COVID-19 came at a big cost to Ballarat basketballer Laura Taylor.
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After cutting her American college season short following the outbreak, she was forced into quarantine upon her return.
But that wasn't the hard part.
Taylor and her teammates at Northwest Florida State were robbed of an opportunity to playoff for the National Junior College Athletic Association title.
"We completed our entire season, the only games we missed were nationals," she said.
"We had won our conference championship, we won our state championship and we were just about to go to nationals and they cancelled it a couple of days before we were supposed to leave.
"We were ready and at our peak."
Within days her life was turned upside down. Her classes switched to online, summer sports were cancelled and reports of border closures began to trickle out.
All of a sudden basketball seemed like the least of her problems.
"Once we realised how serious it was, all internationals had to pack their bags," she said.
Taylor left on one of the last flights out of the country - only days before borders were closed for good.
Luckily however, she avoided government imposed measures which could have seen her locked in a Melbourne hotel room for a fortnight.
Instead, Taylor was able to bunker down with her father, who spent isolation with her.
"That two weeks was so difficult, going from training everyday to having nothing to do was different," she told The Courier.
Almost three months on, Taylor has her freedom back. However with gyms and stadiums closed she has had to get creative with her workouts.
"I've been going for runs, lifting weights with paint cans and tires and doing all the things I can do. But I'm lucky enough to still be getting my education online," she said.
After playing for the Ballarat Rush in 2019, Taylor carved out a new identity in America as an impact player off the bench. Although the standard is similar, she said the pace of the American game is different to the NBL1.
"I enjoyed my role and I liked the fact I could bring something off the bench once the starters came out," she said.
"I would try to be the first one to come in, hit a three or two and try to rock the boat."
Taylor had every intention of returning to the US for her sophomore year. She hoped to have a better understanding of the American game and play more minutes.
She said she had unfinished business.