The five members of the Army women's basketball Class of 2016 made their way to midcourt, following their team's 72-38 win over Boston University on Senior Night, where they were told to gather for a postgame celebration of the senior class. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder, the five first classmen looked toward the ceiling, where two banners were tied up to the rafters on either side of three banners honoring the retired jerseys of a trio of former women's basketball standouts. As Christl Arena's public address announcer rallied off the class' list of accomplishments, including how the Class of 2016 owns school records for most wins and highest winning percentage, and is on the verge of becoming the best in Patriot League women's history, the seniors had no idea what was coming next.
"It was a very big surprise to all of us," said Jean Parker, one of Army's four senior captains. "They brought us out to center court and we figured 'maybe they'll say some nice things about us,' but coach pointed to the rafters and we saw the banners." The first of the two banners was unfurled and read simply "Women's Basketball Class of 2016." Before the second banner was dropped, the players, fans and coaches inside Christl Arena were read blow-by-blow highlights of Kelsey Minato's record-breaking career, giving everyone a sense of what the second banner would represent. Read More