John Cosgrove
Once the special-made warm-up jerseys were off and all the pregame festivities were over, 13 Yows walked onto the court.
And then came coach Kay Yow.
N.C. State’s jerseys, in honor of Hoops for Hope, were bright pink with each player’s number, but with the name Yow on the back of them.
“We got Yow on the back of our jerseys because we knew that this day was for her. And all we wanted to do was go out and play for her and play our hardest,” junior guard Shayla Fields said. “And just show her that we’re behind her and fighting for her also.”
The event attracted more than 8,000 people, with the majority of the fans wearing pink. Yow said she was pleased with the crowd, and she hopes many of the fans will return for future home games.
“We had a great crowd. My goal will continue to be, I hope we can continue Hoops for Hope, and do it for every year,” she said. “It’s such a worthy cause and my goal, my vision, is to sell it out — people actually want a ticket, and there’s not one; people can’t get in.”
Despite trailing 6-0 early in the game, the Wolfpack stormed back and left the Eagles hopeless en route to a 60-41 win at Reynolds Coliseum Sunday night. Fields led both teams in scoring with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field.
“We got Shayla the ball, and Shayla put the ball in,” senior forward Khadijah Whittington said. “We followed [Fields], and we all just picked it up.”
Yow said she was impressed with her team’s intensity. It allowed the team to get a couple easy baskets while pushing the tempo of the game.
“This is a combination of playing great defense and finding the basket,” Yow said. “That’s what we need to do game in and game out because that puts us in a position to compete with everybody when we do that.”
Right after the first half ended, assistant coaches from Tennessee’s women’s basketball team — Holly Warlick and Nikki Caldwell — presented a $10,000 check to Kay Yow and her WBCA Cancer Fund. ESPN commentator Jimmy Dykes talked about the donation with Yow.
Following the presentation, Yow received a standing ovation and then grabbed the microphone and spoke to the crowd.
“I want to thank all of these people here today for being here and helping with this cause,” she said. “This is unbelievable. People everywhere are starting to get on the bandwagon.”
As the team went into the locker room, breast cancer survivors walked onto the court. The survivors were grouped into categories based on how long they’ve lived since being diagnosed with the disease — including ranges “1-4,” “5-9,” “10-14,” “15-19,” “20+” and “over 25.” The survivors waved as the crowd cheered from above.
“I know that’s a real emotional part for the survivors — people battling cancer,” Yow said. “That’s a part I can’t be a part of. It satisfies me that they are a part of it. And that it’s something that maybe we can give to them, through our game, we can give that to them. That really lifts me up.”
Sights & Sounds Think PinkIn a crowd of more than 7,500 people, only a handful of fans were not wearing pink. The male cheerleaders, dance team, band director, opposing coaches and football coach Tom O’Brien were among the supporters wearing pink. The players sported pink jerseys with “Yow” on the back, with pink and white Nikes and even pink knee braces. The team and coaches also wore special warm-ups for the event, designed by William Ivey Long. Some students wore specially-made shirts with the words “Save the Tatas” printed on them.
Survivors recognized In an emotional halftime ceremony, cancer survivors lined up behind signs indicating how long they have battled the disease. Though Yow was coaching her team during the ceremony, she said this aspect of Hoops for Hope means a lot to the survivors and those touched by cancer.
Body paint Three students sitting near half court were shirtless with pink body paint and had the words “Hoops for Hope” painted on them in white. Under the words was a white ribbon.
’98 team honored The 1998 women’s team that reached the Final Four was honored during the first official timeout of the second half. Yow led that team to the program’s only Final Four appearance.
Passing of the pinAfter the game there was a special presentation in which coach Yow presented a “Courage Angel” pin to Jeanne Peck, the woman responsible for bringing the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to Raleigh. The pin, made of 18-karat rose gold with diamonds and pink sapphires, was presented to Yow a year ago in honor of her fight with cancer. Jolly’s Jewelers of Raleigh donates 10 percent of sales of this pin to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
— Langdon Morris