LOGAN, Utah - Utah State women's basketball team will host Hawai`i on Saturday on "Think Pink Night," part of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association "Cancer Awareness Weekend" and all fans attending Saturday's game are encouraged to wear pink as a show of support for the brave individuals battling cancer. The $5 for admission charge for adult ($1children) will be waived for anyone wearing pink to the game. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.|
This weekend's "Think Pink" campaign is a nationwide effort by the WBCA to raise awareness for cancer research, and to unify the women¹s basketball world in a show of support for all coaches and other individuals who are battling cancer.
Utah State¹s coaching staff will be wearing pink.
"There is a Nike quote that says statistically, playing sports reduces the risk of getting breast cancer by 60 percent," head coach Raegan Pebley said. "We just want to show our support for this great cause."
The campaign hits close to home for the USU women's basketball team, as freshman guard Indira Kaljo's mother past away due to breast cancer approximately six years ago. Hawai`i also has a player, senior center Brittany Grice, whose mother is battling cancer.
According to the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation, this year in America more than 211,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 43,300 will die from the disease. One in seven women either has or will develop breast cancer in her lifetime - that woman could be someone¹s mother, sister, daughter, wife, dear friend, or Hall of Fame Coach. Chances are everyone knows at least one person who has battled breast cancer.
San Jose State's head coach Janice Richard is currently on a medical leave of absence to battle breast cancer. Longtime North Carolina State coach Kay Yow recently returned to the bench after missing two months battling breast cancer. Virginia coach Debbie Ryan beat pancreatic cancer five years ago.