Athletics

LEXINGTON, Ky. –Basketball will not be the only focus of the night Wednesday, as the 20th ranked Transylvania University women’s basketball team hosts Mount St. Joseph University at the Clive M. Beck Center. Transylvania University will accept donations in support of Torsie Haugli and Lauren Hill, two courageous young women battling cancer. Haugli, a 2014 Transylvania graduate, was diagnosed in May with acute large cell lymphoma and is undergoing treatment at the Cleveland Cancer Clinic. And Lauren, a member of the Mount St. Joseph women’s basketball team, battles diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a rare form of cancer that affects the nervous system. All proceeds from Wednesday’s game will benefit the Torsie Lymphoma Research Fund and The Cure Starts Now Foundation. Fans who donate a minimum of $1 will have an opportunity to help both causes with a halftime challenge—Layups for Lauren and Torsie. Each donor will spin five times before attempting a layup with their non-dominant hand. Fans can also purchase T-shirts to support the causes with a minimum $5 donation. Mount Saint Joseph University (2-2) enters the 7:30 p.m. game against an undefeated Transylvania team (4-0). “The opportunity for us to show our support for these two young ladies is something that I didn’t want us to miss and I hope our community can rally around,” Transylvania Athletics Director Holly Sheilley said. “The tenacity and strength that Torsie and Lauren have shown and continue to show is worthy to

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—When Pat Deacon was a student at the University of Kentucky in the 1950s, there were no intercollegiate sports programs for women, at least not as we know them today. Women who enjoyed athletic competition could participate in sports organized under the auspices of the Physical Education Department. There were no uniforms, no training facilities and no coaches. But there were occasional games against nearby colleges, and Deacon took advantage of the opportunity to play basketball and field hockey. It was not until the passage of Title IX in 1972 that women slowly began to have equal access to sports programs, sports funding and regular competition. That was the same year that Deacon arrived at Transylvania University, where she blazed the trail for women’s athletics until her retirement in 1999. During that period, Deacon served at various times as women’s athletics director, associate athletics director, women’s intramural sports director and physical education professor, in addition to her head coaching positions. She pioneered the modern era of women’s basketball at Transylvania, leading the team through 16 seasons and more than 150 wins. Over 29 seasons, her field hockey teams set the standard among Kentucky colleges, especially with their 98-55-3 record from 1979-88, when they won eight state championships in a row. Deacon was elected to Transylvania’s Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2000. And on Sunday, Feb. 2—National  Girls and Women in Sports Day—the University of Kentucky, where Deacon earned both

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Co-workers often get together this time of year for libations and secret Santa gifts. But members of the Transylvania University athletics program decided to do something different. About 20 coaches and staff members got off the season’s sidelines and took a van ride up North Limestone to visit Arlington Elementary students. “I had so much fun reading the Christmas books with the kids,” head women’s lacrosse coach Haley Marvine said. “Children around the holidays are always so excited. It was a really fun day.” The students reacted enthusiastically not only to the stories but also to the coaches’ participation in their physical education classes, which kept the track and cross-country coaches hopping (er, jumping rope, that is). Transylvania athletes and athletic staff have taken a more active role in the community all year. For example, the women’s basketball team donated door receipts from the Besuden Classic toward a $1,000 gift to God’s Pantry, and members of the volleyball team have been reading to elementary school children for two months. “This is something we will do again,” said cheer and dance head coach Tora Carter, who helped coordinate the Arlington visit. “Everyone really enjoyed interacting with the teachers and students. Being able to give back at this time of year is special.” Arlington’s Family Resource Center Director Linda Prater worked with Carter to make the event possible, as did Karen Anderson, coordinator of Transylvania’s community service and civic engagement office.

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