One of coach Cori Close’s mantras has prevailed throughout the season: toughness. “You cannot give toughness,” Close said Wednesday. “You cannot hope it into place. You have to earn toughness.

Mike Rhoades leaned back in his seat in the Rec Hall media room Thursday night with his arms crossed and his eyes tightening their gaze as 7-foot forward Yanic Konan Niederhauer answered questions ...