For a lot of athletes, they don’t know when their final competitive game will be, but for Cowgirls’ seniors Liv Roberts, Skyler Snodgrass, Natalie Baker and Marleah Campbell they have the bittersweet and emotional experience of playing in their last competitive basketball game tonight.
The comradery, competition, thrill of victory and upset of defeat are all the pieces of playing a sport that motivate someone to continue working toward progression.
For the Cowgirls last home game, they are taking on Boise State at 6:30 p.m. MST. This game is important for several reasons. If the Cowgirls win they will be crowned the regular season champions of the Mountain West. It is also senior night, which is very important and sentimental for players and fans alike.
Every year the final home game of the season is dedicated to the seniors on the team, but this year seems extra special because all four seniors have been at UW since their freshmen year. This has built such a tight bond between the players and very well might be the reason the Cowgirls have had such an impressive season.
“Coming in here as a freshman we really have no idea what we’re getting in to and what these next four years are going to be like,” Campbell said. “You think you are going to remember specific games, and I will, but honestly my best memories are riding on the team bus, joking around, sitting in the cold tub after a practice and just getting to spend time around my team. It’s definitely the team that I will remember the most.”
This team has had quite a decorated career, specifically the seniors. Winning some of the most important games in Cowgirls history.
“Getting into the WNIT my junior year, beating CU in Boulder when they were ranked fifteenth (in the nation), those were both huge,” Natalie Baker remembered. “I’ll always remember beating CSU for the very first time just because they have been such a powerhouse and hopefully this Friday night will be one I’ll remember forever.”
These accomplishments wouldn’t have been achievable without the very close dynamic of the team. One thing this team has proven time and time again is how close of friends they truly are.
“Liv (Roberts) is my best friend, I came in here as a freshman with her and we just really clicked,” Baker said. “She’ll definitely be a friend forever.”
Campbell said, “There have been highs and lows over the last four years. If I have a good practice or bad practice, or they do, there is always someone to turn to in the locker room, which is really nice.”
When these players are reminiscing about their career here at UW, there is one theme that most all of them stick to; they are going to miss their team.
“I’m going to miss the little moments, like going out for ice cream after beating Boise at Boise,” Campbell said. “I’m so lucky that I get to play this sport, that was a lifelong dream, with my best friends every single day.”
This may seem and feel like “the end” for these girls, but they all have bright and promising futures ahead of them.
“I have a business management degree, so I look to use that in some fashion and hopefully be successful,” Baker said.
Campbell said. “I want to go into journalism and hopefully find a job and go back to Kansas City.”
This may be the last home game for the Cowgirls, but they still have the Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas March 5 through the 10, where they hope to win the Mountain West conference and hopefully go on to the NCAA tournament later in March.
