Krystal Geeson
Staff Writer
The Bengals fell to Southern Utah after a close 70-66 game but came out on top in raising awareness and funds for the Play 4Kay Foundation during their annual Play 4Kay game in Reed Gym on Thursday, Feb. 13.
Idaho State had taken its first lead in the game with two back-to-back shots and 13:16 remaining in the first half.
They maintained their lead until the Thunderbirds tied up the game with 10:37 left on the clock.
After a battle in the remaining minutes of the game, Southern Utah came out on top, despite Kara Jenkins scoring a career-high 20 points.
The Bengals are now 7-6 in the conference and 9-13 overall.
Coach Seton Sobolewski said playing for this foundation is important to the team.
“We have a lot of players on the team whose family members have been affected by cancer, breast cancer specifically,” he said.
The Bengals wore pink Play 4Kay shirts during their warm-ups in recognition of this cause. Fans also wore pink, and the stands were covered in pink flyers to raise awareness for the foundation.
The Play 4Kay foundation was founded in 2007 in honor of former North Carolina State University Head Women’s Basketball Coach Kay Yow.
Yow was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 and passed away in 2009.
Since its formation, $3.8 million in support of cancer research has been contributed by the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, in partnership with the Women’s Basketball Coaches.
This foundation touches Sobolewski on a personal level.
“My mother is a breast cancer survivor. To be a part of a cause like this is very special. It means a lot to us, and our players really take it to heart,” said Sobolewski.
According to Play 4Kay’s website, “Coach Yow felt as if coaches not only shared a profession but a community.”
She hoped coaches across the nation would come together as a team to oppose cancer.
The ISU women’s basketball team hopes to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research.
“They are doing a great job with helping bring attention to it and attention to the Play 4Kay website where you can make donations towards breast cancer,” Sobolewski said.
After the game on Thursday, Sobolewski explained, “We talked to the team last night about trying to get more people to get the word out there and trying to encourage more people to donate for breast cancer research.”
Approximately 90 minutes after talking to the team, $150 had already been donated to the website.
“[The players] are doing a great job bringing attention to it. We are at the least trying to do our part,” Sobolewski said.
He encourages people to visit www.play4kay.org/idahostate_wbb to donate under Idaho State Women’s Basketball directly to the Kay Yow Fund.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death and the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women.
This year an estimated 220,000 women and 2,150 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.
Next up for the Bengals are the Montana State Bobcats on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in Reed Gym.
The Bengals only have a single day of rest before taking on the University of Montana Grizzlies on Feb. 22. That contest will also be held at Reed Gym.
