STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Fifteen days ago, the Stony Brook women's basketball team began its morning with the mindset that it would be competing for an America East championship on its homecourt the following night.

At approximately 4:16 p.m. that very same day, the Seawolves' season came to an abrupt and unsettling end.
 
Shortly after announcements of cancellations of conference basketball tournaments and suspensions of spring sport seasons spread like wildfire throughout the day in response to the threat of the COVID-19 virus, the NCAA put an end to it all by scrapping all remaining winter championships as well as upcoming spring ones.
 
The Seawolves' shot at playing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history was over.

"My stomach felt like it sunk and the tears instantly came," India Pagan recalled. "Everything we talked about all season and dreamed of was put to a stop. Our historic season was cut short, and it was the last time playing with our five seniors."

To say that Stony Brook had earned its right to represent the America East in the Big Dance would be an understatement. The Seawolves had produced a program-best 28-3 overall record. And they had won their first regular-season championship, with an impressive 14-2 finish in conference action. That's not to mention also touting the nation's longest active win streak at one point (22 games) and garnering votes in the national polls for several weeks.

It looked like the stars were aligning for the Stony Brook squad that had advanced to the championship game for the first time in head coach Caroline McCombs' six-year tenure.

"This team took the tools that we have been equipping them with and became a player-led team," McCombs said. "This team loved each other more than any team I have been part of. We figured out how to set some new norms and raise our standard. It was amazing to watch the growth of our young women. I'm so thankful for our graduating seniors and the foundation they have set."

Averaging 13.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, Pagan, an all-conference first-team selection, was just one of the many pieces of the puzzle who made the 2019-20 team built to make history. 

"This is not going to take away from all that we accomplished as a team," Pagan said. "We are a part of history, and I will forever be extremely proud of this group."

As a junior, Pagan will be one of several key returners for the Seawolves next season. Starter and all-conference third-team honoree Anastasia Warren also will be back. So will key substitutes Oksana Gouchie-Provencher, McKenzie Bushee, Jonae Cox and America East Sixth Player of the Year Victoria Johnson.

"The focus for next year will be the same: taking everything one step at a time and doing the little things every single day," Pagan said. "We are already preparing for next year. We have to remain positive in times like this, stick together and be there for one another."