.

So it's going to be a tremendous challenge for us. It's March Madness. I think both teams are talented, and it's going to be a fun day because I know the LSU people will show up, and they're appreciative of the effort we put in yesterday and what the LSU team has done this year.

Q. Coach, you talked about them being a great shooting team, but they seem to be very strong defensively, forcing 22 turnovers yesterday. What do you expect?

KIM MULKEY: Well, that's their 2-2-1. I thought their 2-2-1 created a lot of problems. They tried to beat it on dribble penetration, and they would trap and turn it over. And they stay with their 2-2-1. It's not just something they do out of desperation. It's something they've committed to. I've seen them do it on a missed free throw. So they're committed to it.

Yeah, it's a defense that you don't see a lot of people do on the women's side much. You usually see full court man-to-man pressing, but they're committed to that 2-2-1, and they also do a 1-2-1-1, trapping you in the corners, and then they drop back to man. I've seen a little 3-2 and a little 2-3 zone.

You can't reinvent the wheel. There's only so many defenses you can do. They're not going to change who they are. We're not going to change who we are. It's going to be fun.

Q. The overriding theme is you're trying to make it to the Sweet 16, but this without a doubt will be your final home game for those seniors that you honored before the Alabama game. What does that mean in the context of this game?

KIM MULKEY: Haven't talked to the seniors about that. I'm sure it goes through their mind that that will be the last game tomorrow that they'll ever play here, but I haven't discussed it with them. We've just been in the film room working. Win or lose, it will be emotional for them. It has to be. I mean, you're human and to think that.

But you don't let that become the focus. The focus is Ohio State.

Q. I would assume you'd think $20 is a good bargain to see these two teams play?

KIM MULKEY: I think it's pretty cheap. They ought to raise the price if you ask me (laughter).

Q. How did you feel your team handled the enormity of the game yesterday, the first NCAA Tournament game a lot of them played in? Then what does that mean going forward?

KIM MULKEY: I thought they handled the game fine. I thought the -- when it got tight and we got behind, I don't really -- I didn't feel like it was because it was an NCAA Tournament game. I just felt like it was a Jackson State team that got on a roll and played good, and we had to fight back. I don't think it had anything whatsoever to do with NCAA playoffs. I really don't.

Q. Coaches like yourself and athletes like Tiger Woods or Serena Williams, they make the winning look easy sometimes. You hear coaches talk a lot about, as you said yesterday, this is a big deal. They hadn't played in an NCAA Tournament game. LSU hadn't won an NCAA Tournament game in eight years. Could you just speak to that, how difficult it is to win and what an accomplishment it is for them to win and to win at this level.

KIM MULKEY: Well, I'm going to back it up even more. How could you criticize anything that was done on that floor yesterday? I don't care if we're a 3 seed. Think about where this senior group has been. They won nine basketball games last year, and for them to get to the NCAA Tournament is special, to finish second in our league is more special, and being a host is the most special time.

I said it, and I say it all the time, make sure if somebody beats you, that they just played unbelievable. Would you say Jackson State played maybe their best game of the year? If we would have lost, I would have had to go in that locker room and hug their neck and thank them, and it wouldn't have been a case of, man, we had too many turnovers or we missed too many shots. It was just a case of nobody wanted to lose. That's the way I view this whole season, this whole playoff.

Ohio State wasn't even in the playoffs last year, right? Sanctions, right? Self-imposed sanctions. You think those kids aren't excited to be playing? That's why this basketball and March Madness, to all the people who love other sports, this is fun. You have Cinderellas. You have players you've never heard of that may have the best game of their life during March Madness.

It's just a fun time for sports fans to click on a TV and just see some fun things. You see colleges and cheerleaders and bands and mascots and everybody just enjoying themselves. It doesn't get any better than March Madness. It doesn't.

Q. I know Coach Mainieri would talk about in 2009 the first game against Southern was like the toughest game or one of the toughest games they've played. As a coach who's been on multiple runs deep in tournaments, could that first game in many ways be the toughest that you play?

KIM MULKEY: Sometimes. It's not supposed to be. It's supposed to be tougher every step of the way, but sometimes it's just the excitement, sometimes it's just for some teams it's nerves. Sometimes it's a good matchup.

I don't know that we're going to play any different than we did yesterday. I don't know that Ohio State is. I mean, that was a close game. It's just everybody's trying to survive and advance.

The superior, most talented teams in those first rounds are literally blowing people out, but then they're not, and you see that on both the men's side and the women's side. You saw on the men's side people getting beat. They got extremely high seeds. And you see it on the women's side now. I tend to think that's parity. I think that's parity. It's going to be fun to watch these today on television, and it's going to be fun to watch them tomorrow and see what happens.

This team is playing to get to a Sweet 16. Now, think about that for a minute. Where did it start months ago? And here I am still looking at you all. Think about that. How fun is that? As ugly as I am sometimes and as funny as I am, I can't sing a lick, but I like to sing, we're still singing. Not dancing, we're still singing, right?

Q. Awa played more than she has since the Vanderbilt game. She didn't have a tremendous stat line, but she gave you some great minutes. With how she played, and also do you expect Newby to bounce back and have a better game?

KIM MULKEY: Absolutely, absolutely. It was the ability to jump and get up and rebound. Autumn's more of a -- I don't want to say finesse, but she's not going to beat you with athleticism. They were just coming over. Awa can get in there and get up a little bit. I just felt like she got us an offensive rebound here and there.

She could bang with them. She could jump with them. She could do some of those things that that's not Autumn's game. Autumn, she's so valuable to us. So Ohio State presents a different type of team than Jackson State.

Q. About them, just looking at their stats, they have nine that play 10 minutes or more, eight that play 15 or more. Does that make your scout more challenging, or do they kind of all do the same thing?

KIM MULKEY: We go over everybody that potentially could play. Look at all of them that shoot threes too. You've got a lot of threes being shot by that team. It's not just the two guards.

So we have to be very detailed in a short period of time, and we were today. Tendencies, I'm familiar with one of their players. She played at Oklahoma State. So in our league back in the Big 12 when I was there, very familiar with her. Mikesell, I know watching her play at Maryland and Oregon State. Some of the younger ones, I'm not as familiar with until I started doing scouting reports on Ohio State.

THE MODERATOR: Coach, thank you for your time.