NC State forwards Khamil Pierre and Tilda Trygger met with the media to discuss the 82-69 win over Syracuse.
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That's just a question for both of y'all. The mantra coming into this game, what was it like? How important was this game for you guys?
TRYGGER: It was really important for us. We won the ACC tournament, so we just knew that we had to go out and be tough and punch first. And I think that's what we did today, and it was a long time without a timeout or anything, but I think we just kept going because we knew we had to get that lead before, like at the start.
Khamil, this is your third 20-point game in the last four. It feels like you've kind of Hit another gear. Is there something specific about this last stretch that's kind of inspired that?
PIERRE: I think I haven't had the best season, so I think I'm just kind of motivated to try to finish out strong.
Is this sort of what you guys think of when you get closer to the best version of yourself, what you saw today? Or is there still another gear?
TRYGGER: Yeah, I think we did well today, but I think we're going to get better.
What are some of the things you guys want to get better at? You've got two games, I guess, left in the regular season.
TRYGGER: So, we lack focus sometimes, and then you get layups and transitions, and we just need to get back and stop those easy points. We need to get, myself included, those easy rebounds too. We did well today, but I think we can always do better.
What do you think about Syracuse being a really good team, and you guys kind of, I wouldn't say comfortably, but you guys controlled the game for the most part. Is this a testament to what NC State can be? What do you think, ma'am?
PIERRE: I agree with everything Tilda says, but I think we all understand from the start to the match just what we're capable of, and that we haven't had the best season, but that doesn't mean we can't make a far run in the tournament or win the NCC still.
Tilda, what was different for you today? Obviously, the last two games weren't scoring as much as you had in the past, but what changed today?
TRYGGER: Today, I think we moved the ball a lot better than we've been doing in the previous games. And, I mean, I want to do what's best for the team, and today it was scoring a bit more and stuff, but the guards helped me a lot with great passes and ball movement, so I think that's the most important thing.
On the game plan and guarding Uche Izoje...
PIERRE: I thought she was a great player. She's a freshman, but I mean, she could shoot. She wasn't missing, it didn't seem like. She could rebound, make layups, super athletic. I mean, she has a good coach, so I think she'll be a really good player.
How did playing a team like Syracuse kind of get you ready for the NCAA tournament, and then what happens?
PIERRE: I think just understanding that every game matters. So, the punches are trying to win this game to hopefully get in the double-bye for the ACC tournament, and I think that goes along with your question of March Madness. It doesn't matter who the team is, like a win's a win, so we have to get as many as we can.
Khamil and Tilda mentioned the ball movement. You guys had five assists at Duke, eight at Notre Dame. What changed, I guess, and how much did that help open up the offense for you to get going? Tilda, Zoe, get going, just help everything open up.
PIERRE: Coach really emphasized that the games we've been losing, we've been lowering the assist numbers, and we haven't been moving the ball, and we went back to playing one-on-one, and I think, I mean, clearly he was right.
As soon as we started moving the ball, I mean, we had multiple people on double-digit points. Looks were easier, and it just felt easier, like, at least I know for me personally, it wasn't as much pounding. It just felt like everything came easy.
