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

March 20, 2023

Kellie Harper

Sara Puckett

Jordan Walker

Thompson-Boling Arena

Tennessee Lady Volunteers

Media Conference

Tennessee 94, Toledo 47

KELLIE HARPER: Yeah, (I'm) so excited to be going back to the Sweet 16 and am really proud of our team and how we played in the first two games. I think we've played really well top to bottom, starters and our bench. I'm really proud. I will say that right now there's a lot of excitement on Rocky Top obviously, with our men in the Sweet 16 as well. Just a lot of fun -- great vibes. Love the crowd and the energy here in Thompson-Boling Arena. And then the other thing right now, just love watching the tournament and pulling for the SEC teams. So I'm also proud that we're one of four teams continuing on.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for the student-athletes?

Q. For Sara, seven different players hit threes tonight, but I think you knocked down all three of your attempts. What was it that you were seeing and what was it that made it a little easier maybe to shoot tonight against Toledo?

SARA PUCKETT: Honestly, I just went in the game and I was just going to let -- take what the defense was giving me, and I felt like that's what I did. I was very confident in myself today, I felt like, more than past games, so I'm just going to continue on with that. And I knew everybody around me was confident in me, too.

Q. Sara, this was almost two months between double-digit scoring efforts for you. What does it feel like to get back in the groove on this stage?

SARA PUCKETT: It feels really good. I have to applaud my teammates for being so confident in me, because that is the biggest confidence boost for me, to just be able to see big smiles on their faces, coming out and meeting me at half court. But, yeah, really excited and just ready to see what we're going to do in the rest of the tournament.

Q. Sara, you mentioned how you felt really confident heading into this game. Did a lot of that confidence stem from the previous win where you guys won by almost a very similar score?

SARA PUCKETT: Yeah, for sure. We knew what we needed to come in here and do and we did exactly that. We're not going to let our foot off the gas. That's a big confidence boost for the team but also me personally.

Q. Jordan, another game where the shots weren't falling early, but you guys did take the lead from the start. What helped you guys get into a rhythm there? It was maybe the beginning -- I think the first minute of the second quarter when a couple threes went down by Karoline (Striplin). What happened to get the comfort level going?

JORDAN WALKER: I think just continuing to trust in the process and trust in our offense, but especially trusting in our defense. We knew if we could get stops on the defensive end that would lead to offense for us. So just continuing to trust that and letting the offense come to us was really key.

Q. For either of you, obviously you dealt with some adversity this season, as always, but especially with a little bit of a rough start, and now you're back to the Sweet 16 two times in two years. Does that make it a little bit sweeter knowing that you've dealt with some hardships this season?

JORDAN WALKER: It really all paid off for us. Obviously, we had goals since the season started, and when you go through adversity you have to remember those goals. I'm just proud of this team for keeping those at the forefront and continuing to push every day in practice, each game just to get better, pulling for one another. That's why we're where we are right now.

Q. Sara, how is your face feeling after that big elbow?

SARA PUCKETT: It's a lot better. It was just watering a little bit. After we just sat down for a little bit I was good.

Q. For either player, these are your two biggest margins of victory of the season. In the week leading up to the NCAA tournament, did it feel like this team was operating on a whole new level?

SARA PUCKETT: I do think that in practice we were, you know, a lot more competitive whenever we were able to scrimmage some. We were locking in on the attention to detail I felt like and just -- we knew what we had to do, like I said earlier, when we started the first game on Saturday. And so we're just going to take this on in the rest of the tournament.

Q. This goes for either player as well. Now knowing that you're going to advance to the Sweet 16, you would face off against a familiar foe in Virginia Tech that you had a close battle with. Anything that you're looking to do differently against the Hokies that did not go your way last time?

JORDAN WALKER: I mean, yes, there are going to be some things that we do differently this time around. I think that they're a great team, and we are a great team. We've come a long way since that game, so that's really exciting for us, because we know the growth we've had.

So just that in itself I think is going to be a different game.

THE MODERATOR: Anything else for the student-athletes? Thank you so much.

SARA PUCKETT: Thanks y'all.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for coach.

Q. For you as well, obviously some of that adversity you faced earlier this season, now to get back to the Sweet 16 two times in two years, how sweet is that?

KELLIE HARPER: Yeah, I'm really happy for our players in particular that they've, you know, went out and rewarded themselves in the best way with continuing to play. I'm happy for them because they stuck with it. They really pushed and stayed confident with what we could still do, even in November. I'm proud of them for that. There is no doubt in that early part of our schedule and the results that we had in some of those losses, that could've broken a lot of teams. It really could have. It did not break us. It made us stronger.

Q. You guys became just the fourth team according to ESPN stats and info to beat -- win each of your first two games by 45 points each. Only other team to do that was UConn, and the last two times they did it they went on to win a title. I am going to segue to you had seven different players make a three, but you're playing defense like that, so you're getting the bucket in the basket but also getting back on defense. That combination, how much is that maybe a very big sign the growth of this team?

