NCAA Women's Regional Semifinals and Finals: Bridgeport Friday, March 24, 2017 Bridgeport, Connecticut

Kelly Graves Q. Was there a moment in the season where you saw the freshmen coming together or a game Mallory McGwire where you kind of said, okay, they're starting to get this, and this could be a special group? : Well, I think early on, we had a game Ruthy Hebard against Michigan State where we just kind of put it all together, won by 30-something points. And in that game I think the freshmen really shined. But that was Oregon early, so we didn't really at that time even know what we had. Q. Just talk for a second about the freshmen in this tournament. You have your own, Sabrina is I thought it kind of started to come together when unbelievable, Maryland has one in Destiny. Sabrina came back from an injury. She missed about a KELLY GRAVES: Agreed. Yeah, no doubt about it. I month. We lost four games during that stretch, and we don't know all of them. Destiny, of course, very familiar made kind of a miracle comeback at Cal. They were with, because over the last three or four days, I've seen ranked at the time. Ruthy made a tremendous a lot of film on her. Very, very impressive, plus she's a defensive play that led to a basket, which gave us a West Coast kid, so I had a chance to watch her in high chance then to have Sabrina's basket at the end. school, as well. Mallory played really well that weekend.

I can mainly just speak to these three. It's incredible So I think that was kind of the weekend that we figured, what they've done. Not too many teams are going to hey, you know, we can do this. I know we're young, but go this far relying so much on freshmen, and we really we can play, and I think from then on, we actually didn't have much experience with the rest of the team. played really, really well the rest of Pac-12 play. I I think coming into the season, we had six years of would say maybe the Cal game. Duck experience, so it's not like we had a Walker- Kimbrough and a Jones who can help those two Q. Can you talk a little bit about coming out of the freshmen that they have. We kind of went into this Pac-12 Conference and what you think that has thing sight unseen. done for your young team coming into the NCAA Tournament? But been very impressed with their professionalism, KELLY GRAVES: Well, they had to grow up fast each and every day, their coachability, and just their because it's such a competitive league, as is evident by effort. They play really hard. five teams in the Sweet 16. You know, we were joking, I don't think there's a -- in fact, I know there's not a Q. Kelly, how has the team responded the last team in the tournament that has played more teams in couple days to all the travel and finals being done the 1 and 2 seed lines. We've played seven games and really focused in on Maryland and what they against teams on those seed lines, and so, you know, do? we've kind of seen a little bit of everything. We've seen KELLY GRAVES: Well, they've handled it, I think, a lot teams in our conference that have athleticism, others better than their coach. I've got a cold. And that's a lot that have size, others that have quickness, some really of travel. But they're 18- to 21-year-olds, and I think offensive-oriented teams, and some great defensive they've handled it well. Two cross-country trips in a teams, so we've seen a little bit of everything when you matter of five or six days, I think, would take its toll on run that gauntlet. So they had to grow up fast. anybody. Add to that two days of finals in between, and it's understandable that they might be tired. But You know, and I think playing in the Pac-12 has, I think, we're certainly not going to use that as an excuse by prepared us for this moment, no doubt. any means, and I think that come tomorrow at tip-off, we're going to be ready. Q. You were saying kind of in Eugene how

