BERKELEY, Calif. — The Elite Eight Banner hanging in the rafters of Hilton Coliseum just got a bit more crowded.

In 1999, the Cyclone women’s basketball team went where no ISU squad had ever gone before – the Elite Eight.

Fast-forwarded 10 years and this year’s team is living the same dream.

“We keep saying ‘We’re in the Elite Eight’ and it just doesn’t seem real right,” said guard Alison Lacey.

With its hopes of advancing fading quickly on Saturday night, Iowa State mounted a stunning last-minute comeback against Michigan State in the Berkeley Region semi-finals.

“We were down seven with a minute left and I’ll admit we all thought ‘This could be it’,” Lacey said. “Our season could be over. I think we were all in shock. To pull of what we did was unbelievable.”

The seconds on the clock seemed to creep by as both teams made an all out scramble for the ball in the game’s dying seconds. When the horn finally sounded, Iowa State’s Denae Stuckey let out a piercing scream, hurling the ball towards the rafters of the Haas Pavilion.

A giddy ISU fan section exploded with cheers of joy and while players and coaches ran toward center court, jumping and climbing on top of each other.

“I got back to the locker and I just had my head in my hands,” said senior Amanda Nisleit. “I didn’t even know what was going on. It was just such a rush of emotions.”

Even with a day to comprehend of what unfolded the night before, the Cyclone players still struggled to grasp completely the magnitude of their victory.

“I just think we’re all just on a high,” said sophomore Kelsey Bolte. “I don’t think it’s completely set in yet that we’re one of the top teams still competing in the country.”

Although the Cyclones are one of only two ISU squads to reach this point in the tournament, they find themselves in familiar company.

In January of this year, Stacy Frese, Megan Taylor and other members of the 1999 Elite Eight team gathered at halftime of Iowa State’s game against Kansas State to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the team’s record setting feat.

The alumni players were met at center court by a roar of applause and adoration from the crowd. Instead of leaving for the locker room, coach Bill Fennelly had his team remain on the bench to take in the experience.

“I wanted them to see the appreciation our fans still have for that team and the love and emotion that team should,” Fennelly said.

The team spent the rest of the weekend mingling with the former players, absorbing stories of about the hallmark year they mounted an unprecedented Sweet 16 upset of top-seeded Connecticut.

“To have met them and talk with them, you can see how much you can accomplish when you come together as a team,” Nisleit said.

With a date with West Coast power Stanford less than 24 hours away, this year’s team has the opportunity of grasping a Final Four berth that eluded even the ’99 squad.

“We all probably never could have dreamed of being in those same footsteps,” said senior Heather Ezell. “And now we have a chance to go one more, to see what else we can do.”