Today’s game
Who: Fordham (12-17, 4-9 Atlantic 10) at Dayton (17-10, 8-5)
When: 2 p.m.
Where: UD Arena
DAYTON — During their coaching careers, University of Dayton women’s basketball coach Jim Jabir and former North Carolina State coach Kay Yow crossed paths regularly.
“I had a great deal of respect for Coach Yow for the person and coach she was,” Jabir said as his 17-10 Flyer squad prepares to close its home schedule at 2 p.m. today against Fordham (12-17) in its Pink Zone game on Senior Day.
The Pink Zone games raise funds that benefit the Kay Yow Foundation. Yow died in 2009 at the age of 66 after a long battle with breast cancer.
The Flyers are doing their part by accepting donations for each offensive rebound they pull down today. People may also give a flat donation. They will also be holding a silent auction until halftime. Items up for bid include a pink-and-white Breast Cancer Awareness Ball signed by the Flyers, an autographed jersey, a Brian Gregory-signed basketball and a Jim Jabir camp certificate (for a student in eighth grade or younger). Bids can be made at the marketing table, and winners will be announced at halftime.
Offensive rebounding has been one of many strong suits for the Flyers this year. Dayton leads the A-10 at 44.6 per game and is in the top five in defensive rebounding.
“That is critical,” Jabir said. “It has been our calling card and something we are fairly good at.”
The Flyers are also good at giving back. The women’s team has also been involved with the Special Olympics, departments of developmental disabilities, raising funds and awareness for illnesses and Haiti relief.
“We are in a unique situation where we can help and raise awareness, and that is gratifying,” Jabir said.
“That is one of the great things about UD. It is part of their message, and it is a message I was raised with.”
The Flyers head to the A-10 tournament following the game. They are in a four-team logjam for the fourth seed.
“We can’t worry about anyone else, it is not going to get us to where we want to go,” Jabir said. “We have to get the confidence back we had earlier.
We need to be playing our best basketball so we can go in there and win three or four games in a row.”
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