ESPN's Holly Rowe gives a surprise visit to Pitt women's basketball player Kyla Nelson

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ESPN's Holly Rowe gives a surprise visit to Pitt women's basketball player Kyla Nelson

Bret Gibson | Tuesday, December 17, 2019 10:11 p.m.

Pittsburgh’s Kyla Nelson moves the ball downcourt during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Notre Dame Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, in South Bend, Ind.

Kyla Nelson’s long-awaited return to the basketball court was halted from a special surprise of support.

Nelson, a junior guard for the Pitt women’s team, made her comeback Tuesday after being diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor of the appendix in August.

The Worthing, England native had surgery in October and returned to watch her teammates in practice a week later.

But on Tuesday, the 5-foot-11 guard returned to the hardwood against Miami University.

The surprise.

Special shoutout to @sportsiren for stopping by the locker room before Kyla made her return.#H2P // #GoBeyond pic.twitter.com/y0qwZPiL6L

— Pitt Basketball (@Pitt_WBB) December 18, 2019

As soon as she emerged from the locker room, reporter Holly Rowe of ESPN stopped Nelson to wish her good luck.

Rowe, a cancer survivor, was going to Pittsburgh to cover the NCAA volleyball tournament, but arrived a day early to give Nelson her show of support.

Nelson clocked 12 minutes and contributed three points in her return despite a 80-71 loss to the RedHawks.

“It was great being back out with the team,” Nelson said. “It felt good being out there, though.”

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