Four college women’s basketball teams will compete Dec. 29 and Dec. 30 in Ohio Wesleyan University’s annual ‘Hoops for Hope’ tournament to raise funds for breast cancer research and education. The two-day tournament will be held in Branch Rickey Arena.
On Tuesday, Dec. 29, Ohio Wesleyan’s Battling Bishops will face Olivet College at 6 p.m., and Carnegie Mellon will play Franklin College at 8 p.m. On Wednesday, Dec. 30, a consolation game will tip off at 1 p.m., followed by the championship game at 3 p.m. Both of these games will be streamed live.
Admission to all games is free, but monetary donations will be accepted at the door for the Kay Yow/WBCA (Women’s Basketball Coaches Association) Cancer Fund®, which supports scientific research related to women’s cancers. The late Kay Yow, a renowned Division I women’s basketball coach, died January 24, after fighting breast cancer three times. This fund operates in partnership with the V Foundation for Cancer Research, named in memory of former men’s basketball coach Jim Valvano, who also died of cancer. Both Valvano and Yow coached for North Carolina State.
Nan Carney-DeBord, head coach of the Battling Bishop women’s basketball team, serves on the board of directors (Division III elected at-large) for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Carney-DeBord has implemented the national WBCA’s breast cancer initiative by hosting ‘Hoops for Hope’ for the past three years. Another national program that promotes breast cancer awareness, the WBCA Pink Zone initiative, will be held during men’s and women’s basketball games at Ohio Wesleyan on Feb. 20.
“Just as we have passion for the game, it makes sense to be passionate about women’s health issues,” Carney-DeBord said. “My goal is for this to be a platform program for Delaware County, and for the women on our team to give something back to the Delaware community and for breast cancer research. I believe that our student-athletes are outstanding ambassadors for raising awareness.”
Carney-DeBord is grateful to major sponsor American Electric Power for providing funds for accommodations and meals for the visiting teams. This year, Hoggy’s Restaurant also became a sponsor.
