Iowa State took an L in their Sweet 16 matchup against Virginia, but it was not the fault of this gutsy cheerleader. With a few minutes remaining in the game, a kicked ball shot straight for the cheerleader’s face as she innocently sat near the baseline. The ball drilled her in the side of the face and she crumpled to the floor. She immediately burst into tears and had to be escorted away from the court (because apparently there’s no crying allowed???).

This cheerleader had no quit in her, however. She continued to shake her pom poms while being escorted off the court. That’s true team spirit. Watch the full sequence below.

Iowa State cheerleader has to leave after taking basketball to the face. https://t.co/ctIhwx2fy8

— The Comeback (@thecomeback) March 26, 2016