St. John's University Athletics
POSTGAME QUOTES: St. John's vs. Butler
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella, guard Ber’Nyah Mayo and guard Skye Owen spoke to the media after St. John’s 66-50 win against Butler in the opening round of the 2025 BIG EAST Tournament
St. John’s Head Coach Joe Tartamella
Opening statement…
“The first half really didn't go our way. We didn't play well, but I felt we grinded enough to stay in the game. Made you feel good as you're going into the half, and then we found the kid shooting three falling away. So we lose a little momentum there. But I thought the way we started the third quarter, obviously swung the game. And then I thought we finished beautifully in terms of making more shots. And that's when it came down to, we gave up 24 points in the paint in the first half, and they made one three for the game. So, you know, it didn’t make a lot of sense if we were going to let them beat us from the inside, and we gave up, I think, six points in the paint in the second half. So we did a much better job. I think in terms of how Phoenix [Gedeon] and Kylie [Lavalle] played inside, working on [Sydney] Jaynes was a difficult matchup for a lot of teams and for us as well. I thought our pressure then intensified as the game went on, and I thought that also changed it. And so, I know we did a better job of kind of adjusting. We really adjusted out of the half well. And so really pleased, these guys deserved it. They've been playing this way for a while, which is fun to watch at times. But I thought our pressure really got them at the end. I don't think we had a turnover in the second half, which is pretty wild. So obviously, we get ready for tomorrow as we face one of the best teams in the country.”
On the defensive adjustments in the second half…
“I just think the fact that we were kind of allowing them to do what we wanted. They were pushing up on us. They were taking away our space. And so I thought we were able to do that in a much better way in the second half. I think that comes from making some baskets, and you are starting to make people speed up a little bit. I thought Lashae Dwyer did a really good job in making it a problem for a couple of their players. We were more locked in. We started pushing them out of their spots. We were able to dictate a little bit better where we wanted the ball to go, who we wanted the ball to go to, which then turned into probably more points than I would have expected. But they were points that we needed because we have to manufacture in any way that we can. Then I thought we made some really good rotations that I haven't seen in a while, so I was pleased with that too.”
On Ber’Nyah’s play today…
“I think she played a little more under control. The thin with her, and even Lashae, is their balance. We played way too off-balance on shots. So, I thought she did a better job of getting off two feet, less dribbling, eliminating some of the slippage. She's had an interesting year. I mean, one of my favorite kids that I've had, and I've only had her two years. Obviously, as you get picked preseason, and maybe you don't get to play to the potential that you wanted to and feel that at the end. I think there's a part of her that still wants to play and show and be able to lead our team in whatever that capacity means moving forward. I'm proud of where she is. She's got a lot that she has to handle. The good part was we were at least able to get her a break at moments. So I've been really proud of her effort and what she's done here coming from UMass where she played in a lot of high-leverage games.
On the defense in the fourth quarter…
“I think when you are able to score and pressure a little bit more and take some time off the clock, and you're not guarding for the full shot clock, I think it helps. I thought we were much more locked in on what they were running. I think our guys did a really good job of preparing for them. I just think that we kept them out of the lane. We were able to push them out further and keep them out of the lane from where they wanted to go. I thought we crunched the floor a little bit better. So, I think that was a huge part of it.”
On how the team is different than the last time they faced UConn…
“We've taken care of the ball better. UConn takes you out of things. I thought we did a much better job in the first game with Connecticut than we did in the second. How are we better? I think we've got to find a way to make more shots…I think we're maybe a little more confident, but they can take your confidence real quick. The way we've competed, I think, is different now than maybe we were a month ago in terms of each possession. I think that's the biggest difference. You get to the postseason, and you are getting towards the end of the year, it's never more important to win each possession, whether it's offense or defense. You can't give away opportunities, and we did it today in the first half. We did not do a good job of that in that game a month ago and a month ago we were probably in a little bit of a funk. But also you're playing a team that I think is probably as good as they've been in a while in terms of Connecticut.”
On playing UConn tomorrow…
“I think it's a great opportunity when you have a team like Connecticut in our league. I don't think it's a bad thing. I've said it for 22 years that I've been in the league back to 2002…So I want people who want to play here, who want to play against Connecticut, who want to beat them, who want to come in this league and be a part of something that's special. I don't want to shy away from it… but I told those guys in the locker room, you have to come out and play and compete and then you have to leave it out there and make it feel right, make it look right, and make it sound right. That's what matters.”
St. John’s guard Ber’Nyah Mayo
On her shotmaking today…
“I would just say playing under control and getting to my points and taking my time and finishing.”
On making the most of playing in March…
“I would just say win or go home, honestly. We have nothing else, there's nothing to lose. At this point, you just have to give it your all.”
On finding out Lashae Dwyer was selected BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year…
“We had film. It was afternoonish. We went through a couple of clips, and then we found out she was on the second team. Then we clapped it out and everybody was getting ready to go. Then, wait, one more thing. Then there was a slide show, and they had it up there for her.”
On building off Lashae Dwyer’s defense…
“She's up there pressuring, and it's only right for me to follow along behind her and feed off her energy.”
St. John’s guard Skye Owen
On the swing in the second half…
“I think how Coach Tartamella said, our defense really intensified, and we started to bring it together and get stops. I feel like that helped us transition over to offense as well.”
