We arrived to Chattanooga, TN with all the confidence and determination in the world.  We were ready to play, we were committed to one another for these last six games and were all on the same page.  We had UCF first and we were not really sure what to expect, we knew that they were a young team and they pushed the ball like we did.  It was an exciting game, it was crazy that it was finally here.  We have been preparing the whole season for this point and time.  I knew that this was going to be my last NCAA tournament so the coaches made sure that we played our hardest and left everything on the court.  I did not want to regret or wish I had done something differently so every minute I stepped on that court I made sure I went hard.  We got past UCF and began to prepare for Purdue. 

I have played Purdue every year since I was a freshman.  Twice in the NCAA tournament and last year we played them at Carolina.  The senior class was 3-0 against them so we were confident approaching this game.  We had a great game plan and we battled hard, we won the rebounds, had more fast break points and points in the paint than they did.  However, in the second half Purdue shot for 70% from the field.

And that’s how my last college game played out.  I have no regrets.  I enjoyed being a Tar Heel and playing with my teammates, whom I love dearly.  The memories and the lessons I will cherish forever.  It’s a weird feeling to wake up and not have practice or weights.  I have to admit that I am slightly looking forward to being a regular student without any basketball obligations, which I have never gotten the chance to do.  So on to my next step in my life, I am on track to graduate in May and I am looking forward to taking that next big step. 

Every season we would get compliments by sports announcers saying that we were the fastest team in America. Our slogans for the team were “Catch us if you can” and “The fast just got faster,” which showed our confidence and pride in fast-break basketball. Coach Hatchell always told us that you can see these other teams emulating our speed and power.

And when you play teams that play us every year, such as teams in the ACC, it is only natural that they would take our style of play and use it against us. If you were to tell me my freshman year that in my senior year FSU would be #1 in the ACC, I would call you crazy, but that is what is so great about basketball. It is because of Coach Hatchell and her system of basketball that all of the teams are pressing with an attitude that the opposing player will never get the ball out the traps, pushing the ball off of missed and made shots, and just being fearless.

If you know anything about Carolina, you know how the Carolina/ Duke rivalry is the greatest rivalry of all time.  Whenever these two teams meet, whether it is on a field, court, or track it is all going to be a battle of heart and determination.  And it was no different Monday night.  We knew coming in that Duke was heading over here with a vengeance, because last year we defeated them three times, one of which was by 30 points! 

They were very physical and their full court press caused us to turn the ball over many times.  The first 20 minutes of the game was not Carolina Basketball.  The turnovers, the quick shots off the break, these were not the game plan for the night.  I know I was frustrated the first half as well, but I put that all behind me in the second half.  We fought hard and reduced the lead to two at the half and in the locker room we made a commitment to one another that we were going to play for each other. 

Duke had everything going for them in the first half, but the second half was our time.  We took the spurt before halftime and never looked back.  It took us a while to get into the flow with scoring only 25 points at the half, but it’s times like this where our teammates step up and carry.  McCants, Breland, and DeGraffenreid were crucial in our 25-point turn around.  Several players came into the game and helped to keep the momentum going.  Our main goal was to frustrate both Waner and Black, who were both kept under their average points per game.  This win was truly a whole team effort. 

While sitting in the training room this afternoon, Rashanda and I were sitting and looking at our schedule poster and our seeing senior year slip by in an instant.  Rashanda, who is one of my best friends, agreed in the fact that the season is going by so fast, we cannot believe that we have played already more than half our games of our last year. 

We each said that we got butterflies in our stomach, because we were nervous about the future and where we would be this time next year.  We were thinking that we are now in the “last time” era.  For instance, our game on Sunday was the last time we would play North Carolina Central at home.  Whenever we talk about this point in time we literally get teary-eyed.  It is quite emotional.  We love college, and playing together, and being with all our friends.  But luckily it is not over yet.  We still have nine more regular season games and then we enter post-season, which is always fun. 

