Brooklyn, N.Y. - The Long Island University women's basketball program will join the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and over 1,550 schools and organizations across the nation to take part in the WBCA Pink Zone initiative on Saturday, Feb. 20 when the Blackbirds host Monmouth at the Wellness, Recreation and Athletic Center. Long Island will also participate in the NCAA/Northeast Conference “Pack the House” challenge that day and honor a pair of graduating players with Senior Day festivities.

 

The Pink Zone 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 window set aside for this year's initiative is Feb. 12-21. The WBCA's charity of choice is the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, in partnership with The V Foundation.

 

The Blackbirds will wear pink shoelaces and warm-up shirts on Saturday and the coaching staff will don pink attire. In addition, Long Island players will be accepting donations for the local chapter of American Cancer Society, headed by Peter Osterman, which will have an information table at the game. Flat donations will be accepted or fans can opt to sponsor a player with a specific donation amount per field goal during the contest. Last year, the Blackbirds raised over $3,000. The first 200 students at the Wellness Center will receive a free Pink Zone t-shirt.

 

The “Pack the House” challenge pits conference teams against each other in an effort to draw more fans than the other schools. The Blackbirds will welcome several high school and AAU teams to the arena as they try to pack the WRAC.

 

Tip-off is slated for 2:00 p.m.

 

In addition, the Blackbirds will be giving away free Long Island basketball t-shirts at their game on Thursday, Feb. 18 against Fairleigh Dickinson at 5:00 p.m.