NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST FOUR - MONMOUTH VS TENNESSEE TECH

March 15, 2023

Bri Tinsley

Ariana Vanderhoop

Monmouth Hawks

Media Conference

BRI TINSLEY: Like so just having everybody, especially at the right time for conference tournament, that just paid off. It worked out well.

ARIANA VANDERHOOP: I'd say that, and also, we had three transfers freshmen, so just building chemistry and learning how to play with each other and adjusting to different lineups with injuries.

Q. What makes your team special?

BRI TINSLEY: I would say our connectedness. This is a really close team. We hang out kind of a lot. So we're getting to know each other on and off the court. That really does help. And our coaches help as well, and we are close with our coaches as well.

ARIANA VANDERHOOP: Yeah. Togetherness and just having fun.

Q. So your head coach is in here. So just describe something about your head coach that we don't know about.

ARIANA VANDERHOOP: We play very free, you know. When she first got here, first off, a bunch of our confidence boosted, and just having fun. She lets us have fun. We know when to be serious, but we also play free.

BRI TINSLEY: Yeah. I would definitely say the same. A lot of our confidence comes from her. She instills that in us every single day. Even when we don't believe in ourselves, she still does. Sometimes we don't know why, but we appreciate it.

Q. So both of you all are here. Describe each other's game.

ARIANA VANDERHOOP: Bri is a sixth-year. So she's really experienced and a really smart player. Just watching her play every day and just taking after her, I've stolen a couple of her moves, shooting behind the screen. I learn every day from Brianna.

BRI TINSLEY: Ariana is just a bucket. Like you need a bucket, she'll get it for you any way. She is a hard worker. I always see her in the gym like working hard and stuff like that on her game. And, honestly, she's a great rebounder for a guard, too. I'm not the best rebounder, so I'm trying to like learn that from her. She's real aggressive on offensive boards.

THE MODERATOR: We do have a question from Zoom.

Q. Question for Ariana. Ariana, you were here two years ago when you guys (inaudible). What has it been like for you over the past two seasons?

ARIANA VANDERHOOP: I mean, it feels unreal. Just being patient, you know. Just getting better every day and just trusting the process. And to even be here is absolutely ridiculous. I mean, it's amazing, and I'm just being where my feet are. And it's exciting. And it's a learning experience.

Q. And just maybe you both could answer this. The chemistry you guys have developed in the back court. You seem kind of close. (Inaudible).

BRI TINSLEY: Yeah. I would definitely give credit to our head coach, because in some systems you have like you just one person to be the point guard, and that's it. But she kind of just wants us to just flow off each other. And that really does help. It takes the pressure off as well. And I give credit to our position coach, Anjalé Barrett, because she has us in the gym, and she's on us pretty hard. But it's good for us.

ARIANA VANDERHOOP: Yeah, I agree with Bri. Just giving the credit to our coaches, and me and Bri get in the gym together, like she said. So from the beginning of the season, just building chemistry knowing that we would be playing together, and that's what made us who we are today.

Q. (Inaudible). What are you going to have to do against Tennessee Tech?

ARIANA VANDERHOOP: We watched a little bit. They're solid. They're well coached. They're here for a reason, so I'm just excited for tomorrow night.

BRI TINSLEY: Definitely agree. We're excited for the matchup. So it should be an exciting game.

Q. This is your chance. You get to be on national TV and let people know about your program. What do you want people to know about Monmouth?

ARIANA VANDERHOOP: We're here. It's fun. We're enjoying the moment. But we're also here, it's a business trip, you know. So we're ready to shock the world.

BRI TINSLEY: Yes. We're not done making history yet.