WBB: Play4Kay takes added significance for Tarleton State's Lyles
Lyles, who returns to Texas after stops at Tulsa and Akron, plays for her late mother on Thursday as the Texans host first place CBU at the EECU Center...
Look to your left. Then look to your right.
One of the people you look at will be affected by cancer at some point in their lifetime.
Specifically, when it comes to breast cancer.
The rate is one out of every eight women, according to statistics provided by the American Cancer Society.
For Tarleton State’s Caroline Lyles, that one person was her late mother Donna, who passed away in 2019 after a battle with breast cancer.
Lyles missed her last two Play4Kay games last year, recovering from an ACL injury, and is looking forward to the opportunity to take the floor on Thursday evening against league leader CBU.
“I’m motivated every night to go out there and play for my mom, but Thursday definitely will have more meaning considering I’ve missed the last couple of Play4Kay games,” Lyles said. “I may get a little bit teary-eyed during the pregame announcements (and did last year at Toledo), but it’s so inspiring to look into the crowd and see those folks who are fighting or have won their battle, and it definitely puts things into perspective.”
Donna Lyles practiced family law and imparted several lessons on a young Caroline, specifically when it came to academics and work/career balance.
“I’m learning now that I need to put my family first as she did,” Caroline said. “My mom was also big on the academic side of student-athlete and was always there with study tips and skills that I’ve taken into college and still use to this day. She also taught my sister and I a ton about how to battle adversity in her battle.”
Caroline credits her dad, James, with stepping into the void and taking on the mother role for her and her siblings.
“I think mothers have a certain way of going about things that he picked up on and was able to provide me with the same love and comfort she did,” Caroline said.
“Any time it came to emotions, I went to mom,” Caroline continued. “But I’ve become more and more comfortable in talking with my dad about everything because he didn’t want me to go through certain things by myself.”
James and the rest of the Lyles family will be in attendance Thursday night at the EECU Center in their usual spot, rooting Caroline and the Texans on.
We also inherit certain things from our parents, and one thing Caroline inherited from Donna was a love for the beach.
“We’d spend a lot of time in Florida and California on the beaches with her, enjoying a book on the sand while we ran around,” Caroline reminisced. “I’ve become a little bit of a beach fanatic as a result of those experiences.”
Lyles was highly complimentary of head coach Bill Brock and staff for being so bought into their players on and off the floor.
“I’ve never had a staff that has been so bought into you personally and that will just pull you aside to see if you’re doing ok,” Caroline added. “That’s one of the most important things for someone in college.”
Caroline gives a lot of credit to the Director of Operations, Ashleigh DeBoue, in particular, one person in the program she feels really comfortable with.
“She’s that person who will just pull you aside and ask you if you’re doing ok or if you just want to talk. It’s really special to have that.”
Thursday’s game between CBU and Tarleton State in Stephenville is the first of three Play4Kay games across the WAC this week. On Saturday afternoon, the Utah Valley at UT Arlington game has also been designated a Play4Kay matchup.
Also, Saturday afternoon’s CBU at ACU matchup from Moody Coliseum has been designated as a Hoops for a Hope game. The Wildcats will be donning a pink jersey for that game.