Rev #1 by #166 at 2017-03-24 17:00:00 GMT page 1 of 6 Maryland has kind of played with a little bit of a well are things that Maryland does well. Ruthy and chip on their shoulder. Have you seen that on film Bri have similar offensive games, Sabrina matches over the last couple games you've broken down? up pretty well with Destiny, and in terms of the Could you describe how that chip has come to three-point shooting of Lexi and Shatori, do you fruition? see it that way? Do you see the two as parallel KELLY GRAVES: Well, chip or no chip, they're really teams, and if so, do you think that helps you or good. Whatever they need to be motivated, I think only hurts you going into tomorrow? adds to what they already have. I mean, they are a KELLY GRAVES: Well, I don't know if it'll help or hurt. great team. You know, I'm -- not baffled, but you We'll find that out soon enough. Yeah, I guess we do wonder why they were a 3 seed with their résumé. It's mirror ourselves. We just don't play at the fast pace incredible, who they've played, who they've beaten. they do. We don't push it as much as they do in The only two teams they lost to are still playing, one of transition. I think we're capable, but I think early in the whom is considered the best team in the country. year we tried to do that, and we had going off walls and into our poor fans' faces and hands. We They're just really good, and the more you watch them, just weren't able to play at that pace, so we've kind of the more you realize that we've got our work cut out for dialed it back a little bit, become a little bit more half- us. They really don't have many holes. Certainly court oriented. But I think potentially, yeah, this is a offensively they have no holes. We've still got to play team that can get out and go. the game. We're going to find them. We're going to do what we can to counteract where they're good, and so I just think what's important in this game, we've got to we're up and ready for the challenge, no doubt. somehow limit the number of possessions. If we play this game in the 90s tomorrow, we're probably in Q. I know you left Gonzaga because you wanted to trouble. If we can keep it between 75 and 80, okay, be at the football school that Oregon has, but it now, that's a different story. But yeah, I guess when seems like you and the men's program have turned you look at it that way, we do mirror each other in a lot it into a school the way you're both of different ways. We're just not as experienced. advancing in the NCAA Tournament. Any thoughts on how this might be a basketball school as Jones, watching her on film, is very impressive. I'm not opposed to the football school it's been for so sure we've seen a better post player all year. It's many years? incredible. Her positioning, her patience, balance, KELLY GRAVES: Well, I might make people angry if I strength. I mean, she's the whole package in there. say it's a basketball school because football is a big I'm assuming she's going to have a heck of a pro deal there. It's incredible the success that our men career. have had. They're great -- I love the staff. They're so open to helping my staff and us and working with us. Q. When you're game planning against a team like The young men they have on their team are incredible, Maryland that has such strong senior leadership, is good friends with our team. I think there's really good there anything you can do to counteract that synergy between the two programs, and you know, because they've see it all, been to Final Fours. Is we've had some of our biggest thrills on this trip. there anything you can do to counteract that Actually one of our biggest thrills -- okay, our two experience? games were better, but the third-best part of the last KELLY GRAVES: Not really. This moment obviously is trip was we all got a chance to go to a sports bar not going to be too big. I'm hoping it's not too big for together, have dinner and watch our men win. So these guys. I'm hoping it won't be because they don't pretty neat. know any better. They've only been to one NCAA and they've won two games. They've never lost. But yeah, And then last night, of course, we sat around and there's no substitute for experience, and to have two watched that, too. We all cheer for each other. I think great leaders as well as great players as those two are, it just goes to show you the commitment that Oregon I think, can only be a benefit for them, plus they have a has to athletics. I mean, it's incredible. You look up championship coach. You know, she's got that and down, and I would say we're a track-and-field pedigree. school if you want to know the truth, cross country. I mean, there is not a sport that we don't excel at, and I So they have a lot going for them in that experience. think as a student-athlete, it's pretty neat that they get to rub shoulders with some of the elite athletes in the Q. Just to jump off what you said in terms of pace, country. you guys did slow it down significantly, and it seemed to happen after you had the 0-3 start in Q. It seems like a lot of the things that you guys do Pac-12 play. Was that the key to finding it, and if

