>> This program is brought to you by the members of WCNY.

Thank you.

>> Coming up on "Gamechangers," Coach Jack and I recap the end of the regular season, including road tests at NC State and Notre Dame.

Then we'll get to know sophomore wing Shy Hawkins and learn more about the celebration at the Dome.

Next, we honor the seniors and the impact they've made on this program.

Finally, we'll preview the ACC and NCAA tournaments and what it will take for the orange to make a deep post-season run.

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>> The team was picked to finished 13th in the conference in the preseason poll.

You proved a lot of those doubters wrong and I know the job isn't done.

It's far from over.

But what does it say about the team that they were able to exceed those expectations?

>> Never listen to the noise.

We never thought about what we were ranked by people.

And we certainly-- the results are what they are, so we have to be cognizant of the fact that we are ranked 7th going into the tournament because that's what we earned.

And sometimes we don't have success, but every single time we win and we learn.

>> Speaking of wins, you had a big one over Clemson on breast cancer awareness day.

Play for Kay day.

It was one of those that everybody knew going in, it would be back and forth, two great teams, opportunity for the squad.

You came away with the win.

What did it take?

>> Defense.

Strategic defense from my coaching staff and the players to have the discipline to listen and have some really great offensives protection production from a few of our student athletes, one in particular, Sophie Burrows.

>> Asolutley, 19 points, 16 rebounds, monster performance for so far necessity that game.

What did it mean for you to see her produce for you in that way?

>> She locked eyes in pregame talk and it was weird because usually when I look back at my team and I look in their eyes, they kind of dart their eyes over a little bit.

She never wavered.

We took some outlandish shots and then all of a sudden, out of nowhere came Sophie, out of nowhere, a layup and it all had to do with Sophie.

If it wasn't her involvement and communicating about what the next thought process of the team, that kind of leadership, you must follow because it's just the only thing to do.

It's not just-- she threw herself so much into that game that you almost felt guilty if you took an extra breath because you were tired, including the coaching staff.

Really great seeing her play like that.

>> After that game against Clemson, you traveled to Raleigh to play a really good NC State team.

You fell short in that one.

What was your analysis of that one?

>> We started off really, really well, 14-13.

I went to my bench.

The bench didn't do as well as they needed to do.

And that's not typical for our team.

We really don't have a starting team.

I always say we have one team, but they got out there.

I thought they were a little nervous.

And by the time I get my starters back in, it was now a 15-point lead by them and the lead was too much.

And we had to take the L.

>> Back-to-back big-time tough road tests from NC State to South Bend Notre Dame.

The other team you hung in there, you stayed in there and stayed with them start to finish.

They pulled away with the 10-point win.

>> I helped us lose that game.

My emotions and my passion for the game is maybe too much for others to handle outside of my locker room.

And I thought that some calls were questionable due to the fact that I was emotional.

That really hurt.

But also what hurt was we didn't take our normal shots.

And we went back to that later on.

Fourth quarter comes.

We are down by one.

We had a situation where it could be a 1-2 point game.

Honestly the best team won.

>> Lessons learned over the course of the season.

Not just for players.

Coaches and staff have them, too, right?

>> Yes, sir.

>> Uche Izoje broke your freshman rebounding record.

I don't think Uche knows that yet.

Are you going to let her know?

>> I don't think it's important that she knows that because I have to get over my feelings first.

No, I was teasing her.

Records are made to be broken.

And it's up for us to set the standard so high that others have to really reach and stretch to earn that record next.

And I know that in order for you to break records that I set, you really are going to put some muster into what you do because I really gave it all I had and Uche is an example of what can come if you give it all you have every day.

>> Absolutely.

Go from the rookies to the seniors.

Senior day against Boston College over this past weekend.

I had the honor of calling your game.

One of the great moments.

You had the curtain call.

You brought all the seniors out.

There were some tears.

Maybe some tears.

I had to look for the kleenex next to me seeing all the emotion from your whole squad.

How close is this team and what does that moment show?

>> You can't make it up.

You can't say this is a close team and they just be it.

They have to do the work.

And they have to want it.

They have to buy in.

They have to understand the dynamics it takes and you have to be mad and not speak for a couple of days.

You got to go through the process.

And we saw big girl go out there saw her out there and her family is in Nigeria and I didn't know who was going walk her out.

The entire team was behind her.

Even the seniors who came out before her went back to give her the love that she needed.

And it says, you know what?

These young ladies are going to be okay because they got somebody who is going to support them for the rest of their lives.

Their sisterhood is going to be unmatched for years to come.

And for that, to be a witness of that, to be a part of that, is really the blessing that I asked for.

