How Davidson’s women’s basketball team is rallying behind teammate

Saturday’s Play4Kay women’s college basketball game between Davidson and Fordham at Belk Arena will have extra meaning for the host Wildcats.

Proceeds from the 2 p.m. game will benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. There’s also no doubt that the thoughts of Davidson’s players and coaches will also be with Wildcats sophomore forward Andrea Robinson, who is in her hometown of Baltimore receiving treatment for leukemia.

Robinson, who started six games earlier in the season for Davidson, was diagnosed with the disease in December and is out for the season. She is home now after undergoing treatment at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

“While this was unexpected and incredibly difficult news for Andrea, her family and our program, I have been so impressed and inspired by Andrea’s courage and positive attitude as she has faced this challenge head on,” Davidson coach Gayle Coats Fulks said in a statement.

“I’m grateful for the excellent medical care she has received starting here at Davidson and now at Johns Hopkins, and our team will be fighting with her and supporting her and her family every step of the way.”

Robinson’s family set up an account at youcaring.com/andrearobinson to help with costs associated with out-patient and rehab treatments for Andrea. More than $30,000 has been raised for Robinson, exceeding a goal of $25,000.

There will be a silent auction at Belk Arena on Saturday for the Yow fund, named in honor of former N.C. State coach Kay Yow, who died of breast cancer in 2009. Items in the auction will include an autographed basketball by the Charlotte Hornets’ Kemba Walker and an autographed jersey of the Atlanta Falcons’ Julio Jones.

The Charlotte 49ers will have their own Play4Kay game Saturday against Texas-San Antonio (7 p.m.) at Halton Arena. It’s also Alumnae Day for the 49ers.

This story was originally published February 9, 2018 at 12:44 PM with the headline "How Davidson’s women’s basketball team is rallying behind teammate."