In honor of Girls and Women in Sports Day, the Owls recognized current female Rice varsity and club athletes. The 2012 Conference USA Champion Rice Soccer squad received their rings during the game, and Rice Alumna Lynn Elsenhans, who participated on Rice’s early women’s basketball squads, was honored during the game.
Fans were encouraged to wear pink to the game, as it was Rice’s “Play 4 Kay” game, which honors former N.C. State Women’s Basketball coach Kay Yow, who passed away from breast cancer in 2009.
In addition, the televised game was designated as Girl Scout Day.
About Play 4 Kay
The Kay Yow Cancer Fund, in partnership with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and The V Foundation, is a 501 (c)(3) 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.
Kay Yow, former North Carolina State University head women’s basketball coach, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987, and passed away on January 24, 2009, after facing her third bout with the disease. With the creation of the Fund, Kay hoped to raise money to further cutting-edge research conducted by the nation’s top doctors and medical experts to allow more and more cancer patients to have access to experimental drugs and clinical trials.
About National Girls and Women in Sports Day
NGWSD began in 1987 as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for women’s sports. Hyman died of Marfan’s Syndrome in 1986 while competing in a volleyball tournament in Japan. Since that time, NGWSD has evolved into a day to acknowledge the past and recognize current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation, and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports.
Pictured: Elene Glassman, Laura Diggans, Sherry Pleas of the Rosebuds support group staff the information table at the Rice women’s basketball game.
