Jan. 29, 2009

Washington, D.C. - The Georgetown University women's basketball squad held a fundraiser in honor of legendary N.C. State Coach Kay Yow who passed away Sunday. The Hoyas took donations at Tuesday's game against Pittsburgh from fans, students and coaches with the proceeds going to the Kay Yow/Women's Basketball Coaches Association Cancer Fund.

"I'd like to thank everyone who donated to our fundraiser on Tuesday," said Georgetown Head Coach Terri Williams-Flournoy. "Kay Yow was an inspiration to anyone who has ever played the game and she will be missed among the coaching ranks. I was happy that our team thought up something to do to recognize her spirit."

Williams-Flournoy gave the first donation Tuesday afternoon before the tipoff against Pitt at McDonough Arena. Both sets of coaches and staffs wore an upside-down pink ribbon in Yow's honor and the Hoyas wore pink shoelaces to promote the fight against breast cancer. A moment of silence was observed before the National Anthem in Yow`s memory.

Yow was an Olympic Gold Medal head coach in 1988, NCAA Elite Eight and Women's Final Four coach in 1998, Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductee in 2000, as well as a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee in 2002. She won the inaugural Jimmy V ESPY for Perseverance at the 2007 ESPY Awards. Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987.

In December 2007, Yow established the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund in partnership with The V Foundation as a charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women's cancers through raising money for scientific research, assisting the underserved and unifying people for a common cause. The Hoyas played N.C. State earlier this season, but Yow was absent from the bench for that game due to fatigue from her treatment.

Georgetown will host a Pink Zone game later this season on February 18 against West Virginia. Pink Zone was developed in conjunction with the WBCA as a way to promote breast cancer awareness and Yow's fund. Teams across the nation will participate in the event lasting from February 13-22.

The Hoyas return to the court on Saturday to face No. 1/1 Connecticut at 3 p.m., at McDonough Arena.