Women's College Basketball Teams Match-up for the Fight Against Cancer at the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer Women's Challenge

American Cancer Society
Tuesday, 20 November 2001

Maryland, Mississippi State, Iowa State, and DePaul compete Nov. 21 and 23 in Ames, Iowa

The American Cancer Society, the nation's leading voluntary health agency, today announced match-ups for the Coaches vs. Cancer Women's Challenge.

Held each year during Thanksgiving week, this year's tournament will be hosted by Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. On Wednesday, November 21 at 5:30 p.m., the ACC's University of Maryland Terrapins take on the SEC's Lady Bulldogs of Mississippi State University. The hosting University, and Big 12 powerhouse, Iowa State University, plays Conference USA's DePaul University Blue Demons in the second game, scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. ESPN will televise the championship game of the 3rd annual Coaches vs. Cancer Women's Challenge on Friday, November 23 at 3:00 p.m. CST. The consolation game will precede the championship game at 12:30 p.m.

Iowa State is now rated #7 in the nation by the Associated Press, and all eyes will be on All-American center Angie Welle. The Cyclones won the Big 12 conference tournament last year and ended the season ranked #3 in the nation. Coach Chris Weller of Maryland is the coach to watch in this year's Challenge. She has nearly 500 career wins and could find her team in the hunt for the ACC title this season.

The Lady Bulldogs from Mississippi State is a team on the rise. In fact, they have hopes of making it to the NCAA tournament this year -- not such a lofty goal with junior starter LaToya Thomas who reached 1,000 points in just 46 games. According to CNN, DePaul may have the toughest schedule in the nation this season. But a new face to watch on the DePaul team is freshman guard Jenni Dant. Dant was a high school All-American who scored 1,577 points and grabbed 916 rebounds in high school play.

It is college programs like these, who not only bring success to the court, but have also brought a great deal to cancer patients, survivors, and volunteers.

The Coaches vs. Cancer program is a partnership of the American Cancer Society, the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. The Coaches vs. Cancer program leverages the celebrity of our country's basketball coaches and their players to reduce the cancer risk through education programs and by raising funds for American Cancer Society programs. Since its inception in 1993, the Coaches vs. Cancer program has raised more than $16 million to benefit the American Cancer Society.

The "A Coach" and "Things to Do Now that I'm 50" TV public-service announcements (featuring Julius "Dr. J" Erving) will run on ESPN during the Challenge. The American Cancer Society's 800 number and Web site are featured on both public service announcements.

"It is an honor to work with so many of the nation's top basketball coaches who join us in our fight against cancer," says H. Fred Mickelson, national volunteer chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society. "Because of their time, their energy, and their spirit, they ultimately help save lives by their participation in our program."

Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) is the first and only organization devoted exclusively to fostering and promoting the growth and development of women's and girl's basketball at all levels. Based in Atlanta, GA the WBCA is a national non-profit association that boasts a membership of more than 5,000, including coaches, players, fans, and athletic administrators and media. This group joined the Cancer vs. Coaches program in 1999.

Kathy Delaney-Smith, head coach of women's basketball at Harvard University, has been coaching for nearly 20 years. She says, "My toughest opponent, however, was cancer. I'm a breast cancer survivor of two years now. What pulled me through those difficult times were, of course, my family and friends. But also, programs that were sponsored by the American Cancer Society played a big part in my recovery. That is why I am happy to be a part of the Coaches vs. Cancer program."

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

For more information, or to contact American Cancer Society, see their website at: www.cancer.org