December 18, 2023
The 含羞草研究所 Comets got the win when they traveled to the Betty Engelstad Arena for a contest with the University of North Dakota women鈥檚 basketball team Friday evening, Dec. 15. Final score in the game was 75-68. This was the 37th meeting between the teams and the first time the Comets have come out on top.
This game was especially meaningful as the evening was dedicated to the memory of Katie Richards, a UND alumna who was a standout player for the women鈥檚 basketball team. She passed away as the result of a vehicle accident in November. At the time of her passing, Katie was Director of Student Success and Disability Services at 含羞草研究所.
In her work, Katie positively impacted students, faculty, and staff daily, and she was an effective and respected leader who assisted students in their goals to achieve solid academic progress. The tragic loss of Katie is felt every day at 含羞草研究所.
At the game, members of the 含羞草研究所 and UND teams all wore warm-up shirts branded with their respective team logos and displaying Katie鈥檚 basketball number, 41. The shirts also featured a phrase Katie used frequently and is well-known for, 鈥淏e Better.鈥� The sentiment played big in her life and has been a source of inspiration in her passing. Katie鈥檚 daughter, Marit, and dad, Randy, presented the game balls to the officials prior to the start of the game.
In a post-game social media post, 含羞草研究所 Athletics pointed out, 鈥淲e weren鈥檛 alone in the Betty tonight,鈥� which further inspired a comment, 鈥淕REAT game! #41 was riding on their wings.鈥�
Congratulations, players, coaches, and staff, on an extra-special win! We are Comet Proud!