Worcester, MA --- The WPI women's and men's basketball teams will be taking part in "Think Pink" during their home doubleheader on Saturday, February 16th.  The women's team will be hosting Wheaton at 1pm while the men entertain MIT at 3pm.  The "Think Pink" initiative is a global, unified effort for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond.

Fans are encouraged to join the teams, event workers, pep band and cheerleaders in wearing pink to the game.  According to WPI head women's coach Cherise Galasso, between the shirts, balloons and decorations, the WPI gymnasium will be a "sea of pink" that day.   In addition, the WPI website will go pink through out the weekend in honor of the event. 

The WPI athletic department will be asking for donations in lieu of the price of admission.  The pep band will be donating their proceeds from the concession stand while the cheerleaders will donate their portion of the 50-50 raffle.  Additionally the dance team, step team and the student fan group The Herd, who all participate in activities at halftime, will be involved with the festivities.  There will also be raffles with gifts donated by Cyprian Keys, Jillian's and New England Roast Beef.

Donations raised will go to the Kay Yow/WBCA fund and the Angela Bangrazi Memorial Fund.  Yow is the head women's basketball coach at North Carolina State University; she was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 while Angela Bangrazi was the daughter of longtime WPI scoreboard operator, Chuck Kornik, who lost her battle with breast cancer two years ago.

"Over 900 NCAA schools are planning "Think Pink" activities through the WBCA, who has really done a great job promoting this event.  But it comes down to the personal story of Kay Yow and how that has touched people.  I think it's a testament to how respected and beloved Kay is and we are glad to support such a wonderful event," adds Galasso, who also serves as Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator at WPI.

For more information, please send at e-mail to athletics@wpi.edu or call 508-831-5328.