NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: SECOND ROUND - FLORIDA GULF COAST VS VILLANOVA

March 19, 2023

Denise Dillon

Maddie Burke

Christina Dalce

Brooke Mullin

Lucy Olsen

Maddy Siegrist

Finneran Pavilion

Villanova Wildcats

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by Villanova.

We will open it for questions now.

Q. Maddy, you've accomplished so much this season. You're projected almost everywhere as a top five WNBA lottery pick. Is it even on the table next year? Or this is your last game tomorrow, it's off to WNBA?

MADDY SIEGRIST: I wish it was an easy decision either way. Fortunately when the time comes to make that, hopefully it's in a few weeks, a lot more games. I'll have to sit down with my parents and really think about it.

Either way I'm so grateful for all the opportunities Villanova has given me in the past bunch of years.

Q. Could any or all of you embarrass Christina by saying what kind of work she's put in to do what she's done this season? Christina, you can offer rebuttal, if you want.

BROOKE MULLIN: Chris has come a long way since freshman year to now, she has just grown so much and matured so much. Great to see as a senior, seeing that growth. Coach T really works on her and pushes her a lot. It's good to see all the improvement.

Q. (No microphone.)

BROOKE MULLIN: It's a lot of post work and finishing around the rim. She's grown so much around the rim.

MADDY SIEGRIST: This season just watching how much she's grown on the defensive end, not being able to foul. To be able to block that many shots and not foul the way she does is just so impressive. I think it just speaks to Chris' ability, just knowing we need her out there on the floor to be such a presence.

CHRISTINA DALCE: I have the best teammates (smiling).

But definitely speaking on myself, my team definitely helped me be where I am today, telling me that everything's okay when I make a mistake.

Like I said, I am very hard on myself, so they try to give me as much encouragement by giving me high fives, patting me on the back, telling me, That's okay, in practice or something like that (smiling).

But those, like, encouraging words definitely change my mindset over the time to prepare me to be where I am right now.

Q. (No microphone.)

CHRISTINA DALCE: Yeah, definitely, like what Brooke said, working on post work. The coaches did tell me to really focus on the defense and grabbing rebounds, just to always like box out first so every time the shot goes up, I make sure that I tag my player, then try to look for the ball, or try to tip it out so that my teammates can get it.

But the biggest thing is not even more like the work but my coach, Coach T, telling me to, like, take my time on the post moves.

I already had the moves; just that I was rushing my shots a lot. But just to take my time, be patient, then see what options I have.

I think because of that, it did elevate me a long way.

Q. Brooke, you're the only Philadelphia team in Division I, men's or women's, playing. Do you feel like you're carrying the banner? More attention on this team, all the success it's having, but do you feel with no one else...

BROOKE MULLIN: I think just in the area, like, they're always rooting for someone. I feel like just us being that team, it's exciting. Just seeing, like, the Finn yesterday was an amazing atmosphere just to play in. It was great.

I think, yeah, I don't know, just being the only team, I don't know, I think that's special because then everyone's looking at us, they're all rooting for us. It's special to play for.

Q. Lucy, how do you feel?

LUCY OLSEN: Philly fans are crazy.

MADDIE BURKE: I second that. Philly fans are crazy. I feel like it's been crazy in Philly, like, with the Phillies first, then the Eagles playing in the Super Bowl. What other team is there to root for? We're here and we're successful, so it's really special.

Q. What went into your decision (indiscernible)?

MADDIE BURKE: Yeah, well, just making a decision to be here, it's the team first of all. I knew they were a great group. I grew up in the area playing against Brooke, playing against Lucy, playing against like Kait. I knew they were all good kids. They're sisters off the court and on the court, of course. So that was the most important decision.

Now we're here, we're very successful. It's really special, so...

Q. How has it been for you all, you've been the starting five all year, but we've seen others come into the lineup, really shown great strides on the offensive end. What has it been like seeing them succeed knowing when you come out of the game you have them backing you up?

MADDY SIEGRIST: I think it's huge. Especially when they come in, you're not losing anything. So I think it's almost like having six, seven starters, which I think you want to have in March. You want to be that much more dangerous.

They don't care how many minutes they play. (Indiscernible) and Bella, they come in every game and they'll give it 100% when they're in. That's just huge. They provide that spark, which no matter how the game starts, to have kids come in with that big of a spark, is huge.

