WBCA Pink Zone Page | UVM Pink Zone Page

BURLINGTON, Vt. – The University of Vermont men’s and women’s basketball teams will be participating in "Pink Zone" activities this weekend to help support breast cancer awareness. The women host Albany on Saturday (Feb. 14) at 1 p.m. and the men will face Stony Brook on Sunday (Feb. 15) at 1 p.m. at Patrick Gymnasium. All proceeds from the two games will benefit the Vermont Cancer Center.

The "Pink Zone", formerly known as “Think Pink”, began in 2007 as an initiative by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) to raise breast cancer awareness in women's basketball, on campuses and in communities. In 2007-08, more than 120 schools unified for this effort and helped make the inaugural year a success. In 2008, over 1,200 teams and organizations participated, reaching over 830,000 fans and raising over $930,000 for breast cancer awareness and research.

Last season, the Catamounts raised over $3,500 through “Think Pink” activities that went directly to the Vermont Cancer Center. This year over 1,500 schools and organizations will be participating in "Pink Zone" event during the week of February 13-22, 2009.

The 2009 “Pink Zone” weekend will kick off on Saturday (Feb. 14) when the women’s basketball hosts Albany at 1 p.m. in Patrick Gymnasium. The game will feature a pregame ceremony with the Vermont Cancer Center. Fans attending the game can get a “Pink Zone” T-Shirt for a donation. The women’s basketball team will be outfitted in pink uniforms and the jerseys will be auctioned off. The team will also be wearing pink shoelaces and playing with a pink and white ball.

The auction for the jerseys began at the women’s basketball game versus Maine on Jan. 21 and runs through the end of Saturday's game versus Albany. Fans will be able to bid on the jerseys at the “Pink Zone” table located in the lobby of Patrick. The highest bidder for each jersey will be updated online at www.UVMathletics.com after each game, giving fans the opportunity to see where they stand in the bidding process. All proceeds from the jersey auction will go directly to the Vermont Cancer Center. The auction winners for each jersey will be announced following the women’s basketball game against Albany.

At the conclusion of the Albany game former Catamounts will square off at the Vermont Women’s Basketball Alumni game. The Alumni game is scheduled for two 15 minute halves and will feature an exciting promotion at halftime.

Following the women’s basketball game versus Albany fans will get the opportunity to mingle and meet both current and former basketball players during a “Fan Fest” to be held inside Patrick Gymnasium. Fans can enter the “Fan Fest” for a donation to the Vermont Cancer Center. The “Fan Fest” will feature food courtesy of Mama Mia’s, beverages courtesy of Coca-Cola, and deserts from Juniors. Several raffles for great prizes will also be conducted during the event.

On the following day, Sunday (Feb. 15), the Vermont men’s team will host Stony Brook at 1 p.m. at Patrick Gymnasium. The Catamounts will again honor the Vermont Cancer Center in a pregame ceremony and “Pink Zone” t-shirts will be given away for donations.

In conjunction with WVMT-620 AM, the Vermont athletic marketing department will auction off a basketball package of items and the winner will be announced at the “Fan Fest” following the women’s basketball Alumni Game on Feb. 14.

The package of items to be auctioned off includes: two tickets to the America East Women's Basketball Championship at Hartford, two general admission season tickets for the 2009-2010 Vermont women’s basketball season, one pink jersey signed by both teams, two tickets to the men’s basketball game on Feb. 15 versus Stony Brook and the best seat in the house for the game, a $25 gift certificate to Juniors, a media guide signed by the men's and women's basketball teams, and two promotional t-shirts from the 2009 “Pink Zone” event. All proceeds from the auction will go directly to the Vermont Cancer Center.

Tickets to all Vermont men’s and women’s basketball games can be purchased online at www.UVMathletics.com, by phone at 1-866-4-CAT-TIX (1-866-422-8849), or in person at the Vermont Ticket Office located on the balcony in Patrick Gym.

For more information please contact Mike Marfione in the UVM Athletic Marketing Department at 802-656-8454 or michael.marfione@uvm.edu.