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HIGHLANDERS MEET THE MEDIA IN ADVANCE OF SATURDAY'S NCAA FIRST ROUND CONTEST AT MARYLAND

2019 NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
First Round · #3 Maryland vs. #14 Radford
XFINITY Center · College Park, Md.
 
PREGAME QUOTES – Radford

Mike McGuire, Radford Head Coach:

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Opening Statement:
"We're excited to be here. We have a group that's had an exceptional year and we're very proud of what they've done this season and what they've put into this year. For this group to be in the NCAA Tournament, to be here in Maryland is very exciting for them and we look forward to the challenge of playing Maryland."
 
On playing Maryland in their arena:
"Maryland is an exceptional basketball team. They're a top-10 caliber program. They have expectations to compete for a national championship. For us to be here and have the opportunity to play them is going to present a lot of challenges for us, but I think our nonconference schedule this year has given us an idea of what we could expect to see. We played NC State earlier, we played Virginia Tech who had a great year. But we're going to go into this game with the idea that we have nothing to lose. We're going to focus on the things we do well. There are certain things we have to do exceptionally well, especially rebounding the ball. We're going to play this game with a lot of confidence and the idea of nothing to lose."
 
On the biggest challenge playing against Maryland:
"They present a lot of challenges. I would say the biggest concern for us right now is the rebounding on both ends of the floor. When you watch them on film, they're relentless in a lot of ways. They have great athleticism; they have great length. They have some young ladies that can really leap and go get the ball. So, we're going to have to do an exceptional job of blocking out and trying to limit them to one shot as best we can. If they're getting second chance points, and a lot of points off the backs, it will be very difficult."
 
On what this week in the tournament has been like:
"It's been a special week to be honest with you. First off, I'm proud of this team. I have a group of young ladies who when they came here, they knew they had the opportunity to play right away. They've put in an exceptional amount of work and time to make this program competitive again and compete for championships. To see this group finally get to this stage and have this opportunity with all they've accomplished is incredible. For me, I've always thought this program should be competing for championships in the Big South. This program has a tradition of being
successful. I just think the program was stagnant for about a decade or so. So, it's been our challenge to re-establish that. To see a vision come to fruition and a reality is very special.
 
On mindset of the team:
"It's all kinds of emotions. I do not sense any jitters right now, if anything there is more excitement than anything. Excitement of being here, winning a conference tournament championship. I know we've had a group that's been hungry to do that all year long. I think the only thing that they'll accept is being here in this tournament. It's what they wanted since July and now that we're here they just have to be ourselves and be confident in who we are."
 
On if he has followed Maryland's program and if he is impressed as to how Coach Frese has led another team to the tournament:
"I followed Brenda's program very closely the past 15 years. What Brenda has done here is nothing short of remarkable. She has a program that's won a national championship, I think that is her expectation every year. That's how they work, that's how they recruit, obviously that's how their resourced. For her to have a top five, top ten program every year is not an easy thing to do. I don't think a lot of people understand how hard it is to win at such a high level. We understand how it is to win a conference tournament championship. She's trying to do things above and beyond that. She's in the mix every year. I think that's a credit to her work, her vision, her staff. The support she receives here is exceptional for women's basketball. So, it's going to be excited for us to understand what a high-level basketball program looks like and feels like. So, they have a lot to be proud of."
 
On potentially being the first 14th seed to win in the NCAA Tournament:
"I like our team a lot. This is a team, in my opinion, that has a lot of experience. Not experience in terms of tournament level. But a lot of experience playing a lot of games. I think we've had some heartache that's made us grow up over the past couples of years. We've been short a couple years in championships where if we had done that, this might be our second or third year in a row being in the tournament. For this game, I do think we have some versatility that can compete. I think we have some size that can compete. I think we have the ability to rebound.
We'll work hard at that. There are some things that we'll bring to the table that can make us very competitive."
 
Lydia Rivers, Radford Forward:
On what challenges they face against Maryland:
"They are a great team, super athletic, top ten nationally ranked. So, it's definitely going to be a challenge but we are just going to give it our all. We just came to play."
 
Destinee Walker, Radford Guard/Forward:
On what this week has been like:
"It's been a crazy week, it's been fun. It's a week I will never forget and I am just glad that we have this opportunity and I just hope that we all come here to compete and win this game."
 
Sydney Nunley, Radford Center:
On playing some tough teams this season and how that has prepared them for a game like this:
"I really feel like it gives us a feel of what to expect. Obviously, the teams aren't the same but we get that experience and it's something to go off of while we prepare."

On sense that they could make history and put Radford on the map: "Like we said before we just have to prepare every day. Obviously, we want to win but it really just depends on us and how we play and how we come out."
 
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Players Mentioned

Sydney Nunley

#50 Sydney Nunley

C
6' 4"
Redshirt Junior
Lydia Rivers

#20 Lydia Rivers

F
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Destinee Walker

#10 Destinee Walker

G/F
5' 11"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Sydney Nunley

#50 Sydney Nunley

6' 4"
Redshirt Junior
C
Lydia Rivers

#20 Lydia Rivers

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
F
Destinee Walker

#10 Destinee Walker

5' 11"
Senior
G/F
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