STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – The Franciscan University Lady Barons played a dominating match against the Chatham University Cougars during the biggest weekend of their regular season, as they hosted their Dig Pink breast cancer awareness event. The Lady Barons took down the Lady Cougars, 3-1. 

The gymnasium was nearly full with over one thousand attendants in foot traffic coming out to see the Lady Barons during Homecoming Weekend. Along with earning their eighth win of the season, the event earned over 500 dollars in fundraising that will be split between the Side-Out Foundation and the T.E.A.R Fund.

After dropping the first game 25-23, the Lady Barons unleashed one of their best offensive explosions of the season and ran away with the match without losing another game. Amy O'Keefe thrived offensively with 40 assists to her teammates. 

"We're flipping our offense a little," FUS head coach Kelly Herrmann said. "Even so, today was a great day offensively and Amy was a big part of that."

Lady Baron Captain Anna Cain had a strong all-around game in front of her family and a large crowd. Cain helped bring her Lady Barons to a tying victory in game two with kill after kill to bury the Cougars 25-15. She had 16 kills, two assists, and two solo blocks. 

"Anna had a real strong performance," noted Herrmann. "This is the one weekend that her family comes every year. She loves playing in front of her family."

Christina Lawrence had 12 kills and Dani Link had 9 kills offensively. Defensively, Sam Kelly and Lawrence each had 17 digs and Maria Prezzia had 10 digs.

"We can be pretty effective offensively, but defense is the strength of our team," said Herrmann.

Two-time breast cancer survivor Marlene Nese was the honorary coach of the Lady Barons during the game. Nese was proud of the Lady Barons winning performance, but also stressed how important the Dig Pink event is. 

She reiterated the importance of awareness, but hoped that Franciscan's Dig Pink would help raise knowledge on prevention.

"You want the awareness; you want to get the word out about breast cancer. But, prevention [awareness] is how you create survivors," Nese said. "You have to catch the cancer early, if you can catch it in stage one, it is easier to cure." 

Nese has a special love for Franciscan University because it is where she met her husband John Nese ('60), who played basketball for legendary FUS basketball coach Henry "Hank" Kuzma from 1956-1960.

She talked about the relief that programs such as Dig Pink can bring to anyone struggling with breast cancer. Not only is cancer physically draining, but it also wears on the mind and soul. Programs such as these are designed to help relieve victims of the uneasiness that cancer can bring.

"It's a scary feeling because you don't know what the outcome is going to be," Nese said. 

Faith played an important role in Nese's fight and what made her victorious in her two different stints with breast cancer. 

"You have to have faith in God that he is going to get you through, and no matter what, you need to smile and have a positive attitude," Nese said.

The two-time survivor tries to give back to future survivors by doing volunteer work at the Teramana Cancer Center and she also belongs to a support group to help women who have survived breast cancer. 

Nese was incredibly proud of the Lady Barons for raising necessary money for a cause so close to her heart. FUS looks to take the momentum from this emotional win to prepare for a home game against Mt. Aloysuis College on October 10 at 7 p.m.