Ladyjacks Host Pink Zone Game
2/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 17, 2010
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Over the last couple of weeks, pink has been the color of choice for basketball teams across the nation. From the University of Texas to the UCONN women's basketball squad, hundreds of college basketball teams have been apart of a movement that takes place in February to promote breast cancer awareness. Turn on ESPN this week and it won't be hard to find teams sporting pink shoes, jerseys, shoe laces and fans wearing pink t-shirts.
At 6 p.m. Saturday, Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack head coach Lee Ann Riley and her team will join the unified front in their annual Pink Zone game against Southeastern Louisiana at William R. Johnson coliseum.
From February 12th - 21st, colleges across the country have teamed up to join the battle against breast cancer in order to help raise awareness for the disease and to raise funds for the Pink Zone initiative.
In its fourth year of existence, the purpose of the Pink Zone game is to raise breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond.
Riley said the Ladyjacks look forward to hosting the event every year since they started the now traditional game at William R. Johnson Coliseum.
"This is an awesome event to be apart of," Riley said. "This disease has such an impact on so many lives. We are proud to be a part of the fight."
Riley joined the event that is sweeping the nation because she wanted to raise awareness not only across the country but in Nacogdoches and the surrounding areas, also. "We want to honor breast cancer survivors and women who are fighting the disease right now. This is a good way to do that in this great community we live in."
Kay Yow, former North Carolina State head women's basketball coach, helped begin the event after her third reoccurrence with the disease in 2006. The venue has grown from over 1,200 universities participating to 1,600 over the last three years and it has helped raise millions in breast cancer research. According to the WBCA website, the event raised over $1.3 million in 2009. Over 56 schools broke attendance records at their annual event and Riley is looking to do the same at SFA.
"It would be awesome to have one of our largest crowds of the season," the coach said. "This is an opportunity for not only us, but our community to honor the true heroes - women that face this disease with courage, grace and a no quit attitude."
The game, which will feature an enormous promotional spotlight to promote breast cancer awareness, includes pink t-shirts worn by players and staff, pink shoelaces worn by the Ladyjack team, pink carnations given to breast cancer survivors, and pink items handed out to fans entering the coliseum.
In conjunction with Jack Team Rewards, the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority will have a booth set up in front of the coliseum to hand out pink ribbons and breast cancer awareness information cards.
Also, the Lumberjack Alley tailgating experience will be open to the public beginning at 3:30 p.m. before the game. It is also `Take a Kid to the game' night. All kids 14 and under will be admitted for free. Patrons can also enjoy free popcorn and $1 hot dogs. This weekend's game also doubles as the annual Ladyjack Academic Shootout, an event that raises funds for summer school and fifth-year student scholarships for the Ladyjack basketball program.
"We have a lot of promotions going on in honor of this game," Riley said. "People will be tailgating, enjoying a great ball game and most importantly, honoring breast cancer survivors. We look forward to building up a big crowd."
