Before Iowa State’s trip to the NCAA tournament this year, coach Bill Fennelly’s last memory of Bowling Green was a loss in 1995 to Paul Sanderford’s Lady Toppers in the NCAA tournament.

Fennelly brought the loss up multiple times during the Cyclones’ stay in Bowling Green.

Fennelly said Sanderford left him a message, but Fennelly was never actually able to speak to Sanderford while in Bowling Green.

Luckily for Fennelly and his players, though, his fortunes were reversed this time around in Bowling Green.

“My second trip was a lot more fun than the first one,” Fennelly said.

Fennelly’s second trip resulted in the Cyclones’ fourth Sweet Sixteen appearance in school history, and its first appearance since 2001.

While there was jubilation and celebration inside the Iowa State locker room, it was a different scene in Ball State’s locker room. Things were quiet for the most part – players cried while consoling one another.

Ball State senior Kiley Jarrett sat in her locker, answering questions.

Tattooed on the inside of Jarrett’s right wrist is the word “Believe.”

Nothing could sum up Ball State’s trip better.

The Cardinals took down women’s basketball poster-child, Tennessee, on Sunday night, claiming the first NCAA women’s tournament victory against the team in its history.

“Just being able to participate in the NCAA tournament down here,” Jarrett said. “And having your first opponent be Tennessee, a team that hasn’t lost in the first round, and being able to get a storied victory over them – it’s something I’ll always remember.”

Ball State coach Kelly Packard said that Bowling Green seemed to really embrace the Cardinals after their victory.

“We were out walking around just trying to get a little exercise, and there were numerous people that would pull up and make comments,” Packard said.

Packard was able to take a walk, thanks to Chamber of Commerce-type days in Bowling Green.

Warm weather, clear skies, blossoming dogwoods around campus and a city that has been crazy for basketball the last two weeks provided a backdrop for a trip full of memories for the teams.

Tennessee will remember its time in Bowling Green for different reasons.

As legendary coach Pat Summitt put it after the Lady Vols’ loss in the first round, the team created history for the wrong reasons.

Back in the Iowa State locker room, players were laughing, taking pictures, talking about their trip to Berkeley, Calif., and senior guard Heather Ezell was taking questions about the Cyclones’ Sweet Sixteen opponent, Michigan State, as well as taking time to recall what it meant for Iowa State to be able to celebrate on the court in Diddle.

“To celebrate here on the court and everything like that – it will definitely be a memory I’ll never forget,” Ezell said. “Playing at Western Kentucky and in Bowling Green will be part of that memory.”