Q. Have the coaches put a sufficient scare into yet showing Florida Gulf Coast things?

MADDY SIEGRIST: Yeah, we watched film this morning.

I think they're a great team. But every team in the tournament's a great team. Just having that mindset, we don't look at the seeding or anything like that, you just look at who you're playing, what you got to do to win the game.

I think we've had that mindset all year, one game at a time. Nothing's going to change now.

Q. At the beginning of the year all you of you said your goal was to improve. What does it mean to have put yourselves in this position? How exciting would it be to get to Greenville this weekend?

LUCY OLSEN: Last year was exciting making it this far. We want a taste of a little bit more. All year we've worked up to this. Like Maddy said, one game at a time. It's just so special, we've made it this far, but to have the opportunity to make it even further is amazing.

Q. How do you plan on limiting the Florida Gulf Coast three-point shooting?

BROOKE MULLIN: I think it's focus on defense, having a hand up on all the shooters because all of them are three-point threats. That's what they're look to in transition, they are looking for threes or layups. We just have to stay focused throughout the 40 minutes of the game.

THE MODERATOR: Villanova, thank you.

We are joined by Villanova head coach Denise Dillon.

Coach?

DENISE DILLON: Yeah, excited to be here, get ready for practice. Short turnaround. A very talented Florida Gulf Coast team. But I know the girls are locked in, ready to hear what we have to do.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. FGCU is an incredible three-point shooting team. Top of the country in that category. How do you stop that, slow them down on the outside?

DENISE DILLON: Yeah, well, it's a combination of what they do. They drive the ball, try and force some help so you can get the open three. Just relying on a lot of the one-on-one coverage. Conversation has to be had when we're switching, taking up space, getting out there to limit their threes.

If we can get these guys to a midrange game, we're putting ourselves in good position.

Q. Bella seems to really have embraced her role. What does she bring to the table for your team?

DENISE DILLON: Yeah, well, she brings a lot. You say 'her role'. It's initially the defensive spark, just putting her in the game to mix it up. We said it from the beginning, she and Brooke Mullin have done a tremendous job tag teaming on the best guard on the other team.

What Bella does, whoever you put her on, she's willing to battle and fight. She sets that tone. We see her ability on the offensive end, not just relying on her for some isolation plays, but contributing in different areas.

We have a great team, they're willing to do anything for each other. Bella certainly has that mentality in all she does. One thing I learned from Bella when she first got here was don't stop, won't stop. She's been true to those words from the beginning.

Q. All your girls seem to have accepted their roles. Is that one of the big reasons this team has been so successful?

DENISE DILLON: Absolutely. I think in what we do, our defensive concepts of working together, the versatility. We say on the offensive end, position-less players. But you have to be that way on the defensive end, as well. They've really embraced that.

It gives them opportunities on the floor to show different pieces as opposed to just being set in one spot or another, just a perimeter defender or a post defender. They're playing the game as it should be played, in all different areas.

Q. Maddy, like all athletes, has an extra year of eligibility. Is that even on the table? She's going to the WNBA? Have you had any kind of talks?

DENISE DILLON: Yeah, no decision has been made to date. Maddy is staying focused in as taking this team as far as we can go. As you can see it, when she steps on the floor, her full attention is to Villanova basketball.

Yeah, I guess that conversation will be had at some point in April.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about the unselfishness of this team? There's a theme that keeps coming up that it doesn't matter whether they're getting 25 or no minutes. How important that is particularly at this time of year?

DENISE DILLON: Yes, it's definitely appreciated as a coaching staff. You see it. As I said about this group, their effort every day at practice just shows their willingness to get better. But it shows their joy for the game.

There's nothing greater than having an opportunity to work with players that just want to continue to get better and see their teammates get better. When you have that as a group, you appreciate it, but you also know that great things can happen.

I think they have recognized that the last couple years. We say it always starts with the leadership. Maddy Siegrist, Brooke Mullin, Bella Runyan, as our captains, have set that tone. You see the selflessness in their game.

You talked about Bella Runyan. Brooke Mullin, you don't see the numbers, they're not flashy, but her teammates know exactly what she does for this team.

You see the numbers in Maddy Siegrist, but you don't hear the stories about how she guides them, helps them along off the court as well, offers that confidence and encouragement in any way possible.

Q. When you see the highlights of games as a coach, outside of basketball, do you step back and watch the reactions from each other from a human standpoint?

