NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - PRINCETON VS NC STATE

March 16, 2023

Carla Berube

Julia Cunningham

Kaitlyn Chen

Grace Stone

Jon M. Huntsman Center

Princeton Tigers

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: Thank you for those of you joining us in person and Zoom as well. We will get started with the three student athletes from Princeton: Grace Stone, Julia Cunningham and Kaitlyn Chen.

Q. Hello, for each of the three student athletes, can you discuss some of your experience playing in the NCAA Tournament a year ago and some lessons you took from that experience and how you'll apply it this year.

JULIA CUNNINGHAM: I think having any experience in the tournament is going to be really helpful for us, especially last year, playing against a really athletic Kentucky team in the first round.

I just remember coming in with a really sound game plan. They came in and threw the first punch, and then we kind of settled in to what we were trying to do. We were able to execute and ended up winning that game. In the Indiana game, same thing, just kind of battling it out to the end.

I think having that experience in those moments. You know, just looking back on our season so far, we've had games where we've had to battle back from deficits at halftime, even going into the fourth quarter. Having those moments and having the experience to lean on is going to be really helpful for this weekend.

KAITLYN CHEN: I feel like Julia said it pretty well. Having that experience will be super helpful. Also like hopefully not being as nervous, we will be more ready for whatever NC State throws at us.

GRACE STONE: We know what it takes to be here. Going in with that experience, with that confidence is huge. I think we are all focused and ready for tomorrow.

Q. Just picking up on that for all three of you, how does this week of preparation feel for you all compared to last year Kaitlyn, you mentioned nerves a little bit. Do you feel less nervous this time around, or does it feel pretty similar coming in?

KAITLYN CHEN: It feels similar, in the sense we are focused and ready to log into whatever game plan our coaches come up with.

JULIA CUNNINGHAM: Last year, nobody really had any faith we were going to win that Kentucky game. Every prediction was Kentucky winning, beating Princeton in the first round. And this year just seeing some of the media where we're actually picked to win a game I think is really exciting.

Looking at that, our mentality is always the underdog mentality. That is how we love to play with a chip on our shoulder. So that is still how we are coming in, and how we are preparing this week. In that sense, it's definitely the same, but it's really nice to see the respect from some of the media as well.

Q. You guys have definitely played well at Jadwin Gym, and you played away from Jadwin Gym well, and you dominated in the Ivy League. So how have you guys prepared, coming into the NCAA Tournament where you play a tough NC State team? Has anything changed? Is it business as usual?

GRACE STONE: The competition changes a little bit. It is a different style of play, going from the Ivy League to an ACC team. But I think our game plan is always the same. We win games on our defense. We have our principles that we always stick to.

I think for us, it is really locking in on those types of things, and offensively, making sure we play to our strengths and not let anybody speed us up. I think that for us we're ready to play any type of team. In our nonconference we played teams from all types of conferences. I think we are definitely prepared for NC State.

Q. Are each of you individually, is there one or two things that you guys are focusing on, you know, bringing to your team tomorrow night? To help the team have their best showing by you guys doing something individually?

JULIA CUNNINGHAM: For me, I think a little bit last year, my focus is being a calming presence on the court. Obviously, you know, we have now been here last year. I think having that helps. At the same time, it is the NCAA Tournament, the lights are on, and I think the nerves come with that.

Being fifth year seniors at this point, we will lean on our experience and the moments we've had on this stage. Make sure everybody is calm, prepared, and ready to execute the game plan that we have.

Q. You guys defeated Harvard in the Ivy League championship. How do you carry that momentum here into Salt Lake City? You have a little bit of a break, but how are you going to transfer that game into the Huntsman Center?

KAITLYN CHEN: I felt that game was a showing of how we could be if we lock in and focus on what the coaches tell us to do. Using that, and staying locked in for a full 40 minutes.

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by the head coach Carla Berube. If you would like to start with an opening statement then we will take questions.

CARLA BERUBE: Really excited and pleased to be here in Utah, Salt Lake City, and playing in the NCAA Tournament. You heard from my players. You know, we are thrilled to be back representing Princeton University.

At the moment we have been checking in on the men's team that is playing right now. Looking forward to the challenge and playing a great NC State Wolfpack team from a really great conference and with a great storied past.

