What Berger, Meister Said After Indiana Women's Basketball Win Over Tennessee Tech

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana women's basketball cruised past the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 77-47 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Saturday in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Graduate student guard Grace Berger, who tallied 17 points and seven rebounds, and freshman forward Lilly Meister in her first career start with seven points, recapped the win in a post game press conference.

Plus, Berger and Meister's three blocks a piece as part of the team's 11 set a single-game program record in an NCAA Tournament game.

On her initial reaction to getting the start...

MEISTER: I don't think it was until we were really going through our scouting report that I knew. We had been hinting at it the past couple weeks but it was never set in place.

But because of that I was kind of prepared in the back of my mind. So it was, you know, just another game I guess. 

On the emotions of starting...

MEISTER: Yeah, well, the whole season my role has been different every game. It's never been the same. This afternoon was just another example of that.

It's a little nerve-racking, but this is the best atmosphere ever. It's March Madness. Packed Assembly Hall. That's crazy. And, yeah, so it was a little nerve-racking, but once the tip went off it was just another game. Kind of forgot about all of it.

On Mackenzie Holmes...

BERGER: I wouldn't say it changes it. When Mackenzie is on the court I probably benefit from her all of us might get easier looks because obviously the team's main focus is Mackenzie.

So I think -- and Mackenzie is really good about setting me screens and getting me open and making my life easier as a point guard.

So I think we miss Mackenzie, but obviously we had two really, really good post players that stepped up in her absence and filled her role really nicely.

On how the team builds up Meister...

MEISTER: I mean, they always build my confidence. It was a great pass from Berger here, so they do most of the work.

But, yeah, they're always congratulating me. The run was amazing. I mean, like I said before, Assembly Hall was packed, so you can't hear anything when we're on a run. I just think it was just really cool, a really cool experience.

On what was said before the second quarter...

BERGER: I think Coach Moren said it. Just mainly the defensive end. We knew that they were hot from three coming into the game and that they were plenty capable of doing it, and that was a strength and we came out and I thought gave them a couple easy looks from three.

So I think that was disappointing for all of us that we didn't come out ready in that sense. But I think after that first quarter we fixed it and made things harder for them and didn't give them what they wanted.

On playing with urgency...

BERGER: Yeah, I mean, it's the NCAA tournament so it's win or go home. You know, there is really no reason for any of us not to have a sense of urgency in every game moving forward. We're on the biggest stage. That's where we belong and where we want to be, so there is no reason not to be excited for every possession, every practice leading into it because it's go-time now.

On the start of games...

BERGER: I mean, strong starts is something we always want obviously. If you watch the other games across the country the first few minutes of any NCAA tournament game there are some nerves for everyone, whether they've been here before or not.

I don't think that was entirely unexpected. But moving forward I think first five minutes we always want the other team to call the first timeout and we really pride ourselves on that.

I think just keep giving that message to the team and like I said, just pride ourselves on that.

On guard play...

BERGER: Yeah, as great as Mackenzie is, and she's an amazing player, I think we are a really complete team. We have really good guard play, really good back-up post players coming in off the bench.

So I think that stat just is a testament to that and the hard work that all of our players -- whether they get press or get regular playing time a lot, you know, they come in every day and get in extra shots.

So I think the shooting percentage is just a result of that.

On the pregame routine...

BERGER: So I think it was a little different today because we had like the earliest game I've literally ever had in my life. It was a little different. Didn't do the full shootaround; whereas I think we typically moving forward -- right? We'll get an hour. That's typical for us. Today was a 15-minute walk-through of your plays, so weren't able to get as much shots up. I think that was more to do with just the early game. Moving forward it'll look pretty much like it did in the regular season.

Related stories on Indiana women's basketball

• MACKENZIE HOLMES HOPEFUL TO RETURN Indiana women's basketball was without leading scorer Mackenzie Holmes in its NCAA Tournament first-round game against No. 16 seed Tennessee Tech, but the Hoosiers didn't need her in the 77-47 win. Holmes and Indiana coach Teri Moren sounded optimistic about a return this season. CLICK HERE
• WHAT TERI MOREN SAID Here's what Indiana women's basketball head coach Teri Moren said following the Hoosiers' 77-47 win over Tennessee Tech in the first round of the NCAA Women's Tournament. CLICK HERE
• HOOSIERS CRUISE PAST TENNESSEE TECH In the absence of Indiana starting forward Mackenzie Holmes, guard Sydney Parrish led the one-seeded Hoosiers to a 77-47 victory over 16-seed Tennessee Tech in the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in Bloomington. CLICK HERE
• MACKENZIE HOLMES WILL NOT START IN NCAA FIRST ROUND Indiana women's basketball forward Mackenzie Holmes will not start in Saturday's NCAA Tournament first round matchup versus Tennessee Tech due to knee soreness. CLICK HERE