DENISE DILLON: Yeah, I actually do. Even seeing yesterday, I got caught up it a little bit with Megan Olbrys. She threw the towel, was basically on the court. What's happening here?

It's a genuine excitement that they have. Yeah, you do, you love that. We say: Celebrate each other. They really do.

Q. Was there a conversation with Christina after last season about this is what I want you to work on? Was there a point in October that maybe she's put in some work here?

DENISE DILLON: Sure, yeah. Christina last year, she would come into the office often. Unfortunately she went through trial things. First was mono, it was COVID, it was her knee. We could never really get her on point to put together two weeks in a row. It was unfortunate, one thing after the next. She continued to come the office to ask, What can I do? I want to help this program. I want to help get better.

When you have players coming into your office and having those conversations, you know you can throw a lot at them when that time comes.

She recognized Brianna finishing, an ability to step into that position. It started with her mental approach, this is going to happen, I'm going to get a chance. Now with that chance, I have to show I deserve it and I've earned it.

She took care of some things, the physical aspect of it, getting herself in condition and in position, just came in ready and willing to do anything.

I give a lot of credit to Tiara Malcom who has been a tremendous addition to our program. Christina is a true post presence. Tiara, being a former post player, has taken her under her wing and added a lot to her game. It's been a nice combination.

Q. Way back, soon after you made the long trip from West Philadelphia to here, you were basically indicating this may not be an overnight getting here. It wasn't overnight but it was pretty quick. When did you see maybe it won't take that long?

DENISE DILLON: I think just the recognition of the ability the players have. You always as a coach have to reinvent yourself each year to the team that you have and the players. It was just the quick growth.

You knew what Maddy Siegrist, her ability, skill set. But to see her develop different areas of her game. I mentioned just the leadership aspect. Bringing players along with her, bringing in that strong group, now sophomores, last year, but throwing them right into the fire early. Them wanting more, just wanting to be better.

When a team makes a decision that they want to be good, climb into the ranks of great, as coaches you're guiding them along and just demanding that excellence.

They thrive off it. When you have that, things happen a little bit faster.

Q. Chris talked about her rebounding. You know what you are going to get with her and Maddy on the inside. With a team that shoots as many threes as Florida Gulf Coast, how important is getting the rebounds on the guard position?

DENISE DILLON: Yeah, you've learned a lot about the game in your time with us. I like it (smiling).

Yeah, our guards as rebounders. We had said it going into the Cleveland State game, knowing they were going to be in a matchup zone. We talked about the offensive rebounding. For us, we recognize we would be getting threes, so long shots, long rebounds. We put the flip where Florida Gulf Coast is going to be trying to take those shots, and it has to be the guards.

Chris, her timing is pretty good, she gets up there for some of those rebounds. If they're off the back rim, we have to get our guards in there right away.

They have the mentality but it has to be the reminder of 'get after'. We can't afford a rebound kick-out for another three. It has to be the one-and-done factor.

Q. Hard to win a game in March Madness. You've done it two years in a row. What did you learn from last year's run that helps prepare you for this game tomorrow?

DENISE DILLON: Yeah, I think just the awareness that there is the possibility. I think our team felt that last year. I think there was the excitement of winning that first game, how we won. It was a battle back and forth with BYU. Pulled out a tough win. Then going against Michigan was almost, All right, here we are in the second round. After that game finished, there was great disappointment that we didn't do enough to win the game.

You fast forward to now, and this team has a mentality of, All right, we can advance. So what needs to be done? We're willing to do it. We got to be a little bit better than we were the day before.

Q. When you said the team has bought into being great or good, you just lead them there, do you have examples of what you mean by that?

DENISE DILLON: Well, I think it starts with conversation. You have it with individual players, asking what do you want? Do you want to be average, good or great? Then you have it with the team. When they say they want to be great, then you hold them to that. It's the accountability. It's every practice we say, for us, every practice is preparation to beat UConn. That's how we go about it.

If you let up, you're only preparing to just beat each other up, then you're not going to win those big games. Preparing for the best will take care of itself when you step on the floor playing games against any opponent. That's been our approach from day one of practice mentality, to prepare to win.

Q. There hasn't been a moment or person that's come to you? It's a team thing?

DENISE DILLON: Correct, it is. As I mentioned, even with Christina, they come to the office and ask what more can I do. Then you know you've got them and you're ready to advance their game.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.

DENISE DILLON: Thank you.