The Magazine sent Dan Hodes to New Brunswick, N.J., to put a Notre Dame women's basketball player "In the Crosshairs." The story will appear in an upcoming issue.

So I'm standing outside Notre Dame's locker room waiting for a word with Ruth Riley after the top-ranked team's 54-53 loss at Rutgers -- its first defeat of the season. I'm not alone, but it isn't the media that's surrounding every Fighting Irish player as they emerge. It's their fans, specifically what seems like every 10-, 11-, and 12-year-old girl in the arena. The road arena, mind you. Yet, nothing will keep Jessica from West Chester, Pa., or Kelsey from Bridgewater, N.J., from meeting their heroes.

Irish forward Kelley Siemon is in mid-autograph when I stop by to get some thoughts on the game. I'm used to being ignored by beautiful women, so I patiently wait and take an inventory of what the Caitlins and Elisas have brought. Countless posters and mini-basketballs. T-shirts, Notre Dame and otherwise. Placards out of the movie Rudy ("Play Like a Champion Today"). A little stuffed leprechaun. I chat with the girls, all of whom play basketball, and all of whom claim Riley as their favorite player.

"This is crazy, Kelley. Don't you ever get tired of this?" I whisper to Siemon.

"No, this is fine. Wait until Ruth gets here," she answers, before turning around to take a picture with Kelsey (it is the highlight of the little girl's eight-year-old life). Kelsey confides in me and her mom that Siemon is now her favorite player.

Riley emerges from the locker room with her bag in one hand and a Sharpie in the other. I wander over, just in time to snap a bunch of pictures of her with various kids. She can sign autographs without looking at the page, and when I get her address to send her copies of the upcoming article, she doesn't need to look at that as she writes, either. One older gentleman asks Riley to sign the front of his media guide, but she calmly tells him that the front of the book is too glossy and that she should sign inside. Talk about experience.

As I leave, I see Kelsey still with her mom, still sporting a huge smile. She'd probably be the first to tell you why Riley, Siemon and the rest of the Irish are winners even on a night they lose.

Dan Hodes is a contributor to ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at dbhodes@hotmail.com.