NCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - DRAKE VS COLORADO

March 21, 2024

Katie Dinnebier

Grace Berg

Bramlage Coliseum

Drake Bulldogs

Media Conference

Q. You guys come in on a 14-game wining streak, only having lost once since mid-December. Talk about the momentum coming in.

KATIE DINNEBIER: Yeah, I think we have tons of momentum coming in. We are playing really confidently. We are playing really good team basketball right now.

So we are having a lot of fun. We're peaking at the right time. They always say you want to peak in March, and I think that's exactly what our team is doing. Just looking forward to continuing this run in the tournament.

GRACE BERG: Yeah, just build off that. We're not looking forward, not looking back. Just staying super present and just taking it day-by-day and getting better in practice and everything else.

Q. Can you carry that momentum in when you're facing teams you've not seen before?

GRACE BERG: Yeah, I think it plays to our advantage. They can scout us and whatnot, but they have not played us either, just like we haven't played them. I think we are really hard to scout. I mean, we just talk about five people on the court scoring at all times, just being threats, and yeah, that just makes it fun to play.

Q. How have you seen this program come together the last few years with the WNIT appearances and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances?

KATIE DINNEBIER: I think Drake Basketball continues to get better and better, and I think that's what's so special about our program. Our word for this year is "limitless," and I really think that's something we've stuck to throughout the whole season is we have continued to grow and develop, and our chemistry continues to grow and develop on the court and off the court.

It's a fun time to be part of Drake Basketball, both on the men's with women's side. Hopefully we can continue that going into end of March.

GRACE BERG: I keep coming back each year. It's such a special place with special people. Why not keep coming back and keep that momentum going that we talked about.

Q. The popularity of women's basketball has grown. This side is sold out for all sessions. How has the game grown the last few years in your eyes?

GRACE BERG: I didn't know it was a sellout, so that's cool.

Yeah, just for Drake Bulldog fans, we've talked about our conference tournaments in Molina, Illinois, making that SNAP Center East; so making the SNAP Center South will be awesome, and the growth, it's super school. Just that recognition. Just remembering when I was a little girl, looking up to all those athletes on that big stage, just to be able to provide an example for them now today is just awesome.

KATIE DINNEBIER: I think the same thing. I think women's basketball, it's amazing that it's finally getting some recognition, and you know, people are watching women's basketball's more than men's college basketball right now. I think that's really cool.

Like Grace said, it's cool to be part of it. Because you watch it growing up and something you dream of, and now with the spotlight, all eyes on women's basketball and to be playing in March Madness, it's something really special.