Rev #1 by #166 at 2017-03-24 17:00:00 GMT page 2 of 6 not, what other factors did play a part in going from given us a little different game at the high post, so that team to the team you are now? when we go with her at the high post instead of KELLY GRAVES: Well, I think getting Sabrina back Mallory, Mallory has got nice mid-range jump shot, and helped, just gave us another ball handler. We don't Oti can attack the basket a little bit more from there, so have a ton of play makers, so we have to do it kind of it just gives us a different look, just energy. She's a the old-fashioned way, through ball screens, through fun-loving kid and she kind of keeps the team loose patience, through ball movement, through spacing, and works her butt off. There are a lot of different those kind of things, and I think it was just a natural areas she's helping us. progression. I think when you have and rely on so many young kids like we do, they always play faster Q. With UConn buying up all the tickets for this than they should. I'm sure Brionna did not play the way event, if you guys are able to keep it close against she's playing now as a freshman. You try to do things Maryland later, are you kind of hoping the crowd too fast. And I encouraged Ruthy to watch her and will root for the 10 seed? learn from how she's playing the game because I think KELLY GRAVES: Yeah, well, I know our fan base is Ruthy is going to have that same kind of ability early really ticked off because they couldn't make the trip on. cross-country. I'm just kidding. Yeah, I don't know. I think generally we cheer for underdogs, and my guess Q. (No microphone) is we're considered quite an underdog. You know, if KELLY GRAVES: No. I think we're just slowing things that comes to fruition, maybe that happens. I don't down, just -- as the natural evolution of a basketball know. And I don't think -- I think our team has shown team, with young kids. You just play faster early, and with wins in some big places this year on the road, I they're just getting -- we're getting better. I say "they." don't think the crowd matters that much to them. Yeah, We are just getting better offensively. I don't think they really play to that or focus on it. But we could sure use the support. So if the UConn fans Q. I know you're focused on tomorrow, but it came do want to cheer for green and yellow, that's fine, I'll out yesterday that you might have a team in the 3- take it. on-3 tournament for USA Basketball with some of your freshmen. I know you're a big USA Basketball Q. Defensively was the Duke game one of your guy. How neat is that that you could have three better games, and is it going to take that level of Ducks playing together for this tournament, and performance and maybe even above that to beat are you going to coach them as the Duck team for Maryland? the USA Basketball Tournament? KELLY GRAVES: Yeah, yeah. We, I thought, played KELLY GRAVES: I am not going to coach the team. here. We're going to need to play there defensively in I'm probably going to go on a little vacation with my this next game. Again, we talk about players evolving, family for the weekend because I don't see them as a young team evolving, and defense is usually the thing often as I'd like this time of year. No, they'll be in good that takes the longest. That's a program, that's a hands. Sabrina can coach them. She's fine. It's just a culture that you have to build to play great team great opportunity, and I don't know where we're headed defense, and we're just starting to get it a little better. with 3-on-3. My guess is that the NCAA has added We're playing to a scout better. Our fundamentals are sand volleyball. Maybe there's a point here in the near better. The team concept, the understanding of how to future where we add 3-on-3 basketball as a sport. And play within the team defensively is getting better. Just I think we're headed that way in the Olympics, as well. the natural evolution of things. I just think it's a great opportunity. There's, I think, six or seven Pac-12 schools that are sending teams there. As good as we were there, though, we've got to be a I think we're the only conference that maybe USA lot better. This is a -- well, as a coach it's going to be Basketball reached out to carte blanche, saying fun to watch. These are two of the best offensive anybody that wants to send a team. So hey, sign me teams in the country that we have a chance to watch up. Any chance they have to play more basketball and this weekend in UConn and Maryland. So I'll be taking compete, I think the better. some notes, as well.

Q. Seems like Oti has had a big role for you guys in Q. Specific to your offensive attack and the role the tournament. What kind of element does she that Lexi has played, both the big shots she's had, give you guys off the bench that just kind of helps but simply the fact that you talk about limited to give you guys a little bit of a punch? possessions and efficiency, how effective she's KELLY GRAVES: Yeah, she's versatile. Oti is just a been from three-point range and how important versatile player, can guard guards, she can guard big that has been. kids. She's excellent on the offensive boards. She's KELLY GRAVES: Yeah. Well, she's a great shooter, no