And if we win, we win.

I want to win.

I'm a ferocious winner but I wanted to learn some lessons and I wanted these young people to know that what they do matters.

If nobody else shows up, your 14 sisters are right here for you and this crazy lady here.

>> What impact has this experience had on you in such a relatively short time?

>> After being at another school, dealing with the retinal detachment, it has helped me a lot in my transition.

Getting my confidence back and finding that purpose.

>> I think for me, trusting my teammates was a big thing.

>> Realizing that people do have my back and I can trust these people here.

I think that it was a really important thing for me to do.

>> It really took me a lot, being disciplined, meeting new people as well, like my teammates, they're the best.

>> That I can into practice with not a great attitude and you will make me laugh and smile and forget about what is going on outside of the court.

>> I could be having the worst day possible but going into the gym, I feel like our team is definitely something special.

>> You won't find it anywhere else.

>> What is the personal highlight of your senior year?

>> Early morning for conditioning.

>> Oh no.

>> Yeah, It is for me.

I made the one-mile test in 6:30 seconds with the help of my teammates, obviously No, let me tell you.

It was all of them.

>> We were pushing them.

When one would get tired, we hand heroff to someone else and they push her.

>> It was a lot but it was fun as well.

That was like my personal highlight.

>> And then going off what you were saying about that.

>> Seeing each and every person on our team push one another and fight for one another.

I've never seen that done at the two previous schools I was at.

>> The Boston College game or Pitt game, everybody got on the court, everybody was hyped on the bench.

It was so much fun.

This is team basketball.

>> What is the best team memory off or on the court?

>> I Would have to go with when you guys threw that surprise birthday party.

You guys made a little mark on my life.

>> Oh, that's cute.

>> Any away trip we have at dinner and we are all laughing.

>> When we hit 15 free throws in practice that one time.

>> Oh yeah.

>> We ain't done it again, but... >> What lessons will you take away from Coach Jack and the rest of the coaching staff?

>> You have to be tough on and off the court.

>> Coach Jack has really helped me understand the concept of trusting yourself.

>> You have to go with your gut.

You cannot be afraid to fail.

>> Having your sisters back in the way you can control is how you show up every day.

Is your way of telling your sister you care about them.

That was definitely instilled in me by Coach Jack.

>> What will you miss most about the this team?

>> Everyone.

The different personalities, how we get along with each other.

>> Like the random like laughs and conversations we have, like... >> I feel like the whole experience from when we ran the mile and then ran three miles, then the away trips the running for miles.

Plane rides, can't get people to shut up and we have turbulence and cam is walking up and down the aisle.

I'm like Cam, sit down, dude.

>> I feel like all of it I'm going to miss.

>> You if you want to truly grow in other aspects of your life other than just basketball and stuff and growing as a person and everything, these coaches, the players are all going to hold you accountable of it and help you become that person that you want to be.

>> National girls, women and sport day.

It's all encompassing.

We honor the past.

We highlight the accomplishments of females in sport.

But it's ultimately about empowering our young women to be as great as they possibly can.

>> There were moments where we highlighted all the sports teams, female sports teams.

They were recognized at halftime.

In the back court there were activities and games for fans to be able to engage with female student athletes here.

But I would say the most important thing that happened that day was being able to honor Kathrine Switzer.

>> Ladies and gentlemen, please turn your attention to section 312 where Kathrine Switzer's Boston Marathon bib number 261 will be raised in the JMA Wireless Dome rafters.

>> Aside from being a pioneer and trail blazer, she was someone who broke down a barrier.

>> When I arrived at Syracuse University, I thought that sports existed at Syracuse for women but it didn't.

I asked the men's coach of the cross-country team if I could run and run on the men's cross-country team.

>> A girl showed up.

Me.

And he didn't hesitate to take me under his wing and help me and train me for my dream, which was to run the Boston Marathon.

>> So I signed the entry form, K.D.

Switzer, which is the way I sign my name.

They thought I was a guy.

They gave me a bib number and the rest is history.

The official attacked me in the race for being a girl.

And tried to throw me out and I went on to finish.

It was hard.

It was very hard because people were not really accepting the fact that a woman was in the race and was going to go the distance.

>> When I was born, that's when Title IX was first established.

Just seeing the growth of not just women's basketball, but sports in general, there is visibility.

We are able to tell our story.

And you can't be what you can't see.

>> It was Arnie who assisted that I officially enter the race.

He said it doesn't count unless you are official.

Well, a lot of women have realized for a long time, it doesn't count if you are not official.

We are going to be official.

>> When I graduated from college, there was no wnba, so to see where the wnba is now, our student athletes can look past college and they can dream big.

