Like many Division III student-athletes, if the financial aid packages had come through elsewhere, Sage Indendi would never have gone to George Fox. And while someone else certainly could have played 38 minutes and scored 13 points in the national title game, that doesn't mean it was likely the Bruins win it all without her.

&&f-boxr&&Indendi was named D3hoops.com Rookie of the Year before the game, and our own Gordon Mann got to break the news to her. Hear her reaction -- once she composes herself -- in a D3hoops.com podcast from Holland, Mich., recorded after the Bruins' 60-53 win against Washington U. in the national title game.

That's not all she talks about. In fact, Indendi had a basketball scholarship offered to her, she says, but was intent on playing in Division III. "I didn't really want to play basketball for money. I didn't want it to turn into feeling like it was a job, or that I felt like I had to play. It was kind of the perfect opportunity. I wanted to play for the love of the game."

Is she satisfied with Walnut and Bronze in her freshman year? Not really. Hear what is next on her to-do list and what she expects her offseason to be like.

In case you missed it, the Washington U. men won their second consecutive title, with Aaron Thompson and Sean Wallis as the two Bears on the D3hoops.com All-American team.

Indendi was the D3hoops.com Rookie of the Year, while senior teammate Kristen Shielee was named to the D3hoops.com All-American team as well. Coach Scott Rueck was named the D3hoops.com Coach of the Year. Check out more of our coverage from the women's Final Four.