Rev #1 by #166 at 2017-03-24 17:00:00 GMT page 3 of 6 doubt about it, but she never takes a bad shot, you MALLORY MCGWIRE: I have to agree with both of know. And she's got some kids around her that -- she's what they said. We have to give it our all and we are got a good inside attack that teams have to play for, so the underdogs. But like Sabrina said, the underdogs she's the beneficiary of maybe some extra help or are the ones that nobody expects to win. So we're the some double-teams inside. We're a good passing team that everybody fears a little bit more. team. We like to make the extra pass, and so that helps somebody like her. Q. Ladies, a lot has been made of the six freshmen, the youth of your team, but if you had to describe But she's actually become better at creating her own Oregon women's basketball, what would you use to shots. She can actually now penetrate a little bit, so it describe how your team has played this season? keeps them a little more honest. So she's getting RUTHY HEBARD: I know we have a lot of freshmen, better in her own game. No, I think -- even when teams but I think it's just -- we play with a lot of heart. We try to take her out, it spreads the floor a lot more for the play for each other, and that's definitely what's got us other four to make things happen. So she's just -- just this far. having her out there is always a benefit, whether she's making them or not, they have to play her for the shot. SABRINA IONESCU: I think probably one word that would describe us is, like, relationships. I think, Q. Sabrina, how well do you know their point guard especially having six freshmen, we came in, we had to Destiny, and what challenges do their guards get to know each other quickly and get to know the present you guys? upperclassmen quickly, and our coaches, you know, we SABRINA IONESCU: I played with Destiny Slocum and had to get to know them through our recruiting process. , their post player, as well. We played So I think definitely the relationship aspect of this team together at the McDonald's game, and she's a great outside of basketball has helped us mold together on point guard. But I don't think it'll cause us too much the court and play for someone other than ourselves. trouble. We play against great guards in the Pac-12, and I think we're going to be ready tomorrow. MALLORY MCGWIRE: They both covered that one.

Q. For all three of you, just talk about the run you Q. Ruthy, I'm wondering, Kelly Graves is saying guys have been on. Coach said you're playing with that he's been telling you to look at Bri Jones a house money and you don't know any better, just little bit and just kind of see as a player you might keep on playing basketball. What's it been like to be able to play at her level maybe when you play in your first NCAA Tournament? become an upperclassman. What is it like seeing SABRINA IONESCU: Yeah, I mean, we're the her on film and is that kind of one of your goals to underdogs. I think we've been that all year, especially play at that level? having six freshmen on the team, and we're playing RUTHY HEBARD: Yeah, she's definitely a great with nothing to lose. I mean, I think we've been saying basketball player. Her composure and her ability to that. Our coach has been saying that all year, and a finish around the rim is really motivating, and I'm really team with nothing to lose is a team that's going to be excited to play against her tomorrow. tough to beat. Q. People like us make a big deal about the cross- So I think we come out, we play every game like it's country travel and the early start time tomorrow, going to be our last, because we never do know when but as Coach said, you're 18- to 21-year-old kids, it it's going to be our last game of the season, and that's makes no difference, you just play basketball. definitely something that I tell the team all the time. Does it matter you're playing early and does it You've got to do everything the best you can because matter you've flown back and forth twice in a you never know when the ball is going to stop week? bouncing. So we come in every day, we play hard, and MALLORY MCGWIRE: Well, I mean, we did fly back I think we're peaking at the right time, so we're going to home to Eugene for two days. But personally I don't come out tomorrow and we're going to give it think I got used to the -- back to the West Coast time everything we have and see where that takes us. because I was already adjusted to the East Coast time. Travel shouldn't really be a factor in the way that we RUTHY HEBARD: It's been an amazing experience. play. I know it is difficult, but I think we'll be fine Like Sabrina said, there's nothing to lose, so it's really tomorrow morning getting up early and being able to fun to just go out and give your all and know at the end play. of the day when you give your all, you can't be disappointed in that. RUTHY HEBARD: Yeah, like Mallory, I'm not really used to the West Coast time again, so I think we'll be

