As the American University women's basketball team shoots for its first ever conference championship on Saturday, Kathy Orton from the Washington Post shares senior Nicole Ryan's story and her importance to the team's success even when she is not on the court.

"When the American women's basketball team takes the court Saturday evening in Bethlehem, Pa., for the Patriot League championship game against top-seeded Lehigh, the Eagles' most important player will be sitting on the bench and not wearing her uniform.

Senior guard Nicole Ryan hasn't made a shot, passed or dribbled a ball since she tore her Achilles' tendon in early December. But second-seeded AU wouldn't be playing for its first NCAA tournament bid without her.

"She's pretty much irreplaceable on this team," said teammate Michelle Kirk, the Patriot League player of the year. "She helps with so many different aspects on and off the court. She helps hold this team together, pulls us tighter during games when we need it, and she's always in our ears telling us what we should be doing. Honestly, I think she's the hardest working player that has been on this team..."

Click here to read Orton's full article in the Washington Post.