ANDERSON, Ind. — The women's basketball team at Anderson University became victims of a crime at a national historic landmark.
Police say someone broke into their van while they were taking team photos before a tournament in St. Louis.
This happened in broad daylight Friday, near the Gateway Arch.
The AU Ravens are now back home after a road trip and some unexpected trouble to start their season.
"It was the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in a couple seconds. It was crazy," said Anderson University women's basketball coach Jon Gin.
On their way to Webster University near St. Louis, the women made a stop to sightsee.
"We use the game of basketball to create memories," Gin said, "and obviously the Arch is one of the main sights there."
But while visiting the landmark and snapping selfies, thieves scored big off the team.
"We were having fun, taking pictures, taking videos, laughing and joking," said freshman Caibre Stephan. "Things turned bad from there. I mean, we weren't that far away. It was literally happening right in front of us and we had no idea."
"We go back to our van and it's been broken into," Gin said.
"One of the girls on the team," Stephan added, "she got in and she was like 'Guys, our bags are gone!'"
"So then a different rush of emotions come. We're feeling scared and frightened and, you know, sad," Gin said.
In the half hour they spent at the Gateway Arch, police say someone picked the lock on the driver's side door and looted the van. Electronics, credit cards, money even a social security card - gone.
"I think it's very low for someone to do that," Stephan said.
Their backpacks, game jerseys and shoes were stolen, too. Police later found some in a dumpster.
The theft is still unsolved.
But good sportsmanship saved the season opener. In the tournament Friday evening, Webster let Anderson borrow their old uniforms for the game. And despite the crime, the Ravens defeated Milwaukee School of Engineering in Friday's game.
They got something surprising, too.
"You know tragedy does one of two things. It either splits you or puts you guys together and it really put us together - and it was great," he said.
The burglary bonded this team and led to an outpouring of support back on home court.
A giving campaign fundraiser by the university has already raised more than half of their goal to pay for replacements for what was stolen.
"It has just been really amazing how this community has poured into us and how much of a team we actually are and how much we can get through this together," Stephan said.
"Now being back here at AU, the Anderson community as a whole, has really been helpful and amazing through this whole experience," Gin said.