Ever since Kay Yow returned from a 16-game leave of absence for cancer treatment, her North Carolina State women's basketball team has won 12 of their last 14 games. And now the Wolfpack is headed for the Sweet 16 -- after beating Baylor in overtime -- where the fourth-seeded team will play Connecticut on March 24 in Fresno.This will be the first trip to the NCAA tournament in 16 years for Hall of Fame coach Yow who is battling breast cancer for the third time. First diagnosed with the disease in 1987, Yow had a recurrence during the 2004-05 season. And now this season too.
Yow, still enduring treatment and still working hard on the court, credits her team for their sweet victory.
"I know they want to win for me in that sense," she says. "I really am grateful and appreciate the fact that they do, but I think they're a real team. I think they can play with that kind of spirit every time they go out."
To read previous posts about coach Kay Yow, click here.
1. Coach Yow, I've been following your story off and on from the time you were diagnosed. I have always thought of you as a remarkable person as well as a great motivator and coach. My wife of 27 yrs. and partner of 37yrs. was diagnosed with breast cancer over the Christmas holidays. She has been going through chemo for over 2 months and I have seen first hand what it does to her. She is a remarkable woman who has been a nurse for nearly 30 yrs. and an oncology nurse for about 20 yrs. We are in best case senario as far as her diagnosis goes but it is still a very difficult time for us as you well know. It's a great thing when people of your stature come forward from the begining to help make people aware of diseases, but your courage is overwhelming to me and thousands of others. Our family has been a fan a of UCONN atheletics since forever as we only live 20 mins from campus and have a son persuing a career in atheletic training there. We will watch the game tonight intently and hope for the best game possible. The outcome, win or lose cetainly won't be as important as the battle you face every day, but on this night the outcome for me will not determine the best team, only one of the most courageous people I've ever had the pleasure to know from afar. Good luck tonight, good luck in life. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
The StMartin Family
Posted at 10:42AM on Mar 24th 2007 by Jeff StMartin