Latest 'Play4Kay' offers fans opportunity to give back despite unusual season
In a typical year, the Women's Basketball team usually wears traditional white uniforms with pink letters and numbers for its annual 'Play4Kay' game, with the jerseys auctioned off during the game.
The proceeds made from the jerseys are donated to the Kay Yow Fund, which helps fight all forms of cancer affecting women.
With only family and close friends of players allowed in the stands this year, there was no auction or pink jerseys. Instead, the program set up a virtual photo booth and provided a link for fans to donate to the Kay Yow Fund.
The Kay Yow Fund was started in 2007 in honor of Yow, who was a NCAA Division I head coach for 38 years, according to its website. Yow totaled more than 700 wins in her career and was at NC State for 35 years. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 and fought it for 22 years before dying at the age of 66 in 2009.
"It's big for us, it's big in the women's basketball community," said CMU coach Heather Oesterle. "Kay Yow was the head coach at NC State for years. Really successful coach. Everybody knows who she is and everybody is willing to contribute to this cause."
Several Chippewa fans pledged to support the cause during the game on social media. Biology professor Andrew Mahon donated $5 for every free throw made and an additional $5 for each made 3-pointer. Play-by-play broadcaster Matt Kearney announced his intentions to donate a dollar for every Chippewa made field goal. University technology manager Eric Bellmore pledged $5 for every Jahari Smith rebound.
"We normally would bid on a jersey but with that not being possible this year, we did the next best thing," Bellmore said. "I chose rebounds for Jahari because she's an outstanding student-athlete, and I'm one of her biggest fans outside of her family. She's been showing tremendous improvement this year and I wanted to give her whatever boost I could to remind her that we see her hard work paying off and we are so proud to have her representing our school."
For Bellmore, who lost his mother to cancer in 1999 and is helping his wife battle cancer currently, this was the perfect opportunity to give back. This occasion is special to him and others in the women's basketball community.
"The women's basketball program is family to us, and we are proud to support them," Bellmore said. "I can go on and on about how much the program means to us -- we have amazing relationships with former players, coaches and their families."
In a season unlike any other where fans have been scarce, the passion those fans have shown has been unwavering. The "Play4Kay" was another example of the passion that has been ingrained in the CMU women's basketball program.
"Our people here, our families, the women's basketball family is incredible," Oesterle said. "You should see the number of texts I get before and after games from our fans that just want us to know that they love us and that they're still following."
In a normal year, fans would've flocked to McGuirk Arena for this game. Though the atmosphere isn't what it usually is, Oesterle knows that her team's support group isn't far away.
"Even though they can't be here, they're yelling at their TV's," Oesterle said. "It's a special, special place here. It means a lot to see people on Twitter commenting on everything we do. We just appreciate the support."
On top of the charity work, the Chippewas won the game, too. Thanks to a combined 67 points from senior guard Micaela Kelly and sophomore guard Molly Davis, CMU knocked off Kent State 84-71 on Feb. 13 in McGuirk Arena.
