The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women's Basketball Hosts Pink Zone Game Thursday
3/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 1, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB women's basketball team will join with the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center to host the WBCA Pink Zone® game on Thursday, March 4 in order to raise awareness for breast cancer. The Blazers also will honor two seniors, Tamika Dukes and Erica Simpson, as they square off against the Memphis Tigers at 7 p.m. CST in Bartow Arena.
The Pink Zone festivities were originally scheduled for Feb. 14, but were postponed due to the weather. Tickets from the original date will be accepted and coupons for free admission are available on UAB's Pink Zone website.
Pink Zone is a global, unified effort initiated by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. The 2009 campaign raised over $1.3 million, reached over 912,000 fans, unified more than 1,600 participating teams and organizations, and saw 56+ schools break attendance records at their event. UAB was one of those schools, drawing a record-breaking crowd of 5,588 for last year's Pink Zone game.
"The UAB women's basketball program is thrilled to support the Pink Zone initiative again this year," UAB head coach Audra Smith said. "It was truly amazing to see the Birmingham community show its overwhelming support for the cause at last year's game. We are looking forward to another great event this year with the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center and hope to continue efforts to raise awareness of breast cancer throughout our community and beyond."
Throughout the game, breast cancer survivors will be honored and recognized.
Beginning at 6 p.m. and running throughout the game, there will be a silent auction on the Bartow Arena concourse featuring many items ideal for the entire family. All proceeds from the silent auction will be donated to the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center's Coach Gene Bartow Fund for Cancer Research, a fund setup in honor of legendary UAB basketball coach Gene Bartow.
Last year's auction raised over $7,000 for cancer research.
"We are incredibly proud of our collaboration with UAB athletics," said Dr. Ed Partridge, UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Director. "This game is a great way to support ground-breaking breast cancer research while raising awareness about the disease. We appreciate the dedicated support of UAB athletics in the fight against cancer."
The first 500 attending the game will receive a free t-shirt and shaker.
