SAN ANTONIO — Elle Ruffridge took a deep breath and cleared her throat. She was asked to give an opening statement before her postgame press conference.
Her eyes glistened. It had been within the last half hour that her team's basketball season had come to an end.
She tried to speak before choking up again. She adjusted her mask before looking to the ceiling.
MSU LADY BEARS NCAA TOURNAMENT COVERAGE
"I'm very emotional right now because we didn't play our best basketball," she began. "We fought until the very end. I wish I had more time with my teammates, this coaching staff, being in this uniform.