On Saturday, the Arizona cheerleading squad celebrated the UA men's basketball team's thrilling double overtime victory. Just a day later, however, the excitement turned to shock, and then sadness, as the squad members learned of the death of a friend and teammate that afternoon.

Physical education sophomore Marissa Kinney, 20, was traveling westbound on Route 74 just outside Peoria, with her sister Allison, 18, when an eastbound vehicle blew a tire, according to Department of Public Safety Public Information Officer Steve Volden. He said the car then crossed into Kinney's lane and collided with her 1989 Toyota before hitting another car.

"When I first found out, my heart hit the floor," said UA cheerleader Eddie Madrigal, a media arts junior. "I didn't expect anything like that at all. I knew something was wrong just by the sound of our coach's voice."

Kinney was pronounced dead at the scene. Her sister was airlifted to John C. Lincoln Hospital in Phoenix. The younger Kinney was released after being treated for a broken arm.

With part of the squad heading home from the men's basketball game in Salt Lake City and another group in Kansas to root on the UA women's team, the news of Kinney's death spread sporadically to the team throughout the day Sunday.

Head cheerleading coach Naomi Damsky said she was with the group that went to Kansas and first heard the news during a bus ride Sunday evening when a female member of the squad received the news by cell phone.

"When I first found out, I was in shock," Damsky said. "There was several of us together on the bus and I told them that I would call her parents to find out more information."

According to Phoebe Chalk, the assistant athletics director in charge of public relations and special events, Kinney had been on a leave of absence from the cheerleading team since January to concentrate on academics.

Chalk, whose duties also include overseeing operations of all UA cheerleaders and mascots, said that Kinney's family wanted to relay their own message to those affected by her death.

"I spoke to her mother, Jackie, and the biggest thing that she wanted relayed is that, yes, we are mourning the loss of Marissa, but it's important for all of us to really look at our lives and make sure that we don't take it for granted," Chalk said.

"Right now my main concern, along with (Coach Damsky's), is to make sure that her teammates are handling this OK, and that her family's wishes are being taken care of," she added.

Madrigal said that despite Kinney's absence from the team in recent months, she was still close to many team members.

"I had seen her the day before we left for spring break," Madrigal said. "We used to drive together to practice every morning. I couldn't believe it was true when I first heard what happened, and it still hasn't really settled in."

Chalk said that with the help of Delta Delta Delta sorority, which Kinney was a member of, the cheer squad plans to honor their teammate this week when the UA men's basketball team travels to Anaheim, Calif., for third and fourth round action of the NCAA Tournament.

"Delta Delta Delta has been a great resource to the campus community," Chalk said. "They made purple ribbons and have been distributing them through the Greek system. They also brought a stack over for our cheerleaders to wear during the rest of the tournament."

Madrigal said that while it is hard to deal with the loss at a time that they would otherwise be celebrating, Kinney will remain in their thoughts.

"As a person, she just loved life," Madrigal said. "This was a girl that took advantage of every moment. She wanted to be involved with everything ÷ her sorority, cheerleading, she just wanted to be involved with this school."

Damsky said that Kinney's happy nature and strong work ethic will not be forgotten by her teammates, while Chalk added that it is going to take a long time for the squad to move past the events of the past weekend.

"I think that the kids are handling this the best they can right now," Chalk said.

Rebekah Kleinman contributed to this report.