SEATTLE, Wash. – Bus ride to the NCAA Tournament in Seattle. Check.

Friday press conference. Check.

Two Friday practices. Check.

Soaking up one of the greatest experiences of their lifetimes. Check.

With less than than 24 hours until the biggest game of their careers, the Portland State women's basketball team has been enjoying the whirlwind experience that is the NCAA Tournament.

From the sendoff they received on campus, to the multitude of interviews they've done, the Viking players have realized that this in no ordinary tournament.

"Today alone has been a crazy day for all of us," said senior point guard Claire Faucher. "A lot of these big schools deal with this type of stuff all of the time. It's fun for us to have so many things going on."

Portland State's NCAA tourney adventure began almost a week ago when they captured the Big Sky Championship with a 62-58 victory over Montana State last Saturday. The next step along their journey was a selection show viewing party on Monday, where they learned they'd be playing ninth-ranked Texas A&M in Seattle in the first round.

The No. 15 seed that they Vikings had been given helped them stay regionally and play at Bank of America Arena on the campus of the University of Washington. Having the opportunity to play in their home state has added to the joy for eight PSU players that are native Washingtonians.

"It is really exciting to be back playing in Seattle," said sophomore guard Eryn Jones. "It feel likes I am in high school again and we are playing in the state tournament. It just feels really good to be home again."

Jones prepped 17 miles north at Meadowdale High School in Lynnwood, while teammates Nichole Jackson and Stephanie Egwuatu also got to play in the Washington state tournament at Bank of America Arena when they were at Auburn Riverside High School, 34 miles south of campus in Auburn.

"I was really excited when I saw that we'd get to play up here," said Egwuatu, a sophomore forward. "It's nice to be back home so my family and friends can watch. There are going to be a lot of Auburn Riverside people coming to the game and they are excited to get to watch us."

On Thursday afternoon, over 100 fans, parents and supporters joined on PSU's campus to send the team bus off in style.

"I didn't expect so many people to come out and support us. It was great to see so many people out there," said Jones.

Now up here in Seattle, the real festivities have begun. Faucher, Jones and Head Coach Sherri Murrell did a formal press conference this morning in front of the NCAA drape. It's something not many coaches or student athletes ever get to experience.

Said Faucher of the press conference: "It was very cool. It was kind of nerve wracking honestly, with the huge microphone in front of me and being up on a stage."

Added Jones: "Being up there made things set in more and it made me realize that we are actually here now."

While those three were involved in a press conference, the rest of the team was in the locker room fulfilling other media interview requests. The media attention was definitely something new to many of the players.

The Vikings finally got to take the court at 1:05 p.m. For an hour, Murrell had her team run through various drills in front of a handful of women's basketball fans and Viking supporters. Each of the four teams in Seattle had a one-hour practice today that was open to the public.

Following their open practice, PSU watched film of the Aggies, before holding a one-hour closed practice session. Needless to say, with all of the media attention and the open practice, today was not a normal day for the Vikings.

These Vikings are making history with every interview they give and practice they hold here in Seattle. Not to mention there is the matter of their game against Texas A&M, which will be another chapter in their historical season. Each step along this magical journey is something that no other Portland State women's basketball player has experienced, because no previous Viking squad has played in the "Big Dance" before.

For a senior like Faucher, this week gives her a chance to go out on top and leave a legacy.

"To win the Big Sky and go to the NCAAs ... I don't think you could ask to go out a better way."