NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - SACRAMENTO STATE VS UCLA

March 18, 2023

Mark Campbell

Kahlaijah Dean

Isnelle Natabou

Pauley Pavilion

Sacramento State Hornets

Media Conference

UCLA, 67 - SACRAMENTO STATE, 45.

THE MODERATOR: We will begin with questions from the athletes.

Q. The first quarter, getting behind early, how much of it was tournament nerves? What UCLA was doing?

ISNELLE NATABOU: We had a lot of talks as a team, as players with each other and with the staff about how we are able to control our nerves, and they are going to be mistakes. We need to be able to weather the storm, and keep the offense. We kept reminding ourselves. Players on the court, and players who were on the bench, we still have a chance to have the game under control.

KAHLAIJAH DEAN: The same, just nerves. Talking to each other every play, every breakdown, calm down, it is a game of basketball, set it down. And the offense, in the first quarter, even myself may have been forcing some shots. First quarter nerves, we were able to get over that.

Q. The first trip to the tournament. I know it wasn't the result that you guys wanted, just the whole experience, how do you think it will help in the future?

KAHLAIJAH DEAN: I think it is bitter sweet. Getting this far for Sac State, this is program history now. Setting the standard and setting the bar for the incoming player, the freshmen, letting them know what the standard is, and helping SAC State to keep getting better.

Q. How tough was UCLA's defense, and how good do you think the team could be next year?

KAHLAIJAH DEAN: I would say, UCLA, they are a great team in and out, great guards, great post, they are long. Working off them, getting switching screens,find the post up and when it comes to getting trapped. They are big players. They played a great game. As far as, you mean the team for next year? I think it will be great. With Mark being the first year, having a great program history. I think it will continue to happen. People keep buying into his program, and what he has to say. I think he is a great coach. He will only get better from here on out.

ISNELLE NATABOU: I agree with Kahlaijah. This was a great game. An experience for all of us. Having the chance to experience high level team. I think we fought a great fight. I am so proud of my team and our staff. How we handled this challenge.

Q. UCLA has such a deep bench, I think they played all ten players tonight. Is there any way you can physically or mentally prepare for a team that you know will bring it with every player that's out there?

KAHLAIJAH DEAN: I would say to staying poised. We know some teams are like that with a deep bench. Knowing personnel. Knowing who comes off the bench. What their strong suit is, guarding it that way. For the most part, I think that is what it was.

ISNELLE NATABOU: All about the preparation. We are aware that many teams have deeper bench, more players, which means we need to remember more of their personnel and be ready for everyone who comes off the bench.

Q. Kahlaijah, in your first and final year as a Hornet, describe the experience.

KAHLAIJAH DEAN: For sure, blessing, making this decision in the transfer portal. I wouldn't to spend my fifth year any other way. Finally made it to March Madness, was able to win Big Sky Championship. I wouldn't change it for the world. Just talking with Mark and with my teammates, it is a special group for sure. To come in with just three returners, and nine whole new players, would say it would be impossible to get a team to go this far. The chemistry, the bond created between players and coaches, it is bittersweet. I wouldn't want to spend it any other way.

Q. Isnelle, I see you smile, listening to Kahlaijah talk. How does it feel to have Kahlaijah putting it all on the court this entire season and having it come to a close?

ISNELLE NATABOU: I will say it shortly and simply, I love her. I am not saying it because it is cool to say it, or casual to say it, all teammates like each other. LA-LA. I mean it, she is a great person. She is a great player, and as a 23-year-old young woman, I have not soon this combination in many people. I am blessed to share this court with this monster combination of awesomeness. If I could bring her back for a sixth year, wherever she would go, I would follow like a tail. She is awesome. I am blessed to share a court with her. And blessed to be under her leadership in my junior year. You are awesome.

KAHLAIJAH DEAN: Thank you, Izzy.

THE MODERATOR: Any more questions in the room? Thank you so much.

We are joined by Head Coach Mark Campbell. We will start with an opening statement from coach, and head to questions from the room.

MARK CAMPBELL: This has been an awesome experience for our team, and our program. It is the first time our program had the opportunity to compete in March Madness. Super thankful that group got a chance to experience it. The seniors got a chance to play in March Madness. It didn't end the way we want. UCLA is a really great ball club with a great coaching staff. They did a heck of a job and they earned it today. Just proud of this group. And we accomplished a lot this season.

