N.C. State coach Kay Yow took over the Wolfpack women in 1975.

Players have taken unexpected and unexplained leaves of absence. And more recently, two of the conference's best seniors have suffered what could amount to season-ending injuries.

However, come Sunday, we'll be reminded of one of the best things the conference has to offer: North Carolina State coach Kay Yow.

Over the upcoming weekend, beginning with a Friday night reception for former players and a banquet on Saturday, the Wolfpack will honor Yow's 25th season as coach at N.C. State. Yow took over the Wolfpack women in 1975, and since has led N.C. State to four ACC tournament championships, 14 NCAA Tournament appearances and 16 seasons with 20 or more wins. The program also has produced nine All-Americans.

Through Wednesday, the No. 8 Wolfpack are 18-4, bringing Yow's 25-year record in Raleigh to 530 wins and 218 losses (.710 winning percentage). Counting four seasons at Elon College (1971-1975), Yow has won 587 games and is one of the winningest active Division I women's basketball coaches in the country.

But despite the hundreds of wins and a Final Four appearance in 1998, the one thing that means the most to Yow has been the people, specifically the players, she has meant along the way.

"It just doesn't seem possible that it could be 25 years," said Yow, a 2000 Women's Hall of Fame inductee. "But the great thing about this weekend is all the former players and former staff who are returning.

"They all -- from the staff members to players and managers -- helped us to create a great tradition at N.C. State, a class program that has been associated with some great players. Those people have left N.C. State and have made major contributions to society in numerous ways. To me, that's what it's all about."

Yow, who coached the 1988 Olympic team to the gold medal and was an assistant coach for the gold-medal winning team in 1984, said some of her most memorable moments at N.C. State occurred nowhere near the court.

WOLFPACK WINNERS

In addition to celebrating Kay Yow's 25th season at North Carolina State, the Wolfpack also will retire, for the first time in school history, several women's basketball jerseys this weekend. The following seven players will have their jerseys retired: No. 14 Susan Yow, 1976 No. 15 Trena Trice, 1984-87 No. 22 Trudi Lacey, 1978-81 No. 32 Andrea Stinson, 1989-1991 No. 43 Linda Page, 1982-85 No. 44 Chasity Melvin, 1995-98 No. 50 Genia Beasley, 1977-80

"Some of the most tremendous moments for me revolve around players graduating, players' weddings that I've attended," she said. "They've gone on to be lawyers, pharmacists, coaches. They have excelled. Some are such great mothers."

According to Pam Monk, N.C. State's women's basketball sports information director, the support has been overwhelming, and about 600 people are expected to attend Saturday's banquet.

"When we started, we just sent out invitations and thought we'd sell maybe 10 corporate tables, maybe make enough money to do some special things," Monk said Monday. "But we ended up selling 27 corporate tables, and we keep moving from one ballroom to a bigger one.

"The response has been incredible. People are still calling to attend."

Several former players will speak at the banquet, which will also feature a 30-minute, 25-year highlight video made by former Wolfpack player Jennifer Howard. Then, on Sunday, Yow will again be honored after the Wolfpack's game against Clemson.

Yow's accomplishments have been recognized outside of the athletic community as well. Sunday, Monk added, has also been declared "Kay Yow Day" by Raleigh Mayor Paul Coble. And earlier this month, Raleigh-based 7UP bottler celebrated Yow's 25th anniversary by featuring her on 7UP cans, which were distributed throughout the Raleigh/Durham, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Elizabeth City and Goldsboro areas.

Still, despite all that, and the hundreds of familiar faces who will show up to support Yow, Monk says there's still one thing that might mean more to the longtime Wolfpack coach.

"(Yow) would like nothing more than to see a full house on Sunday," Monk said. "We want to break the attendance record here. That would be the best gift we could ever give her."

For the record, the attendance mark at Reynolds is 11,520, set on Jan. 12, 1991, when N.C. State hosted Virginia in a game said to be one of the country's greatest women's games ever played. The Cavs won 123-120 in triple overtime, which at the time set an NCAA record for the highest combined score in a women's game.

"I feel a family here," Yow said, "and I'm fortunate to be surrounded by very great people, from people here on campus to the citizens of Raleigh."

So all you fans in Raleigh and other neighboring cities in North Carolina, start planning a trip to Reynolds.

Tennessee spoilers
When Tennessee beat Connecticut last Wednesday, the Lady Vols not only spoiled the Huskies' hopes for an unbeaten season, they also snapped a 69-game winning streak for UConn sophomore Sue Bird.

Bird hadn't played in a losing effort since 1997, back when she was a junior at perennial powerhouse Christ the King High School in New York City.

Bird told the New Haven (Conn.) Register that her last loss came in January 1997, to Cardinal O'Hara. Since that prep loss, Bird had been a part of 42 high school victories and eight victories at UConn last season before her freshman year was stopped short with a season-ending knee injury. The Huskies won 19 straight games to open the 1999-2000 season before losing to Tennessee in Storrs last week.

"The reality still hasn't hit me," Bird told the Register. "I don't like to lose, it is tough. ... I would have liked to have been undefeated, but if we come back and win a national championship, that will be fine with me."

The good news: After Saturday's win over Seton Hall, Bird's streak is already up and running again.

Tennessee spoilers, part II
Tennessee's win over previously unbeaten UConn last Wednesday wasn't the first time the Lady Vols handed the Huskies their first loss of the season.

When the two teams met in the Midwest Regional final in 1997, Tennessee beat Connecticut 91-81 to end the Huskies' season and hand them their first loss of the season. UConn was 33-0 before the loss. The Lady Vols went on to win their second straight NCAA title.

Washington U. women near record
The Washington University women's basketball team is closing in on a record winning streak.

The two-time defending NCAA Division III champions have won 57 straight games, three short of the women's record for all divisions set by Capital University (Ohio) from Jan. 11, 1994, to Dec. 16, 1995. Capital also competes in Division III.

The Bears can tie the record at home Sunday against Rochester.

The record-breaking win could come Feb. 18 at Carnegie Mellon.

Washington (19-0) hasn't lost since a 65-50 setback Feb. 15, 1998, at Emory.

The longest winning streak in NCAA basketball history was set by the UCLA men, who won 88 straight games in the early 1970s.

Information from The Associated Press is included in this report.