NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee State University Women’s Basketball team prepared to put on their dancing shoes. Friday, for the first time in twenty years they’re headed to the NCAA tournament to face Kentucky in the first round.
It’s hard to contain the excitement, especially when it’s been brewing for two decades.
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Teresa Phillips was the coach of Tennessee State University’s women’s basketball team in 1995; the last time the team won the OVC Championship.
“I was a lot younger because it was 20 years ago,” said Phillips jokingly. “You’re one of the top 64 teams in the nation at this point. Everybody else is at home.”
Number five on the 1995 winning team, birthed number five on this one.
“I wore number five to symbolize her, because I want to be like her.” said Senior Briana Morrow about her mother. “That’s my idol, and I guess to bring a championship home.”
Many never believed this was the team that would end the drought especially after their rocky start. But there’s still more to prove on a bigger stage.
“When no one else believed in us, we believed in ourselves,” said Senior Chelsea Hudson. “But I’m here to mess up brackets. I’m here to shake up some things. I’m here to make some noise to show that this [isn’t] a fluke. This isn’t by chance. But this is because we worked really hard to get here.”
That passion is what’s taking them to the NCAA tournament.
“Don’t stop believing that you can do something you put your mind to,” said Morrow.
It’s the big dance these Seniors will never forget.
