Hailey Van Lith Is Grateful For Her Long, Well-traveled College Career After It Ends In Elite Eight

Hailey Van Lith got a text from her dad hours before TCU tipped off against Texas in the Elite Eight of the women's NCAA Tournament.

"The sun is going to rise tomorrow no matter if you win or lose," the message read. "So go out there and have fun."

Van Lith will have to find solace in that sunrise. She scored 17 points in a 58-47 loss to Texas on Monday night, and during an emotional postgame news conference, the well-traveled point guard was filled with more gratitude for her five-year college career than sadness at how it ended.

Van Lith played for three schools, scored 2,599 points and became the first college basketball player, woman or man, to reach the Elite Eight five times and take three programs to an NCAA regional final. The 23-year-old from Wenatchee, Washington, played three seasons at Louisville and last year at LSU, earning the nickname "Miss March" for her omnipresence in the tournament.

Nothing about the journey has been easy, Van Lith said while sitting next to coach Mark Campbell and teammates Sedona Prince and Madison Conner.