The Appalachian State women’s basketball team will host the annual Play 4Kay breast cancer awareness game against Wofford on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Kay Yow, a former women’s basketball coach at N.C. State University and whom the event is named after, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987.

Yow achieved 700 career victories, was named National Coach of the Year eight times and coached the U.S. women’s basketball team in the Olympics in 1988, winning the gold medal.

Yow died of cancer in 2009.

The Kay Yow Cancer Fund has partnered with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and is committed to raising money and awareness for women’s cancers in the hopes of finding answers and better treatment options.

This year’s game will host a number of fundraising opportunities, including T-shirt sales and auctions.

“I think it’s great to respect the legend of Kay Yow,” associate head coach Heather Kearney said. “She was such a great mentor, such a great coach and such a great teacher that affected so many young ladies’ lives.”

The Mountaineers will wear commemorative pink warm-up T-shirts with each player’s name and number on the back, which will be auctioned off after the game. All proceeds go to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

The Mountaineers raised $3,636.24 last year and hope to surpass that number in Saturday’s contest against Wofford.

“Last year was our overwhelming largest success we’ve ever been able to give back,” head coach Darcie Vincent said. “We were ranked in the nation with it so we’re looking for another big Saturday for that reason.”

All fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game and show their support for the cause. The App State coaching staff will donate a dollar for every fan in attendance wearing pink.

“I hope to goodness if there is only one game that every student wants to see, this is it,” Vincent said. “It’s for a good cause. You probably can’t put to words what this event should mean to our community.”

Story: KAITLYN THRUSTON, Senior Sports Reporter