CLAREMORE, Okla. - There is something different about the attitude of the Rogers State University Hillcats this week. Head Coach Bobby Cope and sophomore guard Heather Roberts sat down to talk about the meaning of the Play 4Kay game and the charity that it supports, breast cancer research.  "I know people personally who have fought and fallen short of the battle," Roberts said, "and I know as a team we will play for those who have fought cancer or are in the process of fighting it as well."
 
According to the Play 4Kay website, Coach Kay Yow, former North Carolina State University head women's basketball coach, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987. She unfortunately passed away on January 24, 2009, after fighting her third round of cancer. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund, in partnership with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and The V Foundation, has contributed $5.18 million in support of cancer research for women. With creation of the Fund, Yow hoped to raise money to further cutting-edge research by the nation's top doctors to allow more cancer patients to have access to experimental drugs and clinical trials. "When something affects every 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 women, there needs to be more money put into that research than a disease that affects 1 in 10,000 people in my mind," Coach Cope said. The RSU Hillcats are supporting Play 4Kay by hosting a bake sale, silent auction and the main event of the week, the basketball game against Oklahoma Christian on February 18, 2016.
 
The Hillcats take every game seriously, but this game holds a special meaning to many people in the area. "I think this game is extremely important. When you look at other diseases and fundraisers that are out there when it comes to a new or scary disease, it seems like everyone jumps on board those charities and forgets that cancer is one of the top two or three killers in the United States," Cope stated. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), cancer is the number two killer of women of all ages and races in the United States. According to Coach Cope, this game has a more personal meaning for many in the community. "You always, as a coach or student-athlete, want to win because you love what you are doing, but it does make you find a personal connection to a charity and play with your heart on your sleeve, play with a little bit more behind it," Cope said. "We just want to make sure we can do everything we can to support the cause," Cope added.
 
Roberts sees the impact cancer has on families and hopes she can make a difference by playing the sport she loves. "I know as a team, we will play, not only for our team, our community and our school, but we will play for those who have been affected by cancer," Roberts said.
 
The Play 4Kay game will take place on Thursday, February 18^th, 2016, at 5:30 p.m. The 12-11 Hillcats will take on the 12-12 Oklahoma Christian Eagles at the Claremore Expo Center in Claremore, Oklahoma. "We would love to see a packed house to show support for the Hillcats and a great cause," Cope said.