"This game couldn't have been scripted any better for Janel," Gophers coach Pam Borton said. "It was a great way for her to end the home season with her effort and the way she played."

McCarville delivered a performance worthy of the All-American, guaranteed first-round draft pick that she is, making her career high 33 points look like a walk in the park, nabbing 14 rebounds, and topping it off with 4 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks. She also played like that big, goofy kid who has stolen the hearts of Gopher fans: the one whose devilish grin glows to the rafters of the Barn, who grabs her teammates in a headlock after their drive to the basket gets an old-fashioned 3-point play, who follows her own big plays with Tigger (and Taurasi) -esque bounces of joy.

The crowd of 14,203 was the second largest of her tenure, and the second largest in the program's history, which has expanded mind-bogglingly since the bleach-blonde, tall, zaftig freshman first loped onto the court of the Sports Pavilion. She ends her college days in the top five of five statistical categories: fifth in points (1,726), third in rebounds (1,125), second in blocks (184), third in steals (259), and fifth in assists (284).

The Wisconsin Badgers lost 84-53. Freshman Janese Banks, on her 19th birthday, played the entire game with fierce resolve, and led the team in scoring with 16 points. Another usually impressive frosh, Jolene Anderson, played her heart out, but couldn't connect when Shannon Bolden was guarding her. Lisa Stone could have a pretty good team next year, but for now she should be proud that they managed to score above fifty points against the Gophers in Janel's house.