As nearly every national and local media outlet is reporting today, Kay Yow lost her fight to cancer this morning. Ever since her diagnosis of breast cancer in 1987, Yow has been an inspiration to many, including the late Jim Valvano, who died of cancer in 1993.

Yow’s 2007 team made an indelible imprint. With its coach’s health obviously failing, the team was able to string together several memorable wins, coming 6 points short of winning the ACC Championship. The team went on to win two miraculous NCAA tournament before losing to Connecticut.

I watched those ACC Tournament games with my ailing father, figuring it would be the last we would see of Yow. I was wrong. It was the last I would see of him. I wondered in the back of my mind who would make it longer. She did by almost two years.

There will be a public viewing on Friday from 10am to 2pm at Colonial Baptist Church in Cary ( map it ). In the meantime Yow supporters are placing memorials around the NCSU bell tower. Fans will also wear pink on Monday.

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