Saturday’s games dedicated to raising awareness of breast cancer

EASTON, Mass. (February 1, 2011) – Stonehill College will participate in the annual Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Pink Zone initiative to support breast cancer awareness during the Skyhawks’ home basketball doubleheader on Saturday, February 5 at Merkert Gymnasium. The women’s team will tip off against Northeast-10 Conference rival UMass Lowell at 1:30 p.m., followed by the men’s team at 3:30 p.m.

The Skyhawks will sport pink shoelaces and wristbands on the court, and fans who join in raising awareness by wearing pink to the games will receive free admission. The Stonehill Spirit Committee will give away pink prizes to fans as a symbol of support. Donations will be accepted in the Merkert Gym lobby throughout the afternoon, and fan contributions and a portion of ticket sales will benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, the WBCA’s charity of choice in support of breast cancer awareness and research. Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for seniors, and free for Stonehill students and children under 12.

The WBCA began the Pink Zone initiative in 2007 to raise breast cancer awareness through basketball on campuses and in communities. Former North Carolina State University head women’s basketball coach Kay Yow served as the catalyst for the program after her third reoccurrence of breast cancer in 2006. Overall, the WBCA Pink Zone has raised nearly $3.3 million in four years of fundraising efforts by basketball teams across the country.