Mara Braun was at a number of games, sometimes sitting courtside.

“They were very connected,” she said. “Definitely the way we’re going for.”

Rarely does a college team have such a good example playing just down the road.

“We talk about skills development within our program,” Plitzuweit said. “Yes, there are techniques of the game you can get better at. Ball handling, becoming a better shooter. But then you have basketball IQ. I really believed it’s helped our basketball IQ continue to grow.

“I hear what they say about how the Lynx played and I just kind of smile. We can use that to become a better defensive team, or to share the ball like they did.”

On another level, Plitzuweit hopes her team can perform at a level that will allow the heightened interest in women’s basketball put more fans in Williams Arena.