It was a time to be alive in Storrs, Connecticut. The UConn Huskies were looking to clutch a NCAA tournament spot by securing the Big East champion title against Creighton. While the Huskies had the most supportive fans in the world, reality was starting to set it. It was 64-80, Creighton lead, at the end of the third quarter; and it was do or die.

"Timeout" the announcer called through the intercom within the arena, "Huskies."

"What the fuck are y'all doing?!" Geno freaked, looking around the circle. "Azzi's scared to shoot, Paige's pocket keeps getting picked, Sarah's drawing unnecessary charges, Kaitlyn can't get open shots! Who are you people?! These are not the women I saw in practice the other day! Or the women that I've been seeing all season long." The huskies were on their way to having a perfect season.

"I don't know what to tell you guys," Geno stressed. "Paige Bueckers you have been here since a freshman. You saw how every single season, something got in your way. This time you are healthy, and team you are with now has the most potential that any UConn team you've ever played amongst has." Geno looked at Paige, not daring to bat an eye or look away. "There were legitimate excuses every other year," Geno went on, still looking at his star player, "I'll give you that. But if you lose tonight, Bueckers, you have nobody to blame but yourself." Damn, that was kind of cold. But, Paige thrived off of cold remarks like that.

"Azzi," Geno looked over at his best shooter, "there is no reason why you should not be chucking that ball up every time you have it. You are easily the best scorer in women's college basketball right now." He sighed, "this is Paige's last year with you, you guys have been best friends for years. I know how much this moment, and later on, winning a national title will mean to you." Well, safe to say that Geno wasn't in the loop, but that's beside the point.

"Sarah," Geno turned toward his freshman, "play zone. There is no need to play body-to-body on somebody who isn't posing as a scoring threat to us."

"As for you Kaitlyn," Geno rushed to get out, as he only had some seconds left. "Just get open. Move around, maneuver in between people. Jana or Kaitlyn will provide you the pick when needed."

"Huskies on three!" He demanded as the entire team, including the benched and injured players, put their hands in. "One...Two...Three..."

"Huskies!"

Paige needed to find that want within herself. It was the last ten minutes of the game and if she did not do her due diligence, then it would be her last ten minutes of college basketball.

The arena was deathly silent as the five girls—Paige, Azzi, Jana, Sarah and Kaitlyn—made their way back on the court. KK was in foul trouble, so Geno was considering playing her halfway through the quarter.

Though Paige voice it with her teammates, she had a plan. Creighton hadn't seen much of Azzi, because Azzi hadn't made many shot attempts in the game today. And having worked out with Azzi many times throughout their careers, Paige knew that the wings, high post, and top of the key were Azzi's sweet spots.

"Every time I get the ball, go to the wing," Paige quickly said in passing as she walked past Azzi. She turned around to see if Azzi heard her, to which Azzi gave her a thumbs up—indicating that she did.

Creighton was inbounding, as the in-bounder was passing the ball in, Kaitlyn stole it and passed it to Paige, who went up for a successful layup, outrunning two Creighton players. Though there wasn't a firm game plan discussed amongst the girls, there was a common understanding that they absolutely needed to come back.

Kaitlyn, Paige, Sarah and Jana pressed the Creighton player who had the ball, making her fumble it and dribble out of bounds. Paige then ran to the inbound line, yelling out Azzi's name. While the Creighton players paid more mind to Paige and Kaitlyn, Azzi was completely open on the wing, which was just outside of the three-point line.

The whistle blew and Paige chucked the ball Azzi's way. She had already been in formation, so a quick positioning of her feet was all that was needed. Azzi shot with confidence, remembering what Geno had said about her being the best three-point shooter in women's college basketball at the moment.

"Yes!" Azzi breathed out, her shot being clean. Creighton still didn't find a threat in Fudd, however, but that was okay. Today, that worked in Azzi's favor. The next three UConn inbounds, all stemmed from UConn teaming up and applying pressure, were repeats of that exact play that Paige worked up between Azzi. Before she knew it, Azzi had twelve points in the quarter, and the score was now 78-80, Creighton lead.

Geno had switched Paige with KK, so both Paige and Azzi were biting nails as they worried about if KK would catch on to their plan. While KK did not know that Paige and Azzi had configured anything, she was aware that Azzi was on fire at the moment.

Creighton called a time out and it was UConn ball. "Pass to Azzi," Paige mouthed to KK, who was inbounding. She nodded so that Paige would know she heard her. There was less than a minute left in the game and at the very least, the huskies needed to tie it up so that they could force overtime. KK did as was asked, but with Azzi making her last four shots, Creighton was now heavily guarding her.

