NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST FOUR - ST. JOHN’S (NY) VS. PURDUE

March 16, 2023

Joe Tartamella

Jayla Everett

Unique Drake

St. John’s (NY) Red Storm

Media Conference

St. John's - 66, Purdue - 64

THE MODERATOR: Coach, you want to start us off with an opening comment, please.

JOE TARTAMELLA: Obviously what a game. Just couldn't be prouder of this group, and kind of the way the game went is the way that our season has been, and what this group has been and meant to me personally and obviously our university.

There were just so many elements within the game that I thought defined us in many of the great things we've accomplished all year. Most importantly, obviously, having the fortitude to be able to finish the game the way we did. Probably having some adversity that happened there toward late in the game and being able to sustain it and make a shot that obviously all of them will remember.

I thought we did a really good job early, especially the second quarter. I thought Danielle Cosgrove was really big for us in the first half, really stepped up, same with Unique. Obviously we were paced by the guys who have led us all year.

Felt good through the third, then we started to let up, I thought, too many open shots from deep and obviously held on.

Just so proud of this group. Like I said, I can't put into words what both of these kids next to me on my left and right have meant to the program in different ways, the joy that I got to see in that locker room. Obviously we have another game coming up, but this was a big piece to obviously validating a lot of things that they believed in all year and probably started back in June.

Q. Jayla, just what was going through your mind as you hit that last shot?

JAYLA EVERETT: Really just get the ball up. I'm not going to lie to you. It was more so like I seen the shot clock was down, my teammates trusted me with the ball, so I knew I had to go make a play.

Q. On that last play, is that entirely how you drew it up?

JOE TARTAMELLA: Well, I wasn't stupid enough to not give her the ball. I think you know the answer to that, but obviously we feel comfortable with the group that we had on the floor. We wanted to get something toward the rim to see if we could either get a bucket or a foul.

But she just made a great play, and that's what we've done all year. So for her to make that coming off what had happened to her in the previous couple minutes -- I was part a buzzer beater years ago. So, again, it's like surreal to me because it's like I was watching us against USC and move the ball around and hit a three on the buzzer at the same time on the clock that it just happened here.

The answer to your question is no. I'm trying to be clear to you, but I wasn't dumb enough to not give her the ball.

Q. Unique, being the Sixth Woman of the Year, you just came off the bench with lights out shooting. What did you really see coming off the bench?

UNIQUE DRAKE: Just playing my game. My teammates trust me. My coaches trust me. Coming off the bench, you have to have the same mentality as a starter. So just playing my game and knowing that my teammates and my coach trust me.

Q. Jayla, just how would you kind of describe the wave of emotions that occurred in -- I don't even know the timeline anymore, but from getting the tech, sitting out for a bit, coming back in, hitting the game winner. Just how did you sort of manage all that?

JAYLA EVERETT: Honestly, Mimi's been here before, so she was a big, big piece of the puzzle. Like in the huddle, she made sure we stayed composed. Everybody is like shake it off, Jay.

I feel like the ref made the right call honestly. I've got to learn to control my emotions at times. I'm very passionate.

But just knowing we've got two -- that's a lot of time on the clock. So I could either be mad about it, or I could find a way to fix it. But I can't help my team on the bench. So I was like how do I shake out of it faster?

Q. Unique, you're somebody who's been in the program for four years now. Just from your perspective, how would you describe the turnaround from your first couple of years to now being here and getting an NCAA Tournament win?

UNIQUE DRAKE: It's been rough, but this team, I love this team so much. Like our leadership is different. Our communication is different. Our work ethic is different. Everything is just different. I just love our team.

Q. Just curious, when you're a First Four game, how much time do you and your staff spend on who your next opponent will be? Or is all your focus completely on this first game?

JOE TARTAMELLA: Well, I think it's a preference probably of what the coach thinks. Certainly you need to be prepared. My focus with our team is always what's in front of us. At the same time, my staff is probably focused on what we're doing but also being prepared for what the next step is.

So kind of approached it the same way we would a conference tournament. You play back-to-back here, but at least you get a day. For me my philosophy has always been to worry about what's ahead of us but certainly be prepared for what's up next.

So we will do that and do everything we can to prepare our team and be ready to play on Saturday.

THE MODERATOR: Coach, ladies, thank you very much. Congratulations, and we'll see you tomorrow.