The streak is over — sort of.

As I detailed in a story last week, Washington U. has a collection of basketballs with autographs from every presidential candidate who has debated in the school’s athletic complex. As has become a tradition, the men’s and women’s basketball coaches leave two basketballs and a marker on their desks in the hopes that the candidates will sign them when they chill out in their offices before and after the debate.

Here’s what Mark Edwards, the men’s basketball coach, reports that he found when he ducked into his office after Thursday night’s vice-presidential face-off between Biden and Palin:

“I got a ball signed by Joe Biden. So did Nancy,” he said referring to Nancy Fahey, the women’s basketball coach. “But we did not get one from Sarah Palin. She had her kids signs them for some reason.”

Willow, 14, and Piper, 7, signed the basketballs instead of their mother, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Willow Palin, 14, signed her name above a message of thanks for letting them use the office space. Piper Palin, 7, drew hearts, pictures and “little decorative things” and wrote “Thanks, Piper Palin,” Edwards said.

Edwards said his basketball players though it was cute that the girls had signed the ball. But Edwards kind of wishes Palin had, too.

“It is kind of sad because it breaks a tradition,” Edwards said. “It’s a novelty ball. It would be nice to have her autograph, but who knows? Maybe the girls will end up being more famous than she is.”

Edwards is already displaying the balls in his office next to the others. So now he has: Bill Clinton. George H.W. Bush. George W. Bush. John Kerry. Al Gore. Joe Biden. And Willow and Piper Palin.

Asked if he had thought about leaving a hockey puck instead for Palin to sign, Edwards laughed and laughed.

“We would have if we had hockey,” he said. WashU does not have a hockey team.

Edwards paused for a couple of seconds and then added, “But she played basketball!”

Indeed, it’s hard to forget Palin’s colorful nickname on the basketball court back in the days when she led her high school team to a state championship: “Sarah Barracuda.”