Study of a student-athlete

The Penn women's basketball team (22-6, 12-2 Ivy) will be making its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in a decade, following this year's Ivy League championship. Senior Courtney Wilson and freshman Sydney Stipanovich are writing a daily diary for the Daily News throughout the team's run in the tournament.

Yesterday was a reminder that even though our lives are focused on the game ahead, we are still Ivy League students, and school must come first. I had to study for an Economics quiz that I had first thing in the morning. Also, as a senior, I am continuously looking for a job post-graduation, so I followed up on interviews and applications. I then had to purchase my regalia, also known as cap and gown, for graduation.

All of our teammates are supporting one another through early mornings and late nights of studying. Life as a student-athlete forces all of our team to concentrate and stay on top of everything.

Once it comes time to practice though, the energy and focus remains high as we prepare for Sunday's game.

Yesterday we had individual workouts with the coaches that included shooting, ball-handling and agility drills to keep our fundamental skills sharp. As game day approaches, we continue to work toward being our best. Although our schedule can be extremely full as a student-athlete, there is not one of us who would trade this experience for anything. We have worked hard to get where we are and we constantly push each other to reach farther.