The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1519757
36 ■ THE WOLFPACKER the national semifinals. Rivers couldn't help but reflect on those accomplishments amid the emotional postgame scene. "You're not supposed to be satisfied, but I am truly satisfied with what we've done this season," she said. "We've proved what we've had to prove." Family Ties Collins' future will take her beyond the Pack; on April 23, she signed a training camp contract with the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA. But no matter where she goes from here, the ties to NC State will re- main strong. Even after her collegiate career ended in Cleveland, she was already thinking about her future trips to Raleigh. "I'll forever be an NC State alumna," Collins said. "I might feel too old, but I don't mind coming down to hang out with them." Rivers said the best part of Collins' postgame remarks was that they were 100 percent genuine. Their friendship pre- dates their time together in Raleigh, go- ing back to when Collins was at Maryland and Rivers was being recruited by the Ter- rapins. During their two years together with the Pack, they grew extremely close. When talking about her connection with Rivers, Collins sees that bond extending beyond their careers together on the court. "She's a great human being," Collins said. "I love her to death. She's so sweet, she's so caring, she shows true love to all of us, and that's a friendship that I'll never want to lose." Senior guard Madison Hayes said Col- lins and Baldwin — both in their final season of eligibility — brought valuable traits to this team that no one else had. She pointed to Collins' aggressiveness, Baldwin's ability to draw charges, and the overall competitiveness of both players. It will not be easy to replace them, but Hayes will be returning for her graduate season and said the Pack is going take the lessons from its season-ending loss and use them to improve. "We're going to learn from this game," Hayes said. "And then, when it comes down to this point again, we'll know what we have to do." 'A Major Difference' Freshman forward Mad- die Cox backed up Collins this year. The upperclass- man forward sang the praises of the first-year player all season long during press conferences. She helped Cox grow throughout her first season, and that means a lot to the freshman. "Her being a mentor, a big sister, was really helpful the entire season," Cox said. " I feel like it's a player-led team. We stick together on and off the court. You see the joy, the enjoyment. You see the chemistry that we have. " Aziaha James Junior guard Aziaha James scored 27 points in the Wolfpack's 76-66 victory over Texas, touching off a celebration at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore. The win sent NC State to its first Final Four since 1998. PHOTO BY ANDREW YATES/NC STATE ATHLETICS