Mortality was winning the staredown with USF's women midway through Monday night's game against UCLA. Twenty minutes in, the Bulls couldn't score, rebound or find a rhythm.
Here's what else they couldn't let themselves do: blink
As a result, Coach Jose Fernandez's squad (24-10) rallied to nearly stage the most surreal, significant victory in USF women's basketball lore.
Some clutch Bruins free-throw shooting down the stretch, not to mention a controversial possession call under UCLA's basket with 33.9 seconds to play, enabled UCLA to escape with a 72-67 victory in the NCAA Tournament's second round.
As a result, the most successful senior class in school history -- propelled by future pros Alisia Jenkins and Courtney Williams -- ends its sparkling career with no Sweet 16 trips, and certainly no quit.