Numbers, they supposedly “never lie”. Numbers get most of the attention, but they don’t tell the whole story. If numbers told everything you needed to know then hardly anyone would look on the senior class of 2016 from the Oregon Women’s basketball team as a success. Sure the occasional person would see the numbers Jillian Alleyne has posted. Luckily for me and others, who have seen this team play, and gotten to know them a little bit over the last four years, we realize that numbers only tell a fraction of the story.

A class of grit, sacrifice, perseverance and optimism, a class that we will probably look at as the foundation for the resurgence of women’s basketball at the university of Oregon. When you take a look at the litany of obstacles the senior class has come through you start to get a picture of what kind of women they really are. Injuries, switching positions, coaching changes and losing are all obstacles that would defeat others, but not only did they stick together they are finally seeing the fruit of their hard work.

This year they have won 20 games heading into the final road trip of the season and are looking at a fifth or sixth seed in next week’s Pac-12 conference tournament and a chance to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2005.

Over the last couple of years I have been lucky enough to see them away from the court and their character shines as bright as when they are on the court. Last year Jill, Lexi Peterson along with Katelyn Looper and Nita Iamaleava came to Churchill Estates the retirement community I work at to hang out with my residents and play Wii bowling. It was awesome seeing how the girls interacted with my residents, and taking time to make each one feel included. The experience impacted not only my residents, but other staff members and I would were there watching. Another great example is to watch after games and how they interact with all the little kids who stand in line to get their autographs. Being able to connect to past and future generations so effortlessly and to do so with the patience and verve they put on display is nothing but impressive.

Fast forward to last Sunday for senior day and it was surreal how quickly they were here and almost gone. Those of us who are lucky enough to realize how special these girls are will miss them when they walk across that stage in June, for their on-court play but more for the human beings they are.