Former Cyclone Florzak To Play In Hoops For Hope Game

AMES, Iowa - Former Iowa State women's basketball player Anna Florzak will be participating in a Hoops for Hope game on Friday that supports breast cancer awareness. Florzak graduated from Iowa State last year, was an ISU Scholar-Athlete all four years and named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team last season.

The Hoops for Hope game is set to take place in Coldwater, Kan. tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at South Central High School. This event was created by the WEPAC Alliance group - a non-profit organization dedicated to educating women about taking responsibility for their health.

"Just knowing that we're raising money and it's going to women who can't afford breast examinations and being able to give back to a community that needs so much, means a lot to me," Florzak said.

The game was inspired by former North Carolina State women's basketball coach Kay Yow, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987. In January of 2009, Yow lost her battle with breast cancer, as she passed away at the age of 66. Just two short months later the idea behind Hoops for Hope was created and the first-ever Hoops for Hope game was played in her honor.

"I think that any time we can help a foundation like the Kay Yow Foundation, where she gave so much to women's basketball and informing women that there are always measures that we can do to ensure that we catch cancer at an early period," Florzak said. "This event is definitely one that's going to be huge and I'm so excited and I feel honored to be able to play."

Florzak is currently a graduate student at the University of Central Florida where she is a member of the DeVos Sport Business Management program. DeVos is a program led by Dr. Richard Lapchick that allows students to earn a Masters in Sports Business Management and focuses on ethics, diversity, leadership and community service.

"Our program is big on diversity and ethics in sports and being able to come back and play with such a diverse group of people for the same cause is exactly what my graduate program is all about," Florzak said.

Florzak works with a group of 30 students in the program and along with working, joined an intramural basketball team that plays once a week. At the University of Central Florida, Florzak is also a graduate assistant at the Institute for Diversity and Ethics sports, where she studies how diverse sports are on every level from NBA to college athletics.

In preparation for tomorrow's game, Florzak shot around for about two hours on Thursday in hopes of getting her stroke back. Florzak said she recruited a couple friends to help rebound her shots and was off to Kansas on that morning.

"This game is really important, just like our Pink Zone game was at Iowa State and I didn't think I'd be playing any more games," Florzak said. "So to put on a uniform one last time means a lot, especially when we're raising money for this cause."

Florzak will be playing alongside and against some of the girls she played against in high school. The Kansas City, Mo., native also has ties with several players from Kansas State who will be playing as well. The rosters themselves for the game are diverse, much like the diversity that is seen throughout the sports world.

"In high school I had teammates whose moms were diagnosed with breast cancer and being able to know that we're trying to help a cause and that breast cancer is a huge issue among women is so important," Florzak said. "To be able to expose that there are always measures that can be taken to help women become healthier will be really helpful."

Florzak will be a member of the Pink Team on Saturday that is coached by Kristi Hensley, Jean McNulty-King and Cass Bauer. Among Florzak's opponents will be former Texas Tech star and three-time WNBA MVP Sheryl Swoopes.

Ten percent of the proceeds raised for this event are being put toward the Kay Yow Foundation and the remaining proceeds raised will go to the WEPAC Alliance organization. Along with the game, there will be a health seminar on Saturday where women of all ages to listen to doctors and fitness experts speak about health issues.

To learn more about the game, click the link in the slideout tab at the top of the story.