Rev #1 by #166 at 2017-03-24 17:00:00 GMT page 4 of 6 ready to play. think it gives us a taste for the next years, the following years. We're excited for next year and the year after Q. Sabrina, it seems like you have relished taking that, especially as a young team. But we definitely the big shot. You've had a number of them, and I'm want to continue just coming out and giving it wondering how long that's been the case for you everything we have on the court and just enjoying the and whether you see the NCAA Tournament as an experience. opportunity to do that once again in a big spot? SABRINA IONESCU: I've never really taken game- RUTHY HEBARD: It's just really exciting. I think we're winning shots prior to my freshman year coming in just going to keep playing hard and see how far that here at Oregon. But I think just the competitiveness in takes us, and whatever happens, I think we're going to me always wants the ball in my hands at that crunch be really proud of ourselves, and I think we should be. time, and I think my teammates believe in me to make game-winning shots. I think that's what it is, because MALLORY MCGWIRE: The experience is amazing I've never really practiced game-winning shots prior to overall. It's just an honor to just make it this far in the this. I mean, I dream about it all the time and whatnot, Sweet 16, but I know we all have been working super yeah. hard to get here. Just all the hard work we've been putting in has paid off. Q. As freshmen, was there a moment that you can point to where you guys felt like you were starting Q. Sabrina and Ruthy, I know you're focused on to come together and could be part of something tomorrow, but it came out yesterday that you guys special? are potentially playing in the USA Basketball 3-on-3 RUTHY HEBARD: I always knew we were going to be tournament in a couple of weeks. Coach said something special, just with the recruiting class and Sabrina, you'd be coaching the team. Talk about everything. I think the four games in Spain really that, playing 3-on-3 is different than playing 5-on-5 helped us out, and we kind of clicked from the start, and how you guys got involved in this and what and definitely just the preseason really helped us mesh you're looking forward to. together, and it went from there. SABRINA IONESCU: Yeah, I already was joking around that we're going to start having plays and play SABRINA IONESCU: Yeah, I agree with Ruthy. I think calls, whatever, yesterday. But we both -- we've both that Spain trip really helped us as a young team. We done USA and I think we got a taste of that. But I think had the 10 practices earlier than most people that we're definitely just focusing on tomorrow and where weren't able to go on a trip. So I think that definitely we're at now, but I definitely think it's going to be a helped us form relationships and start -- and, of great experience for us, and we practice 3-on-3, 4-on- course, the first few practices of the season weren't 4, 2-on-2 every day in practice here at Oregon, so I great for us. We weren't used to each other. It was think we're kind of used to playing not 5-on-5. But I pretty much a brand-new team. But Coach always told think we're excited just for the opportunity to represent us to stick together and continue doing what we've our country in that. been doing, so it pays off now. We know each other. We know each other really well on and off the court, so RUTHY HEBARD: Yeah, I think we're really excited, I think that helps us this late into March. and it's going to be really fun.

MALLORY MCGWIRE: Agree with both of them. Just Q. Ruthy, just in terms of the comparison to Bri the Spain trip, I think that really was the building Jones, you guys do a lot of the same things, not in what made -- it's going to make this team so great. just scoring around the basket, but efficient, not a That was just a good experience overall, and we've just lot of wasted movement. Do you see a lot of your all come closer as a team. game in her, and are there any other people that you have patterned your game after right around Q. For all three of you, obviously it's the first time the post? that Oregon has been to the Sweet 16. How are RUTHY HEBARD: She's definitely a great player, and you sort of balancing having fun during this the way she finishes is something I'd like to continue to experience and sort of taking that all in, but also do as well. She's really composed and a strong player. realizing that you have a goal after this weekend to We watched film on her, and her ability to move people get to the Final Four? is something I definitely want to get better on, and her SABRINA IONESCU: You know, I think we're just offensive rebounding is great. So I'm definitely going to enjoying the moment and living in the moment. This is try to watch her and try to be a little more like her in never going to come -- we're never going to be able to those areas. relive this moment again as freshmen. But I definitely