"KK!" Paige yelled from the sidelines, "the corner!" KK ran toward the corner closest the UConn bench, wide open. Three women had been on Azzi and the other two were hovering around. Azzi managed to throw the ball to the side, the shot clock down to four and the game seconds nearing the thirties. KK got a hold and desperately chucked the ball up.

Just like when the fourth quarter began, a deathly silence loomed the arena as everybody watched the ball roll around the rim, finally falling in.

Roars erupted from the crowd and Azzi nearly killed KK with a clothesline tackle as the rest of the time piled up. It was now 81-80, UConn, with 35 seconds left. Of course, the job wasn't finished.

"Full court press!" Geno yelled as everybody got back to their rightful places, the game resuming. "Do not let them get to the other side with the ball!"

Azzi remained on UConn's offensive side of the court while the other women played defense. Now hyped up from her lifesaving three, KK was in the zone. She picked the Creighton ball handler's pocket and chucked the ball down the court toward Azzi. With nobody on that end with her, Azzi was able to get comfortable and shoot an uncontested three; making it impossible for Creighton to get a lead or tie up the game with just one shot.

There were now twelve seconds left on the clock. UConn fans began giving a standing ovation.

A Creighton player, much bigger than KK, began dribbling down the court. KK prepared herself to draw a charge, turning into a statue so that she wouldn't move. As planned, the player ran right through KK, throwing her to the ground.

The ref blew the whistle. "Foul on number 13, Creighton," the announcer announced. With just eight seconds left on the clock, UConn was inbounding the ball once more.

"Just hold it!" Geno yelled out to his girls, with them passing the ball around for the last eight seconds. "Yes!" He exclaimed, clapping as the team all rushed over to hug KK once the final buzzer went off. UConn was going back to the NCAA tournament.

Azzi stood behind Paige as Paige gave an interview, telling the reporter all about her game plan that she'd came up with in her head. She was brought to tears as she expressed her pride in Azzi. "She's been through a lot," Paige sniffled, Azzi wiping Paige's tears with her left index finger. "I mean," Paige went on, "a lot of injuries, drama. Sometimes she gets in her head and she just needs to know that somebody is rooting for her. She just needs that extra push."

"Are you proud of her?" The interviewer, a middle aged white woman, asked with a warm smile.

"Proud is an understatement" Paige choked through her tears. "I love that woman so much, man." She turned toward Azzi and the two embraced one another so tightly that the stiffening of their grips could be heard. The camera showed their intimate moment for a minute before going to Geno.

Once in the locker room, Geno looked displeased. He was sometimes hard to satisfy, so it was no telling if he was truly upset or not. After a moment of silence and stares shared amongst one another, Geno began clapping. "There is nobody," he began, once the clapping wave that he started died down, "better than you guys." He looked at Azzi, "Fudd!"

"Yeah?" Azzi responded.

"You are the best shooter in the country" he reinstated. "Go to sleep tonight knowing that. There is nobody, absolutely nobody, on that court, who can outshoot you, you hear me?!"

"Yeah!" Azzi's teammates cheered, Paige using the moment to sneak a quick kiss on the side of Azzi's face in. Paige planned to get Azzi's lips tatted still, but decided that she's probably get it somewhere else, like on her shoulder or ribs.

"Kamorea!" Geno smiled as he turned KK's way. "Man..." it was silent for a moment again. "I got nothing to say other than be proud! Wow!"

"Yeah!" The girls rattled once more.

As they made their way outside, there was a special surprise for KK. Ava stood there, wearing blue jeans, a black long-sleeve, panda dunks, white nike socks, and a black Nike jacket—which was actually KK's jacket and therefore a little long for her. She held flowers, unsure if a girl like KK would like flowers, but it was the thought that counts, right?

"Awe!" Paige and Azzi exclaimed in unison, the rest of the team joining in. Paige being the supportive teammate she always is, she took her camera out to record. "They grow up so fast!" she joked.

"Congratulations on your win," Ava grinned shyly, with KK accepting the flowers and then hugging her. The two shared a quick stare, both wondering if they should go for it. KK and Ava, as close as they now were, never kissed. For KK, it was a respect thing. She wanted to show Ava that she cared about her and wasn't just looking to get sexual satisfaction out of her. For Ava, it was the fear of falling knee deep in love with a woman, scared of what would happen if she did. But still, at this exact point in time, it felt too picture perfect to not capitalize on.

KK and Ava kissed for their very first time, in front of the entire team. It truly was a beautiful moment.

Ava looked up at KK, lightly biting her bottom lip once the two pulled away. KK smiled, wrapping her arm around Ava's neck. "Come on," she said, leading her and the rest of the team out of the arena.

What a great day to be a Husky.