Kathy Drysdale, one of the best Penn State women’s basketball players in program history, died Friday after a battle with cancer, according to her son on Instagram.
Drysdale was a powerhouse at Penn State from 1988 to 1992, scoring 1295 points and grabbing 717 rebounds while leading the Nittany Lions to the No. 1 AP Poll position in 1991.
Drysdale worked for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1993 to 2006 before returning to State College to serve as a marketing manager and director of marketing and fan experience.
Her son, former Duke Blue Devils star and Dallas Mavericks first-round pick Dereck Lively, shared the news on Instagram.
“My heart breaks saying goodbye to the most important person in the world to me, my best friend, my superhero, my biggest cheerleader and mom, Kathy Drysdale,” Lively wrote in a statement. “No one in the world can love you as much as your mother. As tough and obstinate as she is, I’ve watched her struggle, fight, and endure cancer for the past 11 years, and now her battle is over, surrounded by family, friends, and teammates. I can’t picture my life without her, but I know I have an angel in the stands always and forever rooting for my one and hollering at me if I’m a bull.——-.”
Lively has had a solid debut year with the Mavericks as a center after Dallas selected him 12th overall in the draft from Duke last summer, scoring 8.8 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
“My mother was a beautiful soul who was loved by everyone she met and by every team I’ve ever played for, from Team Final to West Town to Duke to the Mavericks.” Thank you to Dr. Hall, the great nurses and colleagues at UT Southwestern Hospital, and the Mavericks for their unwavering support; without them, I would not have had these final precious moments. I love you and will always miss you; just know that I will be okay, mom. “Fly high.
Lively donned a jersey with his mother’s name on the back to the Mavericks game on Friday night.
