For Rusne Augustinaite, house is greater than 5,000 miles away.
The 22-year-old junior guard at Clemson College grew up in Lithuania, removed from the place she’s change into the most effective three-point shooters within the Atlantic Coast Convention. And whereas she has now spent years enjoying within the U.S., one individual has by no means seen her play a school sport in individual: her mother.
Journey prices and work obligations saved her mom, Rasa, at dwelling. That was till Augustinaite’s teammates stepped in to assist.
After studying how a lot she missed her household, the Tigers quietly pooled their very own cash for an unforgettable shock.
Video of the candy second exhibits Rasa knocking on the door. Augustinaite solutions, wanting confused for a second earlier than realizing her mother was standing in entrance of her. The 2 come collectively for an emotional embrace as teammates cheer on in assist.
“I do not know the way it did not … slip or somebody did not textual content it within the flawed group chat or one thing,” Augustinaite instructed CBS Information. “However they did an excellent job, and it is all due to my teammates, and I am simply so completely satisfied to have them.”
The reunion was made even sweeter after what occurred throughout Augustinaite’s subsequent sport.
Together with her mother watching from the stands, she delivered the most effective performances of the yr, scoring a season-high 21 factors as Clemson defeated Southern Methodist College. After the ultimate buzzer, she acquired the very best victory celebration of all — a post-game hug from mother.