I am looking forward to playing Virginia Tech on Thursday because one of my old AAU teammates plays for them and we never get to see one another except when we play against each other, we enjoy catching up after the game. 

We broke our three game losing streak last night versus Wake Forest.  It was quite emotional with having the sting of those loses in the air.  We had something to prove.  There were people saying we were falling off and that we didn’t deserve to be a top ranked team, but we placed all that behind us and concentrated on getting better and working on rebounding, and we did out rebound Wake Forest.  We were so pumped to get the win, we certainly gave a big sigh of relief.  Most of us had never experienced losing three games in a row. 

Rashanda and I were thinking back to our middle school days and we concluded that we had never lost three games in a row in our life until now.  It seemed so crazy to us and even more crazy that it was happening in our senior year of college.  We now know how to prevent it and we are stronger because of it. 

Success is when opportunity meets preparation.  We were given this opportunity and we did not take advantage of it.  We were not prepared emotionally to take on the Huskies.  Our heart left us as soon as we were down in the first half.  We hung our head and we lost the team unity that had allowed us to go undefeated until now. 

The crowd was great and the atmosphere was electric; it was something we had been waiting for a long time now.  We broke the record for the biggest attendance in Carolina Women’s Basketball history.  We did have fans in the stands supporting us and cheering us on and we blew it. 

“Embarrassed” was the word that the seniors on the team used.  This game was the last time we would play the Huskies on our home court and this was how we ended it?  It was extremely hard for me because I have been coming back from a high ankle sprain so I still was not allowed to play.  I tried to give my input to my teammates during the game as to what I saw from the bench, but I just wished I could have contributed to rebounding or been a force on defense. 

We knew going into a game against UVA that it was going to be a physical match-up that required heart and  aggressiveness.  So as we lined up in our usual stretching lines in practice the day before the game, all we hear is Olivia Newton-John’s “Let’s Get Physical” over the loud speakers and we knew that Coach was up to something.  And then she comes out bobbing her head and dancing to the upbeat workout song and all we can do is laugh and smile.  Each year, usually around big games, we know that Olivia will be making her way to our ears sooner or later.

And with this week of tough games starting with UVA, then UConn, GA Tech, and ending at Maryland, it was a perfect time for the song.  And with a 30-point win over the Cavaliers it was proof to us that being physical can be the difference in a close game and a large margin of victory. 

On the other hand, I was not able to participate in last night’s game.  I suffered a high ankle sprain in practice two days before the game.  I have been in a walking boot since the incident I guess high ankle sprains tend to usually take a little longer to heal and I did not believe that until now.  I don’t understand, ankle sprains are a pretty common injury in basketball and one I have experienced several times.  But usually the next day I have a tape job on it and I am good to go.  But this injury is unlike any other ankle injury I have had.  It honestly still feels the same as when I injured it in practice.  I was not able to practice again today, but I refuse to be kept out of the UConn game; it will be an incredible game and experience for everyone that will be in attendance, so tomorrow I will be throwing a tape job on it and I will be practicing and playing come Monday. 

January 12, 2009

We won our second ACC battle this afternoon.  As any other Carolina versus State game, emotions ran wild throughout every player that was apart of the game.  With the State’s head coach and good friend of our own coach, Kay Yow, stepping down and with our own Coach Hatchell having the opportunity to enter the "800 Wins Club," we knew that we were going to have to play with as our coach stated, “the heart and aggressiveness of a lion.” 

Once the ball was tossed up, our goal was to win the boards and fast break.  We had a hard time making good shot selections as we were only 2-23 from the three-point line.  But we had several strong forces in the post, one being our freshman Shay Shegog.  There have been already numerous occasions where Shay comes in and is a major defensive and offensive threat.  She is going to be a great player here!  As it came close to the wire in regulation we exchanged basket for basket and I had a clutch put back that tied us with a minute or so left in the game.