Rev #1 by #166 at 2017-03-24 17:00:00 GMT page 5 of 6 Q. He talked about starting out and the building students and teachers, so it's really nice. blocks. In terms of getting solidified, how much has the Pac-12 schedule helped you because, by Q. For both of you, Ruthy and Sabrina, between the comparison, you guys' non-conference schedule numbers, Ruthy, that you've been putting up in may be a little bit higher. March, and Sabrina, the numbers you're putting up, RUTHY HEBARD: Definitely playing against really top but also the poise you showed the other night teams like Washington, UCLA, I think, has helped us when you were bumped during the Duke game, I'm get here, too, and I think helped us just prepare for curious whether you think that it's overstated how Temple and Duke as well, just because we got to play much veteran leadership matters compared to against top teams every day, I think. having teams where the freshmen are doing so much of the heavy lifting. Obviously your SABRINA IONESCU: Yeah, going off that, there's no opponent, too, with Destiny, who runs the team, days off, really. There's no games off in the Pac-12. that some of you have been friends with. Do you There's no night where it's going to be easy to get a think that's overstated or do you think there's an win. I mean, every win is a hard-fought win. So I think advantage perhaps in having youth on your side? that definitely helps us coming in late into March. RUTHY HEBARD: I think it's highlighted all year that We're going to come play against top teams in the we were freshmen, but Coach Graves always says, country, and we pretty much do that every night in the we're not freshmen anymore. After 10 games, 15 Pac-12 back at home. So I think having such a tough games in, we're just ballplayers. And I think focusing schedule in the conference is going to help us now. on that and knowing what we can do to help the team out is just what I try to focus on and not think about MALLORY MCGWIRE: Adding off of that, just the Pac- youth as much. 12 really prepares you for March and the NCAA Tournament. Like they both said, you never really take SABRINA IONESCU: Yeah, I mean, the leadership a night off, so it just prepares you really well. definitely helps because, you know, we've never experienced anything like this just coming into Q. I know you guys were only home for a couple freshman year. I know we were all kind of nervous, days and exams were thrown in there, but I'm where do we go to classes, where do we -- when is guessing there's a buzz around the campus with practice, how early do we have to get to practice? So what you and the men have done in March. It's a definitely that side of basketball and school has football school, but becoming a basketball school definitely helped us having some upperclassmen. pretty quickly with the success you guys have had. What's it been like around campus and watching But I think once the ball starts bouncing and once it's the men play last night? up in the air on that tipped ball, it's just basketball, MALLORY MCGWIRE: Just around campus, we have regardless of if you're a senior or you're a freshman. this academic center, and everybody in there talks No one is taking it easy on you because you are a about how well both the men and women have been freshman, and we're coming at everyone just as they're playing, and it's really nice to see that the campus has basketball players, we don't care what grade they're in. been engaged in watching the games and just seeing But I definitely think the experience helps. We have no how well basketball has been doing at Oregon. idea what to expect coming into March. We had no idea. Definitely Pac-12, we didn't know it was going to SABRINA IONESCU: Yeah, going off of that, the buzz be that difficult playing against all those teams every around campus has been great. We always get told single night that we played. congratulations wherever we're going. I think that's something great to see, that people are paying But I think that's just going to help us next year. I think attention and seeing how much growth we've been we're going to be well-prepared for the Pac-12 and doing. And the men's team, they've been great to us definitely late into March. as well. We get tweets after every game, congratulations, and that kind of goes both ways. We congratulate them as well. We see them every day in the training room and on the court, so I think it's great to see that relationship between men's basketball and women's basketball, and then, of course, the rest of the University.

RUTHY HEBARD: Yeah, like they said, it's been great. It's really helpful for us to get congratulations from

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