Lyons host annual 'Play 4Kay' and NGWSD game February 8

NORTON, Mass. – The Wheaton College women’s basketball team will host their ‘Play 4Kay’ contest on Wednesday, February 8, 2012 when the Lyons host Wellesley College at 5:30 p.m. Wheaton will also honor its senior female student-athletes at halftime in honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD).

Members of the Wheaton squad will wear pink sneakers and sweatbands during the contest, and any fan who donates money to the Kay Yaw Cancer Fund will receive a pink sweatband. Fans may also purchase $5 raffle tickets with the winner receiving two grandstand tickets behind home plate to see the Boston Red Sox face the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at Fenway Park in Boston.

Formerly known as WBCA Pink Zone, Play 4Kay is an initiative that allows a nation of coaches to raise awareness and funds for cancer research on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. The late Kay Yow, former NC State University head women's basketball coach, served as the catalyst for Play 4Kay after her third recurrence of breast cancer in 2006. Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, and passed away on January 24, 2009. Since 2006, thousands have joined coach Yow's team in the fight against breast cancer and raised over $1.5 million for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

"As a young coach, I had the opportunity of talking with and learning from Coach Kay Yow while she was at NC State,” said Wheaton women’s basketball head coach Melissa Hodgdon. “She was a pioneer of our game and an amazing role model for me as a women's basketball coach. I am so proud that our team can be involved in the ‘Play 4Kay’ event to raise awareness and help find a cure for breast cancer. It is also an opportunity for them to learn what an amazing coach, person, and mentor coach Kay Yow was."

Anyone looking to make a donation to the Kay Yaw Cancer Fund may do so by visiting the Wheaton College Play 4Kay webpage.

National Girls and Women in Sports Day has become the premiere occasion to celebrate the participation, success and accomplishments of girls and women athletes since its inception in 1987. What started in 1987 as a single event in Washington, D.C. to honor Olympic volleyball star Flo Hyman has grown into a nationwide celebration across all 50 states. The Women's Sports Foundation is a member of the NGWSD coalition. Other members include: Girls' Incorporated, Girls Scouts of America, National Association for Girls and Women in Sport, and the National Women's Law Center.

"Honoring our senior women student-athletes during our annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration is a longstanding tradition here at Wheaton and one of the highlights of the year for our department,” said Interim Director of Athletics John Sutyak ’00. “Coupling it with the 'Play 4Kay' fundraiser further enhances the day and demonstrates our women's basketball programs continued support in raising breast cancer awareness."

Wheaton Assistant Director of Athletics and Senior Women’s Administrator Rebecca Begley added, “This event educates everyone – especially current female student-athletes – on the pioneers that paved the way for them and celebrates those who created playing opportunities for generations of athletes.”

Following the contest, the Wheaton men’s basketball team plays WPI at 7:30 p.m.