On building off Lashae Dwyer’s defense…
“I feel like she brings a lot of energy. When you see her up, it's, like, okay, get up. You know what I'm saying?”
Opening statement…
“The first half really didn't go our way. We didn't play well, but I felt we grinded enough to stay in the game. Made you feel good as you're going into the half, and then we found the kid shooting three falling away. So we lose a little momentum there. But I thought the way we started the third quarter, obviously swung the game. And then I thought we finished beautifully in terms of making more shots. And that's when it came down to, we gave up 24 points in the paint in the first half, and they made one three for the game. So, you know, it didn’t make a lot of sense if we were going to let them beat us from the inside, and we gave up, I think, six points in the paint in the second half. So we did a much better job. I think in terms of how Phoenix [Gedeon] and Kylie [Lavalle] played inside, working on [Sydney] Jaynes was a difficult matchup for a lot of teams and for us as well. I thought our pressure then intensified as the game went on, and I thought that also changed it. And so, I know we did a better job of kind of adjusting. We really adjusted out of the half well. And so really pleased, these guys deserved it. They've been playing this way for a while, which is fun to watch at times. But I thought our pressure really got them at the end. I don't think we had a turnover in the second half, which is pretty wild. So obviously, we get ready for tomorrow as we face one of the best teams in the country.”
On the defensive adjustments in the second half…
“I just think the fact that we were kind of allowing them to do what we wanted. They were pushing up on us. They were taking away our space. And so I thought we were able to do that in a much better way in the second half. I think that comes from making some baskets, and you are starting to make people speed up a little bit. I thought Lashae Dwyer did a really good job in making it a problem for a couple of their players. We were more locked in. We started pushing them out of their spots. We were able to dictate a little bit better where we wanted the ball to go, who we wanted the ball to go to, which then turned into probably more points than I would have expected. But they were points that we needed because we have to manufacture in any way that we can. Then I thought we made some really good rotations that I haven't seen in a while, so I was pleased with that too.”
On Ber’Nyah’s play today…
“I think she played a little more under control. The thin with her, and even Lashae, is their balance. We played way too off-balance on shots. So, I thought she did a better job of getting off two feet, less dribbling, eliminating some of the slippage. She's had an interesting year. I mean, one of my favorite kids that I've had, and I've only had her two years. Obviously, as you get picked preseason, and maybe you don't get to play to the potential that you wanted to and feel that at the end. I think there's a part of her that still wants to play and show and be able to lead our team in whatever that capacity means moving forward. I'm proud of where she is. She's got a lot that she has to handle. The good part was we were at least able to get her a break at moments. So I've been really proud of her effort and what she's done here coming from UMass where she played in a lot of high-leverage games.
On the defense in the fourth quarter…
“I think when you are able to score and pressure a little bit more and take some time off the clock, and you're not guarding for the full shot clock, I think it helps. I thought we were much more locked in on what they were running. I think our guys did a really good job of preparing for them. I just think that we kept them out of the lane. We were able to push them out further and keep them out of the lane from where they wanted to go. I thought we crunched the floor a little bit better. So, I think that was a huge part of it.”
On how the team is different than the last time they faced UConn…
“We've taken care of the ball better. UConn takes you out of things. I thought we did a much better job in the first game with Connecticut than we did in the second. How are we better? I think we've got to find a way to make more shots…I think we're maybe a little more confident, but they can take your confidence real quick. The way we've competed, I think, is different now than maybe we were a month ago in terms of each possession. I think that's the biggest difference. You get to the postseason, and you are getting towards the end of the year, it's never more important to win each possession, whether it's offense or defense. You can't give away opportunities, and we did it today in the first half. We did not do a good job of that in that game a month ago and a month ago we were probably in a little bit of a funk. But also you're playing a team that I think is probably as good as they've been in a while in terms of Connecticut.”
On playing UConn tomorrow…
“I think it's a great opportunity when you have a team like Connecticut in our league. I don't think it's a bad thing. I've said it for 22 years that I've been in the league back to 2002…So I want people who want to play here, who want to play against Connecticut, who want to beat them, who want to come in this league and be a part of something that's special. I don't want to shy away from it… but I told those guys in the locker room, you have to come out and play and compete and then you have to leave it out there and make it feel right, make it look right, and make it sound right. That's what matters.”
St. John’s guard Ber’Nyah Mayo
On her shotmaking today…
“I would just say playing under control and getting to my points and taking my time and finishing.”
On making the most of playing in March…
“I would just say win or go home, honestly. We have nothing else, there's nothing to lose. At this point, you just have to give it your all.”
On finding out Lashae Dwyer was selected BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year…
“We had film. It was afternoonish. We went through a couple of clips, and then we found out she was on the second team. Then we clapped it out and everybody was getting ready to go. Then, wait, one more thing. Then there was a slide show, and they had it up there for her.”
On building off Lashae Dwyer’s defense…
“She's up there pressuring, and it's only right for me to follow along behind her and feed off her energy.”
St. John’s guard Skye Owen
On the swing in the second half…
“I think how Coach Tartamella said, our defense really intensified, and we started to bring it together and get stops. I feel like that helped us transition over to offense as well.”
On building off Lashae Dwyer’s defense…
“I feel like she brings a lot of energy. When you see her up, it's, like, okay, get up. You know what I'm saying?”