Feb. 3, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF women's basketball team will host its WBCA Pink ZoneTM game on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. when the Knights host SMU at UCF Arena. All fans wearing pink will gain free admission to the game, and a free pink t-shirt will be given to the first 200 fans entering the arena. Fans will also be given a free pink UCF bracelet, and a $250 scholarship will be awarded to the most spirited UCF student.
The WBCA Pink ZoneTM initiative is a global, unified effort for the WBCA's nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. The WBCA began the WBCA Pink ZoneTM, formerly known as "Think Pink", in 2007 as an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness in women's basketball, on campuses and in communities.
UCF is one of over 1,250 teams around the country to have signed on as a participant in 2009. In 2007, more than 120 schools unified for this effort and helped make the inaugural year a success. In 2008, over 1,200 teams and organizations participated, reaching over 830,000 fans and raising over $930,000 for breast cancer awareness and research.
"It has been nothing short of miraculous to watch teams and organizations across the nation rally behind the fight against breast cancer through the WBCA Pink ZoneTM initiative," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "As our coaches constantly reiterate the concept of `teamwork' to our student-athletes, it is personified and brought to life through this initiative."
At the game, a luminary will be held at halftime and members of the UCF community who have helped to raise awareness and money for cancer will be honored.
There will also be a moment of silence at the game in honor of legendary North Carolina State women's basketball coach Kay Yow, who lost her 20-year battle with cancer on Jan. 24. The WBCA's charity of choice is the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer FundTM, in partnership with The V Foundation. To donate, call 1-800-4JIMMYV or visit www.jimmyv.org.
"This is an important event for not only UCF, but for women's basketball around the country, and we are excited and honored to be a part of it," said UCF head coach Joi Williams. "For the WBCA and its coaches, the event holds a new meaning this season with the recent passing of Coach Yow. She did so much for women's basketball and fought hard to raise awareness about breast cancer, and our players and staff welcome the UCF community to help us continue this fight on Saturday."
Numerous events have also been planned around the UCF-SMU game in conjunction with Pink ZoneTM. Prior to the game, Relay for Life will be holding an open house at 5 p.m. in the UCF Arena lobby. The organization will be holding pre-registration for its event at Memory Mall on Mar. 20-21.
Also prior to the game the volleyball, women's soccer, rowing, cheerleading and dance teams will be holding a mini-clinic at The Venue at UCF and the UCF soccer complex as part of National Girls in Sports Day. The clinic runs from 4-5:30 p.m., and all girls 12 and under are eligible to participate. Tickets for the clinic are $3 and can be purchased by calling Carrie Hontz at (407) 823-4542. The ticket for the mini-clinic includes admission into the women's basketball game.
Season tickets for the UCF women's basketball program are currently on sale through the UCF ticket sales office. For more information about the arena's premium seating options, including club seats, group discounts, courtside tables and suites, contact the UCF ticket sales office at (407) UCF-1000 or visit the women's basketball ticket page at UCFAthletics.cstv.com/tickets/w-baskbl-tickets.html.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.