Q. Did UCLA do anything you didn't think they could do? Did they surprise you or did you expect this?

MARK CAMPBELL: No, they didn't surprise me or us. They are a four seed for a reason. They earned it over the course of their season. Last week, I watched them beat Stanford and Arizona, and play for the championship in the PAC-12 tournament. It is a really good ball club. They have an opportunity to make a deep run in March. They are good. We were prepared. They didn't do anything different. They played a good ball game today.

Q. Coach Campbell, when you find yourself down double digits as early as you did today, you what do you tell the team? How do you feel like they responded?

MARK CAMPBELL: You try to win each quarter. This was a new environment. A big time stage. Getting to play at Pauley Pavilion in March Madness, against a really good team. Coming into this game, regardless of score, we had four ten-minute wars. We wanted to compete and take them ten minutes at a time. The first quarter got away from us. Credit UCLA. They hit shots, they got the game going at a tempo that favored them. We couldn't quite recover. I am proud of the group. The second quarter we lost by four, third quarter, lost by three, fourth quarter lost by two.

We took it ten minutes at a time. We couldn't get over the hump. It is because they are a really good ball club.

Q. What can your players learn from this game or this experience, and how optimistic are you going into next season?

MARK CAMPBELL: This experience is priceless. For all of the young kids returning next year, to get to see what this stage is, to get to be in this environment. To see what a team like UCLA is up close and personal, that inspires your off season grind and your work ethic.

This experience, this is how you grow. This is how you get better. They got something to chase. So, this will help our program get better.

Q. Mark, when you took this job two years ago, the program had three wins. Could you have imagined two years in, you would have this quick of a turn-around and be in the tournament?

MARK CAMPBELL: No. To go from three wins to this wasn't planned. At the same time, you took the job because of the potential that Sac State had. Never had a time line. You don't put a timeline on young people. You don't put a ceiling on what they could accomplish. You took the job, you knew there was a chance to build something special. It was at ground zero. We were able to attract some just incredible young women that believed in the vision. This senior class, Jordan has been here for four seasons and literally, the kid has seen it all. Played on a three-win team, a Covid season, and coaching change and part of the best team in program history. Kaylin and KD had one year left in college, took a leap the faith and trusted their last year of college to us. So, it has been a special group. A mixed bag of kids that we brought together. In the locker room, I just told them. It is a testament to who you guys are, to bring nine new players together to accomplish what they did.

It is incredible, it is faster than I would have guessed. We are not going backwards.

Q. What effect do you think this tournament appearance will have on the program long term? In terms of recruiting, maybe getting some transfers and overall reputation of the program?

MARK CAMPBELL: You can't even measure that. There is only four teams in California that got to play in this tournament, Stanford, UCLA, USC and Sac State. There are a lot of colleges in California. It shows you can build an elite program. We did that already. These kids that came here had to take a leap of faith. There was no proof we were going to win. It is a lot easier for the next crop of kids, kids in the portal to add to the program. Now it is tangible. Now it is real. So, you just keep building, and trying to find the right kids that fit us. We worked hard to try to find kids that fit our culture and style of play. My guess is that we will continue to add players like that. It is the biggest stage college athletics. It is a three-week tournament, six games. It is called the big dance for a reason. It put us on the map and gave us validity to what we are doing.

Q. One last question.

MARK CAMPBELL: Make it a good one.

Q. The game had an 8:30 p.m. start time. I don't know how late are you used to playing. Do you like the later game?

MARK CAMPBELL: I don't sleep. It didn't impact me. We got college kids. Their night is just getting going at 8:30. I wish I could use it as an excuse. It is not. Our kids were juiced. The 8:30 time slot, we are the last game of the first round. Our kids are so excited. It gave us an opportunity to be on ESPN2 on a stand alone game. It was awesome. Super thankful for the opportunity. Super thankful for the time slot. It worked out. We were hoping, no home team had -- nobody upset a home team host yet. We were hoping to the first one, we couldn't quite get it done. No. The time slot had no impact on it. I am actually thankful for it.

Q. Thank you so much, coach.

MARK CAMPBELL: Thank you, you guys.