NCAA Tournament GameDay | Live Stats | Live Video

WINONA, Minn. — When the Saint Mary's University women's basketball team takes to the court for Friday's NCAA Tournament opener against UW-Oshkosh, it will mark the first time since the 1985-86 season — a span of 28 years — that the Cardinals have appeared on the national tournament stage.

In fact, when SMU squared off against Concordia-Moorhead in that regional semifinal, not one of the Cardinals' current players had even been born yet.

That fact has not gone unnoticed amongst the Cardinals.

"I think (the long time between national tournament appearances) shows that winning a conference title and making the national tournament is no easy task," said senior forward Courtney Euerle (Litchfield, Minn.), who was named MIAC Player of the Year on Thursday. "It's nice to know that our team's hard work and dedication have paid off to where we can be fortunate enough to still be playing at this point in the season."

"It's crazy that it has been 28 years since our last (national tournament) appearance — we are all really excited to have made it," added Darcey Rice (Eagan, Minn.), the only other senior on this year's Cardinal squad. "I am really proud to be a part of a team that has made it to the national tournament."

The Cardinals have already accomplished so much this season — accomplishments that make them look eerily similar to SMU's last national tournament team.

After opening the season with wins in three of their first four games, the Cardinals rattled off a 16-game winning streak — falling just three wins shy of the program-record 19-game winning streak set by … who else? … the 1985-86 squad.

During that 16-game winning streak, sophomore Bridget Pethke (New London, Wis.) enjoyed a career-high 32-point night in SMU's 76-52 win over St. Olaf, falling 10 points short of the single-game school record set by Mary Schultz in … 1985-86 against … St. Olaf.

SMU rebounded from its Feb. 8 65-48 streak-snapping loss to St. Thomas by winning their last four conference games to lock up their first MIAC regular-season title since … you guessed it … 1985-86.

And thanks to a convincing 94-63 win over Bethel in the MIAC Tournament semifinals, SMU heads into Friday's NCAA national tournament game boasting 24 wins, equaling the school record for wins in a season — last accomplished by … that is correct … the 1985-86 Cardinals.

That, however, is where the present Cardinals want the comparisons to end.

SMU heads into Friday's showdown against UW-Oshkosh looking to do something the 1985-86 team couldn't — win their national tournament-opener.

And to do that, the Cardinals will use the same approach they have all season — focus on one possession at a time.

"I think we approach this just like we have every other game this season — one game and one possession at a time," said Euerle, who enters Friday's matchup with UW-Oshkosh as the team-leader in scoring (13.4 ppg) and rebounding (7.3 rpg). "But I also think we need to remember to have fun and enjoy this experience as much as we can.

"Twenty-eight years is a long time (between tournament appearances), and for me, I'll never have an experience as a player like this again."

It's been a memorable ride for the Cardinals — one they don't expect to end any time soon.

"What this team has accomplished so far is amazing," said Euerle, who, along with her Player of the Year accolades, was also named to the First-Team All-MIAC and All-Defensive Team. "It sounds cliché — I really don't know how to describe it — but it's a great and unforgettable feeling.

"I couldn't have asked for a better senior year outcome — and hopefully the ride isn't over yet."

The Cardinals will square off against UW-Oshkosh in the second of the day's two semifinal games at 7 p.m. Friday at the Kolf Sports Center on the UW-Oshkosh campus. Washington (Mo.) University and Northwestern-St. Paul meet in the other semifinal game, with the winners advancing to Saturday's 7 p.m. title game.

While the Cardinals are making their first national tournament appearance in nearly three decades, UW-Oshkosh — champions of the WIAC Tournament — is making its 11th appearance in the NCAA's big dance, including winning a national title in 1996, while finishing second in 1995.

"The key is going to be to stay focused and play our game," said Rice. "We have such a strong team bond and support system, which I think will help everyone calm their nerves.

"We will definitely have butterflies heading into these big games, but I am confident we are all ready for it."

The Cardinals may be national tournament neophytes, but SMU isn't about to be satisfied just getting to the big dance — they are in it for the long haul.

"Our approach to this weekend is the same as it has been this whole season — which is to get better every day," said Rice, who leads the team in 3-pointers with 55 — which is the fourth-most in program history and just five shy of the school record 60, set by Ashley Luehmann in 2004-05. "We want to prove that we are capable of beating these teams.

"Our first goal is to beat Oshkosh on Friday ¬— then move on to the next team on Saturday."