Worcester, MA --- The WPI basketball teams will be taking part in their annual "Pink Zone" event during their home doubleheader next Wednesday, February 18th.  The women's team will be hosting Babson at 5:30pm while the men entertain Wheaton at 7:30pm. Both the men's and women's basketball teams will be chasing a NEWMAC regular season championship and potential home games for the upcoming NEWMAC conference tournament.

The Pink Zone initiative is a global, unified effort for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's 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 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 W.B. Mason.

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

"Over 1500 NCAA schools are planning "Pink Zone" activities through the WBCA, who has really done a great job promoting this event. We are pleased to continue to support this worthy cause" declared Coach Galasso, who also serves as Senior Women's Administrator and Associate Athletic Director for WPI Athletics.

"Many people have been impacted by this disease, either personally or through someone they know. And all of us, especially those in the basketball community, have been touched by the story of Kay Yow and her recent passing. She is an inspiration for all of us.  Specifically for us at WPI, the loss of Chuck's daughter, Angela, really hit home. We wanted to make a difference in some way.  Their strength and courage during their fights with this disease is what has united all of us behind finding a cure. The Pink Zone is their legacy and we continue the battle in their honor."

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