Thousands of people packed into Reynolds Coliseum Wednesday night to pay tribute to a woman who inspired so many.

N.C.  State Women’s basketball coach Kay Yow died Saturday after a decades long fight with breast cancer.

Coach Yow left a lasting impression at the university she loved so much, as speaker after speaker attested to during the memorial.

“Kay's life was nothing short of remarkable,” Chancellor James Oblinger told the crowd.

“I will deeply miss Coach Yow who  I was fortunate to get to know  over the last couple of years,” said Elise Pangborn, a friend of Yow’s who was seated in the first row of spectators at the Coliseum.

Yow’s long time administrative assistant was also seated in the first row.

“My heart aches and I'll miss her,” said Felicia Mangum. “I've been blessed to have known her work with. her. She wasn’t ashamed to share her faith.

Over and over again, people explained how Yow made a difference on the court and off.

“What Kay went through is exactly what Jim went through said Nick Valvano, head of the “V’ Foundation. “Both showed incredible courage to fight the disease, and never once did they talk about themselves but rather they talked about what they wanted to do for other people.”

At the start of the tribute, Yow’s team filed in, each dropping a rose on the chair that Yow would have occupied courtside,

It was a symbol of how Kay Yow’s court was without its queen.

“I know she's dancing and singing with the angels, but will wondering why we cut practice short today,” said Robin Pate, the director of basketball operations for N.C. State.

“Kay Yow lived in a way most of us can only aspire to,’ said Chancellor Oblinger.

And her long time assistant coach explained how Yow played a special role in her life as both a child at basketball camp and as an adult.

“People you have on a pedestal when you a kid, sometimes when you grow up, you realize they weren't as great as you thought,” said Stephanie Glance. “But when I grew up Coach Yow was still on a pedestal and even greater than I thought she was when I was 13.”