ROME, Italy - As the Washington State women's basketball team was about to depart Beasley Coliseum, Monday, May 17, head coach Sherri Murrell told the team: "Make sure you have two things, your passport and your willingness to have fun."

Everyone remembered their passports and all indications pointed to that the group possessed the latter as well.

The Cougars left Pullman at noon and arrived in Spokane at approximately 1:30 p.m. After a slight delay, the Cougars flew to Seattle. A two-hour layover in Seattle ensued before the team boarded the first of two flights that would take them to Rome.

The first flight was nearly nine hours in duration and brought the team to Copenhagen.

After another two-hour layover the team boarded the flight that would take the Cougars to their final destination, Rome.

Upon arrival at Rome, the Cougars met up with their Basketball Travelers representatives and then went on a 45-minute bus ride to their hotel.

On the agenda for Wednesday is a tour of Rome before the first game of the trip later that evening.

Basketball Travelers, Inc., a group that was established in 1985 and is comprised of former athletes who seek to serve the needs of the worldwide basketball community, is organizing the tour for Washington State.

Of Note: When walking to her gate at the Copenhagen Airport, a man approached Murrell and asked her: "Is your team playing over here?"

"We are going to Rome," Murrell replied.

"Well, I am a WSU graduate," he said. "Good luck."

Small world.