RALEIGH, N.C. --- The Moravian College women's basketball team has been named as the NCAA Division III winner of the 2016 Kay Yow Cancer Fund Play 4Kay fundraiser with over $18,500 raised in 2016, the eighth consecutive year that the Greyhounds' program has led NCAA Division III schools in Play 4Kay.

Play4Kay is the grassroots fundraising initiative of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. Its primary fundraising support comes from women's basketball teams across the country that dedicate an event to raise funds and awareness for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, an organization committed to funding women's cancer research and supporting projects that assist the underserved community.

Moravian raised $18,520 this year, the top amount from an NCAA Division III school and the most raised by the Greyhounds in a single year. Moravian was also the top NCAA Division III team in 2015 with $17,038, in 2014 with $12,573, in 2013 with $16,210, in 2012 with $12,025, in 2011 with $5,825 and in 2010 at $6,100. The Greyhounds had a total of $5,200 in 2009 to give Moravian a total of $93,491 raised over the last eight years.

"We are extremely proud of our accomplishment over the past eight years at Moravian College," stated Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk. "It is very rewarding to see how our community as a whole comes together to help in raising money each year. We were especially honored this year to have Connie Newcome and her husband, Tom, join us for our Play 4Kay game and events surrounding the day. Connie's connection to Kay Yow and the Play 4Kay fund made the day more powerful to our players and all those in attendance at the game.

"We are honored to be a part of something in a small way to help fight this terrible disease called cancer. The coaches, players and our community at Moravian embrace the challenge to help raise money and find a cure," Spirk continued. "Thank you to the Kay Yow Cancer fund in rallying the women's basketball community in fighting the battle. We will not stop until a cure is found."

Moravian's coaching staff along with the coaching staffs from Illinois State University (NCAA Division I non-BCS), Lenoir-Rhyne University (NCAA Division II), Faulkner (Ala.) University (NAIA), Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College (JC/CC), Akin (Texas) Elementary School (National 4-12) and Harrells Christian Academy (North Carolina K-12) will be recognized at the 2016 Wow 4You event at the Women's Basketball Coaches Association National Convention during the NCAA Division I Final Four in Indianapolis, Indiana Friday evening.

"The 2016 Play4Kay fundraising initiative is a testament to the commitment the women's basketball community has for the mission of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund," said Kay Yow Cancer Fund Executive Director Stephanie Glance. "Coach Yow's vision for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and the Play 4Kay fundraising initiative was to unite a nation of coaches and the women's basketball community across the country, to do something collectively for the greater good, that far exceeds wins and losses on the court."

From February 12 to 22, teams from across the country participated in Play 4Kay games and made donations to support the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

Moravian is the only eight-time winner in the eight-year history of the contest.

Since the Fund's inception in 2007, more than $5.28 million has been allocated in support of women's cancer research and related projects.

For more information about the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and its annual Play 4Kay® initiative, visit www.kayyow.com and follow #Play4Kay.

To donate or learn more about the Play 4Kay initiative, visit http://www.play4kay.org.  

About the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and Play 4Kay Campaign

The Kay Yow Cancer Fund was officially founded on Dec. 3, 2007, from the vision of the organization's namesake Kay Yow, former N.C. State University head women's basketball coach. Coach Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 before succumbing to the disease on Jan. 24, 2009. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against women's cancers through raising funds for scientific research, assisting the underserved, and unifying people for a common cause. To date, more than $5.28 million has been allocated for women's cancer research. For more information on the Kay Yow Cancer Fund or to make a donation, please visit www.KayYow.com. Follow the Kay Yow Cancer Fund on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.