LATROBE (KDKA) – Hundreds of people packed into the Saint Vincent College basilica Thursday to remember the life of long-time women’s basketball coach Kristen Zawacki.

Zawacki was found dead of an apparent heart attack on Christmas Day in her Greensburg home.

Zawacki founded the women’s basketball program at Saint Vincent in 1983 and has coached the team ever since.

She led the team to the playoffs 22 consecutive years and celebrated 500 career wins earlier this year.

She was a graduate of Penn State University and was active in youth basketball camps and recreation leagues across Western Pennsylvania.

Many of those in attendance at the memorial Mass were former players.

Two of Zawacki’s close friends gave eulogies at the memorial. It concluded with a motivational cheer her players had all learned over the years.