Jan. 30, 2008

Garden City, N.Y. - On Saturday, February 16, the Adelphi University men and women's basketball teams will join over 750 schools committed to participating in the 2008 WBCA's Think Pink" initiative. The Panthers will don pink warm-up shirts and pink laces when they play host the University of New Haven in a conference doubleheader beginning at 5:30 p.m.

"The WBCA is very excited to promote an initiative that touches all levels of our membership and unifies them for such a great cause," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "It has been remarkable to watch the support of this initiative grow from 120 schools last year to over 600 schools for 2008. With the help of each of our members, the women's basketball community can make a difference in the fight against breast cancer."

The women's team will wear pink shoelaces during the game and will warm up in AU "Thinks Pink" t-shirts. The men's team will also show its support by wearing the same pink t-shirts during warm up. Adelphi will donate the same t-shirts to the Chargers to unify the effort.

The t-shirts and wristbands will be on sale at both basketball games, with proceeds again going towards the hotline's efforts.

In addition, Adelphi will honor breast cancer survivors at half-time of the games and will distribute literature provide by the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Center.

The WBCA event highlights a year-long effort by the Adelphi Athletic Department to raise awareness of breast cancer. In October, the Panthers launched the Jennifer Montgomery Breast Cancer Awareness event, which raised over $6,000 for the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Center.

All 21 intercollegiate teams participated by donating raffle baskets and selling t-shirts, which were donated by the Student Government Association, along with pink wristbands. In addition, the fall sports teams wore the pink t-shirts at designated home events to help raise awareness.

The NCAA has also joined the WBCA's "Think Pink" initiative by implementing the "Calling for a Cure" campaign where all NCAA women's basketball officials will be blowing a pink whistle February 8-17. Additionally, officials are encouraged to make a donation to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.

For more information on the WBCA and the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, please visit wbca.org.