>> It is absolutely fantastic to see the media coming forward for women and publicizing, broadcasting their events and creating sponsorships and creating a way, a woman as an athlete, can earn a living just like a guy.

The next step is going to be watching women purchase the teams, who are going to take financial control.

Women then can be in powerful leadership positions to look at the future.

I mean you keep putting one foot in front of the other, you are going to get there.

Be persistent, show up and never give up.

>> I like to start all these interviews with the start of your basketball journey.

Who was the first person to put a basketball in your hands?

>> My dad.

I always ran track and field since I was six years old.

I was always the tallest in my classes in elementary and middle school.

He said you know, you should try playing basketball.

I'm like basketball?

Yeah, I tried it and ended up loving it.

So like around 12 or 13 when is I really started to like take it serious.

>> I can tell by the way you play, you are an all around athlete.

What were your events in track and field.

>> High jump and long jump and ran the 100 and 200 meters.

We see the hop on the court, sprint speed as well.

What led to you Syracuse?

Why did you choose to be orange?

>> I was going to say Coach Jack, just the way she was so passionate about basketball.

I could see her love for the game and wanting to see us, you know, win and do good and be successful in life.

So the way she talked to me, her input on my game and just watching practice on my visit, just how she motivated everybody it made me just want to come play for her.

>> The team as a whole has shown so much improvement this year, and you individually have as well what do you think has helped you progress your game year over year.

>> I would say Coach Jack gives us roles to play and focusing on my role and being the best at my role that I can be.

>> Tell me a little bit more about that role.

From my vantage point, your role looks like everything.

Swiss Army knife.

I think of Shy Hawkins, I think of someone who can do everything.

How would you describe your hole role?

>> Something like that, able to rebound, get to the bucket, defense, little things that come with the game.

>> How have you felt about how the season has gone thus far?

What have you gotten the most joy from?

Any particular moments that have stood out to you?

>> I would say like just how we all come together.

I feel like even when we win, it's great.

But even when we lose, we are not the type of team that is going to go and do our own thing after a loss, and like be down.

We come together and we figure out what we can do to be better for the next game.

>> I think a great example of that was the home loss to Virginia tech and the way you all rallied around each other, bounced back against uva.

What is it about this group that makes you so close?

>> Everybody is all in.

They're bought into the game.

Everybody wants to win.

Everybody wants to see each other do good.

So, you know, just having teammates that have that type of mentality is very helpful and it's fun.

>> The fun, the joy that you guys play with is visible.

It's tangible.

What brings you the most joy on the court?

>> Playing a big defensive role.

Like being able to stop their go-to players.

And seeing how that brings us our offense going.

Once I set the tone on defense, we are in a whole different mood and ready to go.

So definitely setting the tone for defense and letting everything else come to me after that.

>> Any hidden talents of yours that the people at home should know about?

I think I've heard some rumblings but I want to hear it from you yourself?

>> >> Yeah, I can sing.

>> Not you think you can sing.

You know you can sing.

>> Yeah, I can sing.

>> What do you like to sing?

>> I would say R&B, slow songs.

I'm sitting singing all the time.

>> Do you take requests from the team?

Are they always asking you?

>> Sometimes when I sing they act like they don't want to hear it and then when they want to hear it and they ask me, I'm like you didn't want to hear it when I was singing.

Don't ask me now.

But sometimes I will bust out a little note.

>> Do you have a note for us here by any chance?

>> No.

>> I had to ask.

Anything else outside of basketball.

What matters to you off the court?

Is it your friends?

Is it your family.

>> I'm very close with all my family members.

Having the support of them and even like outside of basketball, like even just my teammates, how close we are, it definite has an impact on me because compared to last year, it wasn't, you know, the same type of closeness.

So just seeing how genuine everybody else, like you know, how funny everybody else.

It's just a really good feeling to be around them.

>> It's been great to see the reaction, reception from the community this year to the team.

How have you enjoyed being part of the larger Syracuse community and interacting with the fans?

>> They're great.

They're so supportive.

I always hear them during the game.

Halftime, screaming my name or any little thing, I giggle because I hear them.

Their support definitely helps a lot.

The more people I see, it like fuels me up with like adrenaline.

>> Hopefully that support can keep fueling you, Shy Hawkins.

Thank you for your time.

>> Thank you.

>> Coach, you are the 7th seed in the Adirondack tournament and then we expect and hope you will be in the NCAA tournament as well.

This team has been consistently in the field for months now.

What are some of the lessons you've learned from post seasons past?

>> You know, we have to figure out how to have success in ACC.

We haven't had that success.

As far as winning the game.