You know, we have been working really hard to get to this point. We pulled out a tough, gritty win against Harvard to win the Ivy League. Yes, looking forward to the first round here in Salt Lake. Yes, that's where we are at.

Q. Hi, Coach. Hope the travel went well. I am curious for you what it is like to have kind of a gritty finish to the season with the Harvard game, and the Penn game as well,

how has that prepared for you now?

CARLA BERUBE: We have seen a lot of different teams, a lot of different styles this season. Games where we were ahead by a lot. Games where it has been close. Games where we have been down and had to claw our way out of it and sort of persevere at the end.

I think we have had to just show our true identity and find out just how resilient we are and gritty and determined. You know, no matter what the score is, we are going to play really hard and play Tiger basketball.

So, yes, super happy that we pulled that one out with Harvard, and yes, any momentum is great momentum. We have been on a nice little winning streak. We hope to keep that going.

Q. Hi, Carla. Thinking big picture for tomorrow, in order to win, what are a couple of things that you have to do and a couple of things that you can't do?

CARLA BERUBE: I will start with can't. We can't turn the ball over. Yeah, we have to get back in transition. They are really strong in transition. Incredible athletes, and they are fast, and they are playmakers, and score really, really well at the rim. They score well inside.

We have to communicate really well with each other. We have to be really disciplined defensively. So we have to take great shots on the offensive end so that defensively we are back and ready to, you know, execute our defensive game plan.

They also can shoot the three. They have got a lot of just really skilled offensive players. But I think they wreak havoc on the defensive end. They are long. They're athletic. They get a lot of deflections. They just get their hands on a lot.

So, like I said, we need to take good shots. We need to take care of the basketball. We need to execute well. We need to run our offense and get great looks. Then defensively, just stick to our principles and then rebound the ball.

That is a huge, huge key. Getting on the offensive boards, for one, but also just taking care of the defensive glass.

Q. Coach, like you said, you were here last year, making it to the round of 32. How do you feel like this team is different coming into this new season?

CARLA BERUBE: Yes, I think we have had a little more adversity than we did last year heading into the tournament. The Ivy League last year, we seemed to be pretty successful throughout the season.

We started 0-2. We have had a lot of close games, so we have really shown what we are made of late in the season. There is new faces. You know, we can't rely on Abby Meyers, like we did last year. She is in a red uniform now.

We have got our people, and the three that were up here earlier, they play their roles really, really well. Everybody knows how important they are. All of our players, all 16, and we need to play to our strengths and play together.

We have done that in the last couple of months late in the Ivy League season. That is why we are here now. We really came together as a team and kept growing. Kept working every single day in practice. You know, we have been playing some of our best basketball of the season.

Q. Carla, I know you guys aren't the fastest team in terms of pace. But with NC State not having a ton of depth and potentially without Diamond Johnson, is that something that you maybe try to look to exploit? Like wear them out, speed things up a little bit, or not so much?

CARLA BERUBE: I think we always look to push the ball in transition. We will be who we are. If we can get out on the break and we have numbers, we are certainly going to push it.

I don't think we are thinking too much about what NC State has on the floor or who they don't. I think they are pretty deep. They have some really great reserves off the bench, and we have a few ourselves.

We are going to take our opportunities when they come to us. I think Kaitlyn always has the ability to really push it and look for easier opportunities and transitions. We will do that, but I don't think we are doing something completely different out of who we are and who we have been all season.

Q. I was curious, Coach, about some of the younger players and how they have handled some of the pressure so far. Playing in the NCAA Tournament is difficult for everybody when you are first encountering it. How have they handled it so far?

CARLA BERUBE: So far, we are doing well, happy to be here. Yeah, it is exciting, no matter if it is your first time or your fourth time or whatnot. Even for me, it has been a few times in my career and every time it is really exciting, and you know, there is nervousness and all of that, which I think is great, as it should be.

Yes, I am looking forward to it. We have put our younger players in tough situations, like playing in Gampel Pavilion or playing at Texas in front of huge crowds, under the big lights. That is why we play a tough out of conference schedule to get us ready for March Madness and playing on this stage.

I think they are exciting and -- they are excited, I think they will be ready. Like Julia said, she is the calming presence we have had among our returners. And our seniors, I think they will do a good job of just keeping everybody on task. Thanks.