NCAAW
Associated Press 19y

Arizona to pay for funeral services of fallen player

Women's College Basketball

TUCSON, Ariz. -- The University of Arizona will pay for the
funeral and burial of women's basketball star Shawntinice Polk, an
athletic department official said on Friday.

An NCAA bylaw allows the university to do so, senior associate
athletic director Kathleen "Rocky" LaRose said.

The funeral will be held Sunday in the gymnasium at Hanford,
Calif., High School, Polk's alma mater. The cost will be about
$7,500, LaRose said.

The two-time all-conference center, who would have been a senior
this season, collapsed and died at McKale Center on Monday. A
pulmonary blood clot caused the death, according to Pima County
medical examiner Eric Peters.

More than 1,000 attended a memorial service Wednesday night at
McKale.

"It has been a tragic week," LaRose said. "Each day is
different. We've moved from deep shock to overwhelming sadness to
reality."

University president Peter Likins and Arizona women's coach Joan
Bonvicini are scheduled to speak at the funeral. Among those
expected to attend are the entire Arizona women's team, athletic
director Jim Livengood and Arizona men's player Hassan Adams.

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