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Cedar Rapids, Iowa – The Cougar women's basketball team has seen what the NCAA Tournament is all about, getting their first chance to enjoy the journey  a year ago. When they open their second straight trip Mar. 4 at 7:00 p.m., they still want to take in the process, but this time plan to enjoy the whole weekend.

After their final tune-up before opening NCAA Tournament play, the Cougars know there is no big secret to success, and keeping this dream season going.

“I think we've got to come out and play our game,” junior Kaila Lindsay said. “Play the way we play and rebound. Just do what we gotta do.”

Sophomore Emily Mehr echoed her statements. “Come out, play their personnel. Play with intensity and give it everything we have.”

The Cougars have been able to come out and control the tempo this season, outscoring their opponents 976 to 789 it the first half on the year. They have shot better than 46% from the floor as a team, while holding the opposition to just a 39% clip.

Coe, meanwhile, can sport similar numbers. They've outscored their opponents 859 to 652 in the first 20 minutes and outshot them 42% to just 37%.

“They like to pressure,” Lindsay said. “So we'll have to be strong with the ball.”

Coe has forced their opponents into 17 turnovers a game this season, but has also given it away 17.4 times, leaving the Kohawks with a -0.4 average per game in turnover margin.

The Cougars, however, have been slightly better with the ball, entering the game with a +1.7 average in turnover margin, giving it away 16.3 times per game while taking the ball away 18.0 times per game.

More than anything though, is that the Cougars have here before. Nine of the teams 13 players return from last year's squad that earned the program's first trip to the NCAA Division III tournament. Coe is making the team's first trip to NCAA play, leaving the current stage as an unknown for the Kohawks.

“Not to be star struck I guess,” Lindsay said when asked what the Cougars can take from last season's experience. “We've been here before so we know what we need to do, and not be surprised by everything.”

“Yeah I think I just makes it easier on us,” Mehr added. “Last year we were all nerves and it was just amazing to be here. That's all we were all thinking about. I think this year we're more like, we can really do this.”

Lindsay summed up the team's mentality, “This year, we came to win.”