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Cal U Women's Basketball Player Remembered Before Game

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The death of Cal U women's basketball Shanice Clark has rocked the Washington County campus.

A remembrance ceremony was held for her before Saturday's game against Slippery Rock University.

Players cried openly and tried to comfort each other as the National Anthem played.

The entire team wore Shanice Clark's name and number on their warm-up jerseys for the Slippery Rock game.

"We all know just how precious life is and if we didn't know that, we were reminded of it with the passing of Shanice Clark," Cal U Interim President Geraldine Jones said.

Clark died Jan. 18, when authorities believe she choked on chewing gum while she slept.

"I have talked both with the women's team and the men's team earlier in the week and they received wonderful support from all of our counseling staff and others on campus to help them through this grieving period," Jones said.

Instead of selling tickets to Saturday's game against Slippery Rock, fans made donations to Clark's family.

Jones shared how close the Cal U community has remained through a tough week.

"That has been expressed by so many of the university family and community and from others," Jones said.

And the loss is a great reminder to not waste a single day.

"Take that as your last day here and go home and hug a loved one that you have," Jones said.

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