UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Although the Lady Lions focused their season on striving towards success on the court, in the grand scheme of things, what they are working towards and supporting is much bigger than basketball.
Almost every home game in the Bryce Jordan Center had a theme for fans to participate in and for organizations to support. While all organizations and causes are important, some, including the THON game, Girls And Women in Sports Day game, and the annual Play4Kay Game Benefiting Pink Zone, stood out.
All of these games saw fans, students, organizations, and those battling and surviving diseases such as childhood cancer and breast cancer stood together alongside the Lady Lions to support something bigger than basketball.
On January 13, the Lady Lions hosted Michigan in the Bryce Jordan Center their the annual THON game.
THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. Their mission is committed to enhancing the lives of children with childhood cancer. All year long, Penn State students work together to fundraise and spread awareness in preparation for the 46-hour long no sitting, no sleeping dance marathon in pursuit of a cure.
"Kelly Jekot sent a great text in our team group chat, she sent a video about THON, and said, 'Tonight's bigger than basketball'," said Head Coach Carolyn Kieger following the THON game. "Moments like this, where you can support a cause way bigger than yourself, are huge. That's why we do what we do. To be a part of a university that raises $11 million a year, that's special."
Students involved in THON came out to support the Lady Lions. Together, students, athletes, and staff all stood together to support fundraising efforts against childhood cancer, supporting something much bigger than the game itself.
"Becoming involved in THON and joining a committee is easily one of the best decisions I have made at Penn State," said junior THON committee member Hannah Sturgis. "Through my involvement, I have had the opportunity to meet incredible and inspiring people that have greatly impacted my life. Seeing students and athletic teams, like women's basketball, host events in support of THON fosters a sense of community and pride at Penn State."
Another highlighted game of the season, hosted by the Lady Lions, was their National Girls and Women in Sports Day game. This matchup against Maryland was in honor of all of the women athletes, current staff, and students aspiring to work in the sports industry.
Honored at this game was the Association for Women in Sports Media (AWSM) Club at Penn State. This club consists of a group of women who support the advancement and growth of both female professionals and students in sports media. The group of girls were honored at halftime and also participated in marketing events on the court throughout the game.
"It was such a special day for our chapter," said Vice President Kathryn Tague. "It was a great way to celebrate our hardworking members who inspire me every day."
The Lady Lions were able to use basketball to support a group of women by making them feel noticed and appreciated, which was so special and meaningful to this club.
Lastly, the Blue and White played their 16th annual Play4Kay Game Benefiting Pink Zone in support of breast cancer awareness on Sunday, Feb. 6 against Northwestern. In 2007, Penn State was the first team in the NCAA to wear pink uniforms in pursuit of the Pink Zone. Since 2007, the Play4Kay game has raised over $3.2 million supporting breast cancer organizations, charities and facilities focusing on breast cancer education, research, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
"This game always makes me really emotional," said junior guard Makenna Marisa following the game. "Just to see all of the survivors and everyone in the stands always gives me a little more motivation and energy. It's really special for our whole team to be a part of and one of my favorite games every year."
In 2007, 31 breast cancer survivors were honored at halftime and $20,490 was raised in support of Pink Zone. Since then, the attendance of survivors has grown to surpass 400 and over $200,000 has annually been raised.
"Being able to give back and pay it forward in a game like this teaches more than just basketball," said Kieger. "I hope our players remember this for the rest of their lives, and not for the experience, but it reminds them to give back to other people because that's what it's all about. I want them to be able to leave a legacy and continue to understand that causes like this are important not only in college but for the rest of their lives."
The Lady Lions wore pink and white jerseys to support the cause. In addition, the Bryce Jordan Center was filled with an abundance of pink from the stands, to the carpet on the floor, to the graphics all around the arena. It was such a special day not only for Coach Kieger and the rest of her squad, but for the fans, and most importantly the 149 survivors who were able to come back for the first time since the pandemic started.
As the Lady Lions approach the offseason, they are keeping in mind all of the great causes they were able to support, hearts they were able to touch, and differences they were able to make in an effort much bigger than basketball.
"There's so many great causes that basketball allows us to have our platform for," said Kieger. "As young women, we can use this game and this round orange ball to do so much good in the world and pay it forward."
