NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: SECOND ROUND - TOLEDO VS TENNESSEE

March 19, 2023

Rickea Jackson

Tess Darby

Jordan Walker

Thompson-Boling Arena

Tennessee Lady Volunteers

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: We have student-athletes Jordan Walker, Tess Darby, Rickea Jackson.

Questions?

Q. For Tess and Jordan, a year ago you were at the same stage and playing a 12 seed and it was a tight game. You win by three. Do you tap into that memory about how seedings truly don't matter at this point when a Sweet 16 bid is on the?

JORDAN WALKER: Definitely. Everybody wants to get to the Sweet 16, so knowing that -- I mean, you've got to come out and play hard. Last year with Belmont, like you said, it was a really close game and it tested us a lot. But it's going to be the same story. You've got to come out, and you have to play from the beginning and play hard.

TESS DARBY: Just going off what JoJo (Jordan Walker) said, respect all and fear none is kind of the mentality we have. I feel like everything the coaches have put us through with our pre-season schedule, we've seen and prepared for anything. Just coming out tomorrow and playing our game.

Q. Rickea, what was it like to play your first NCAA tournament game?

RICKEA JACKSON: Yeah, it was fun being able to play on the biggest stage in college women's basketball, especially with my teammates. We definitely made it fun. We didn't struggle in the first quarter, but it was kind of close in the first quarter, but felt like we pulled away doing the little things and keep being our intensity high. It was very fun playing with this team in the tournament.

Q. Rickea and Jordan, obviously both of you are from Michigan. Jas (Jasmine Powell) is from Michigan and then a couple Michigan players on the other team, including Sophia Wiard. How fun is it to have that representation from Michigan in the NCAA tournament right now?

JORDAN WALKER: I was just thinking about that this morning. We got some Michiganders down here in Tennessee playing. I think it's really good obviously, being from Michigan.

But for us as a whole, just to be able to be on the biggest stage of college women's basketball, like Rickea said, and being able to represent Michigan.

RICKEA JACKSON: Yeah, same.

Q. I was just hoping y'all could speak on your confidence that has progressed over the season, but particularly getting such a dominant win yesterday with such a margin.

TESS DARBY: Yesterday was definitely a confidence booster for sure. We knew we had to come out and dominate. We needed that momentum to keep us rolling through March.

Also for confidence, just going back to what I just said about our preseason schedule. I mean, it was tough, but I feel like everything that we went through, that's why we're still playing in March, and that's why we were so dominant yesterday.

Q. Tess, your sister got in the game yesterday, scored some points. Both Jordans were talking about how your sister works so hard in practice. You've seen it your whole life. What did that moment mean to you to see her get to go out there and not just score free throws, put to hit the pull-up jumper?

TESS DARBY: That's why you play the game of basketball. But seeing all the work Edie has put in growing up just competing in the driveway and just seeing it all come to the biggest stage of women's basketball, it was awesome. Seeing the teammates and the team rally around her, it's really special.

Q. For the Michiganders, how familiar are you at all with Toledo, and if a team has won 17 straight, does that just get your attention immediately?

JORDAN WALKER: I've played Toledo in my career quite a few times. I'm pretty familiar with them. They're always a good team, play really hard, have great players. But with the 17 straight wins, it does catch your attention because obviously, they're on a roll. But I know that if we do the things that we do well and handle business on the defensive end, then we'll be fine.

Q. This team's offense is rolling right now. They put up 80 points against Iowa State. Quinesha Lockett is a huge energy player for them. What's the biggest key for you guys just to slow them down and to have another defensive performance like yesterday?

JORDAN WALKER: I think coming out and setting a tone from the beginning like we did yesterday. I think we can guard anybody in the country, so I really just think that coming out, setting that tone, sitting down, all five of us at a time and playing our defense, I think that's what is going to help us.

Q. I know you all get this a lot, and this is for any of you, considering how challenging the season has been with some losses there, what would it mean to get to the Sweet 16?

TESS DARBY: I think it would be really special. You come to the University of Tennessee, and you're supposed to be in those games, but just being able to compete with basically all four of the No. 1 teams, and the list keeps going, it's just -- I don't know, we're just really prepared I feel like, and it's just given us that boost of confidence that we can compete with anyone.

We're a whole different team than we were at the first of November.

Q. For all three of you, looked like you were wearing low tops coming in. Is that your preference? So, yes, this is an outside-of-the-box question. Are you a low-top person? Have you switched in your career from high tops? What is it that you like about going with the low tops? Does it help you play better? What's the key?

RICKEA JACKSON: I'm a low-top girl for sure. I just like the look of the low tops. I just think they look cuter.

JORDAN WALKER: Growing up I was high tops. My parents wouldn't let me wear low tops - it's no ankle support and all of this. I had to wear ankle braces with the high tops. So I get to college, and I got to express my freedom a little bit and go to the low tops.

TESS DARBY: Yeah, I was the exact same person as JoJo (Jordan Walker) growing up.

Q. Rickea, from the start of the year what would you say has been the biggest area that has made you more comfortable playing on this team specifically?

RICKEA JACKSON: I would just have to say like finding my spots and developing confidence in my jumper, just having the teammates that I have that continue to support me and give me the ball in my spots. It just makes me want to work hard for them and makes me want to make that shot for them. If I miss a shot and JoJo (Jordan Walker) gave me a great pass or Tess gave me a great pass, I'll be like, 'Dang I let them down. Let me make the next one.' So just them always encouraging me, that helped me have even more confidence in myself to knock those shots down and finish plays.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you so much.

RICKEA JACKSON: Thank you.

TESS DARBY: Thank you.

JORDAN WALKER: Thank you.