rowing up in suburban Lansing, Mich., Tamara Bowie had a big, open backyard where she played every sport. Every sport, that is, except basketball. It was not until her freshman year in high school that she picked up a basketball.
"In junior high I was just as big as all the other girls," Bowie said. "I grew three inches the summer before my freshman year and all of a sudden, I was like, 'I'm huge!'"
She easily made varsity and after four years, top college programs were knocking on her door.
But Bowie followed her high school point guard (since-graduated Shala Crook) to Ball State. Four years later, Bowie, who finished her career as a Cardinal after losing to Missouri last week, said her college career has been a blur to her.
Bowie's numbers in her four-year span put her in the top 10 all-time in school history in 13 different categories. She also holds seven school records, has won about every award possible, is a two-time Mid-American Conference Player of the Year and a three-time All-American.
Head coach Tracy Roller said she has "nearly lost her mind" watching Bowie casually take 3-point shots with no effort. She said Bowie's style of making even the most difficult plays look easy has led the team.
"Take it from a mediocre college player," Roller said, "when you see someone do what she does so easily, it almost makes you sick.
"But that is how good of an athlete Bowie is. I've always said it doesn't matter what sport she plays, she would do just fine right away."
The only thing Bowie said she ever wanted to do, however, was the one thing she couldn't do on her own -- win a MAC tournament title.
She said she never cared about accolades or records. Bowie was uncharacteristically near tears and left speechless as she expressed her disappointment in losing to Western Michigan three weeks ago.
"To want something so badly and then not be able to get it," Bowie said, "it really hurts."
Bowie has made it clear that none of her achievements have meant anything to her if the team didn't win.
"In past years, the team has just been someone to play basketball with," she said. "But here, these players are my friends and people I hang out with. They are going to be the hardest thing to let go of and I'll miss them most of all."
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