Minnesota Gophers women’s basketball coach Dawn Plitzweit is mourning the unexpected death of one of her former players at the University of South Dakota.

Bridget (Arens) Schumacher, 30, died unexpectedly on October 25 at a hospital in Yankton, South Dakota. Her cause of death has not been revealed.

Schumacher, who went by her maiden name Arens in college, was a standout forward from 2013 to 2017. She played her senior season in 2016-17 under Plitzweit, who was hired at South Dakota in 2016 and spent six seasons at Vermillion before moving into coaching . one season at West Virginia and then a job at Minnesota in 2023.

Plitzweit coached three Arens sisters – Bridget, Allison and Monica – during her time at USD.

“Bridget was the greatest competitor, the greatest warrior and the kindest spirit you could ever have,” Plitzweit wrote in a tribute to Schumacher. “She truly lived in the precious present every day. I feel so blessed to have coached her, Allison and Monica. What a beautiful family and what an unfathomable loss. I love you Bridget.”

A native of Crofton, Nebraska, Schumacher was USD’s Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year as a senior and left South Dakota as the record holder for career games played (137).

Plitzweit and the Gophers open the 2024-25 season on Nov. 6 against Central Connecticut State.