The Rutgers women’s basketball team has made the NCAA college basketball tournament for the 26th time in the program’s history.

“Being here is just a reward for not giving up, for perseverance, for staying tough and together,” says senior guard Arella Guirantes.

The team earned a No. 6 seed and will face the No. 11 seed BYU in the first round of the tournament.

“You know, we work so hard to get to this point. Especially being one of the 64 teams being able to play in the NCAA tournament and through the COVID [pandemic],” says freshman guard Diamond Johnson. “I’m glad we’re having a tournament because last year it was taken away.”

A No. 6 seed is the highest for the team since 2012. The team is 14-4 overall and has won nine straight games to close out the regular season.

“Their ability to come back and practice hard each day and the direction of the seniors and the freshman – we have nine freshmen – and this is the youngest class in the country,” says head coach C. Vivian Stringer.

While Rutgers was upset by Iowa in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament, players say that it only serves as a lesson and extra motivation heading into the NCAA tournament.

“It's our time to show it's not all for nothing, we're meant to be here. We have the talent, we have the staff,” Guirantes says.

Rutgers and BYU tip off on Monday at 12 p.m.