Women's basketball to take part in WBCA Pink Zone initiative this Saturday

SALISBURY, Md. - Sunday is Valentine's Day and you can be sure that the pink will be out in full force. The Salisbury University women's basketball team would like you to break out that pink a day early as the Sea Gulls host Stevenson University in a game as part of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Pink Zone initiative.

The WBCA began the WBCA Pink Zone, formerly known as "Think Pink", in 2007 as an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness in women's basketball, on campuses and in communities. Kay Yow, former North Carolina State University head women's basketball coach, served as the catalyst for the initiative after her third reoccurrence of breast cancer in 2006. In its three years of existence, the WBCA Pink Zone has seen nearly 3,000 schools and organizations come together, reaching nearly 2 million fans and raising more than $2 million. The WBCA's charity of choice is the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, in partnership with The V Foundation.

 "We certainly are willing to help in the battle against breast cancer in any way we can," said Salisbury head women's basketball coach Charisse Mapp, who coached with Yow at North Carolina State University. "I was privileged to have worked with Coach Yow for five years. We, as a team, are proud to honor her memory and support the fight for finding a cure, by participating in this national event.

"In support of all of those grandmothers, mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and friends that have battled this insidious disease, we want everyone to come, wearing something pink.  Bring a survivor with you, if you can, so we can honor her at halftime." 

As part of Saturday's Pink Zone festivities, pink T-shirts will be given away throughout the game. Also, all proceeds from ticket sales for the game will be donated to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund and the American Cancer Society. The team will be wearing pink shirts during warm-ups and will sport pink shoelaces for the game.

Saturday's game against the Mustangs will be the penultimate home game of the regular season for the Sea Gulls, who will host Wesley College on Wednesday, Feb. 17.