KELLIE HARPER: Well, I think we're playing our best when we're sharing the basketball and getting contributions. Obviously, the shots fell for us tonight. But to me, the bigger growth is the defensive end and our attention to detail defensively, our aggressiveness, our focus, and really just the belief in that's where we can win games. Obviously, (it was a) really good offensive night for us, both games, but our defense set the tone for us.

Q. Coach, what's it like to see Jillian Hollingshead and Sara Puckett lead this team in scoring?

KELLIE HARPER: Is that what happened? (Smiling.) We have a lot of people that are capable of putting the ball in the hole. We've got two dynamic players with Rickea (Jackson) and Jordan (Horston), and they command a lot of attention. I think today's game you got to see other people have opportunities because of the focus on those two players. And they knocked it down. Those two were unselfish and were able to find other folks. You know, (they) still did what they needed to do, but proud of Jillian (Hollingshead) and how she's been playing. Sara (Puckett) -- I was so happy for Sara knocking those shots down. I think that's great for her confidence moving forward.

Q. How great, huge is it really to know that you're going to play a team that you've already seen earlier in the season that you were so close against? How huge is that going to be heading into this matchup?

KELLIE HARPER: You know, at this point, I don't know if you need any extra motivation. When you get to the Sweet 16 you're clawing and fighting. But our players remember that game and would love to have an opportunity to get that one back. I think both teams are different than we were earlier in the year. We'll definitely go back and review that game and make sure that we're making the adjustments that we need to make. But also, probably more importantly, looking at who they are now, who we are now, coming up with a game plan that makes sense for us next weekend.

Q. Coach, when you were scheduling that early gauntlet in the non-conference, how much of the thought process was come tournament time we're scheduling these games now so absolutely nothing can take us by surprise?

KELLIE HARPER: I think the biggest reason we scheduled that was we wanted to challenge our team and push our team to be the best possible team that we could be. Obviously, I wanted some wins, wanted a few more wins than we got early on, and still to this point. I mean, maybe we overdid it. But our players have not complained. Our players really embraced it. I do think it made us tougher. And we've seen a lot. We've seen a lot of really, really good basketball teams. I think that's why right now we're confident taking the court. I think not only did our non-conference schedule prepare us, but our SEC schedule prepared us. It's also a gauntlet.

Q. Some of the players having been in the Sweet 16 last year maybe helped make this one a little easier. Rickea (Jackson), this is her first tournament ever; Jordan (Horston) wasn't playing last year. But does that help as you head to the next level?

KELLIE HARPER: I think so. You have players like Jordan Walker, Sara Puckett, Tess Darby, Karoline Striplin, those players who are playing good, solid minutes for us now were in the Sweet 16 last year. I think that experience -- and, you know, Tamari Key is not playing but she's here. Jordan (Horston) didn't play last year but she was there. So I think just the feel and vibe and understanding of what it is, I think that's important.

Q. We've talked about Jordan Horston a lot this season because she came in with you and it's her senior year. After not playing last season, getting to go to the Sweet 16 herself, but also what you guys have built here, what does all that mean to you to see a player like her stay and help you build this program?

KELLIE HARPER: Yeah, you know, I'm so excited for her to be able to go to the Sweet 16. Last year obviously, (she) was so excited for our team to be there, but earlier today I was really thinking about her and wanted the opportunity for her -- I wanted her to be able to experience that as a player as well. And I'm really happy for our entire team, but proud of her and her growth since she's been here. It's a special accomplishment.

Q. How is her ankle?

KELLIE HARPER: Honestly, haven't even been able to talk to her. She'll be fine. I told her, the good thing was she would have some time to rehab since we were playing more basketball next weekend.

Q. Jasmine Franklin, what she brought tonight, taking a charge, different hustle plays and the physicality she established for you?

KELLIE HARPER: Yeah, I felt going into the game Jasmine could be a big player for us today with her experience and with the size that -- with Toledo's size not being overwhelming to her I felt like she could really have an impact. And she did. I mean, she made a lot of plays, got a lot of boards, was aggressive with the ball in her minutes. So I thought she was really good. I think you've got a fifth-year player that's experienced and talented and athletic, that's huge in the NCAA tournament.

Q. Did someone ask about but Jordan tying your career assists?

KELLIE HARPER: No.

Q. She did.

KELLIE HARPER: She did.

Q. Is it kind of just a poetic way for this to happen since you guys are so close and just what that's done for this program?

KELLIE HARPER: Yeah, I think that kind of has to happen, right? She's got to get mine. I'm proud of her. I didn't know that until -- I was told that I think in one the other previous press conferences. I'm proud of her. Obviously, she's written her name in our record books here at Tennessee. When you do that, you've had to have a lot of accomplishments. You know, our tradition here of excellence is so unmatched, and there are so many talented players that have come before. So for her to be able to put her name on lists of great players -- and I'm not including myself in that. I mean all those other lists that she's on. I'm just really proud of her. I'll have fun with her on this assist thing though. I will.

THE MODERATOR: Coach, thank you.

KELLIE HARPER: Thank you.