So our goal is to see if we can master four quarters and have success at the end.

That is a goal of mine.

That's the goal of our team and I don't even know who we will play because two great teams are going play against each other first in cal and wake forest and we will watch for the winner of that particular game.

We have to show up and jump ball.

I don't know-- all I want to do is extend more time with them.

That's what winning does.

It creates opportunities for us to have another week or another day or another hour and keep this group together because it's going to change after that last game, right?

And I don't want to see the end of this.

>> The time that we are recording this, we are getting ready to leave to the ACC tournament in Duluth, Georgia.

By the time the episode airs, we hope the orange will still be playing in that tournament.

>> That's the goal.

>> You brought in a couple of great players that also had great postseason experience.

I know that is something that mattered to you.

>> Yes.

>> Dom coming over from UCLA.

>> Laila from Michigan and Texas.

How important is it for them to have been around it and what does that feel like.

>> I have been wishing them well, encouraging them to continue on and saddened by people that lost their opportunities and one thing that I have talked with some of my colleagues about was, you know,some players are really good, but if they haven't been there before, they don't know what it looks like.

That was very conscientious about bringing somebody in that played at that level that can kind of regroup back to this is what we did when we were at this stage, you know, getting to the tournament.

Celebrate the name coming up, the first game, the second weekend and also the third weekend, which is the final four weekend.

And so that's what those two present for us.

And Sophie actually has the experience from us two years ago.

And so our captains were weirdly picked by the players that all had that kind of experience, right?

And we are going to lean on that and we are going to grow with that and we are going to become because of that.

>> After ACC tournament play wraps up, we are expecting this team to go dancing.

I know selection Sunday has not happened yet and you don't want to jinx it but we are looking forward to watching the orange play into march madness.

How excited are you for the opportunity to get your team back into the big dance?

>> I think we did the work.

We have proven that we are one of the 64 teams, not 68, one of the 64 teams that belong at that level and we are going to finish off in the ACC tournament and give the best effort we can.

But I think that the committee is going to see that what we've done and our last 22 games have really proven that we belong in that realm of conversation.

So we are cautiously optimistic.

We are excited and it's great that we have Dom and Laila and Sophie to lead us to that next level because they've had that experience.

And hopefully we will get some honest feedback about seeding and where we are going to go and hopefully they will extend us an opportunity to be somewhere else outside of where we have been for the last five times.

I was at NTAA wherever that might have been.

>> This team currently projected as a ninth seed but with a big week ahead, who knows.

Maybe some things can change.

>> Let's go.

>> Let's do it.

Okay, coach.

In that big win over Clemson, it was one of your tri-captains, Sophie Burrows.

She earned the Bank of America hard hat for the game.

19 points, 16 rebounds and you needed every single one of them.

>> Every single one of them.

We won by four points and Sophie was not going to be denied and we need her to continue to come back and be that amazing player.

We held her out for a hand injury, but you know, we could have played her if we needed her but she will be ready on Thursday and I'm excited about what she has done thus far and just continue to be Sophie.

Don't do anything more than that.

People were talking about her in a bad way at the beginning of the year.

Just keep shooting, I didn't say make it.

Just take it.

She kept taking it and getting rebounds and when you go out there and do the little things, rebounds, 50-50 balls, you know, getting those assists from uche because she don't pass the ball to a lot of people.

But she passes it to Sophie.

You earned that hard hat, baby.

I'm so proud of you.

Keep it rolling.

>> Absolutely.

>> Who are we?

If I have to call... I do.

Today was too impactful.

I know we were all working on some things.

Sophie said while you are working on your stuff, I'm going to keep going!

19 points, 16 rebounds!

[ Cheering ] >> We all did what we had to do.

It's going to take the take.

This is the ac freakin c. And this is a great conference.

They need to see this.

This is a great television game for women's basketball, period.

But we are ACC and guess what we got to see.

(Chanting) Sophie, what you got to say?

>> Speech, speech, speech, speech, speech, speech, speech.

>> I just think we played something bigger than ourselves tonight and I'm proud of everyone and, yeah, that's... [ Cheering ] ♪ >> Every day, you shape their skills, their confidence, and now their phenomenon future.

Introducing Bank of America advantage safe balance banking for family banking; a parent-owned bank account, a hands-on banking experience for your child.

No monthly maintenance fee until your child turns 25.

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Flexible parental controls right from where you manage your account.

Set spending limits.

Manage where they make purchases.

View their account activity.

When they're ready, they can grow into an account they own.

The same account and debit card numbers with more features.

Each step helps them on the path to financial freedom.

What would you like the power to do?

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>> This program is brought to you by the members of WCNY.