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March 3rd, 2007

Yow engineers Pack’s emotional run

By nick on March 3rd, 2007

As coach Kay Yow sat in front of the media Saturday afternoon, she struggled to talk and had a hard time completing sentences.

Only a day before the start of the ACC Tournament, Yow underwent a dose of chemo. The mix of chemo and two games in the tournament had strained her voice. Listening to Yow battle through sentences isn’t easy for anyone. She appears weak and Stage 4 cancer which has metastasized doesn’t help.

But Yow is far from weak. Throughout the year, I have come to realize she is probably the most inspirational and strongest person I have encountered.

Sure, after the game she was struggling, but for Yow, the future always is brighter.

“Mid next week I think it will all clear up fine. I just need to get away for a little time. But right now I’m like [Khadijah Whittington], we got to keep going,” Yow said. “This is no time to stop.”

Just like Yow, her team knows how to fight back too. Earlier in the season, N.C. State lost to Purdue by 30, Nebraska by 20, Duke by 14 and then to North Carolina by 21.

Then came the turning point. Yow returned on Jan. 25 against Virginia.

Since then, the team has gone 10-1 - including stunning upsets against North Carolina and Duke.

It’s remarkable really. No matter the outcome during the championship against North Carolina, this run stands as one of the most inspirational stories in the history of the University. Yes, as one of the most amazing. Yes, right there with Jimmy V’s run during the NCAA Tournament.

Something about this team always leads them to a win. When impossible stands in front of this women’s basketball team, they find a way to overcome it.

The Wolfpack trailed 14-2 in the opening minutes of Saturday’s game. The team then battled back to within three at halftime. After losing a good portion of its lead in the second half, State trailed 61-53 with less than seven minutes in the game against the No.1 team in the country.

It was then that State made a run that makes you wonder. After pulling within three, Duke had the ball with nearly three minutes remaining. Lindsey Harding passed the ball to Abby Waner, who slipped immediately after the ball came her way.

During a Duke timeout just 20 seconds before, the Blue Devils tossed water bottles among each other. Then when play resumed, Waner fell on the baseline directly in front of the team’s bench.

State took the ball, rushed up the court and then Key finished with a lay up to pull the score to 63-62. State would score eight of the next 10 points to win 70-65.

Players on the bench fled the court as associate head coach Stephanie Glance hugged Yow. Senior forward Keisha Brown ran to mid court and put her hands in the air and jumped around as senior center Gillian Goring wiped away tears. The celebration was on.

Then Yow, along with Virginia coach Debbie Ryan, was awarded with yet another honor - this time the Bob Bradley Spirit and Courage Award, which is given to a basketball player, coach or team administrator who has overcome significant injury, illness or adversity.

To pull off the win against North Carolina earlier in the year was remarkable. To beat No.1 Duke on Saturday afternoon was unthinkable. But it’s Yow who has led her team to believe in anything - even if it’s doing the impossible.

When Whittington turned her ankle late in the first half, she knew she had to return for Yow. She even asked the trainer if it was possible to put tape over her ankle brace.

“I don’t have time to be hurt,” she said. “Coach Yow kept coming up to me, you got to get through it - you got to get through it.”

Yow has caused Key, who described herself as “not an emotional person,” to come to tears after games.

“A couple drips fell today,” Key said. “But I think that it’s an amazing win for an amazing coach and an amazing program.”

In the locker room after the game, senior forward Marquetta Dickens sat in between Brown and freshman center Chanita Jordan. She talked about Yow and faith - and said how important the two have been to the team.

Jordan looked over, smiled and then placed her hand on Dickens’ leg. Without hesitation, Dickens looked back and gave a reassuring smile to the freshman.

“It really is special. Especially our senior year, beating Duke and Carolina - and just having coach Yow back,” Dickens said. “It’s very emotional, it just feels great.”

N.C. State (23-8, 10-4) upset undefeated No. 1 Duke today in the first semifinal game of the women’s ACC Tournament.