Basketball Teams Plan Breast Cancer Awareness Games

DALLAS (SMU) - To help raise awareness of the battle against breast cancer, the SMU women's and men's basketball teams have scheduled several exciting special events in February.

On Feb. 15, the women's team will participate in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's "Pink Zone" initiative when the Mustangs host University of Alabama at Birmingham at 2 p.m., and the men's team will host Rice for "Pony Up for the Cure" on Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. Both games will be played at Moody Coliseum.

The WBCA began the WBCA "Pink Zone," formerly known as "Think Pink," in 2007 as an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness in women's basketball, on campuses and in communities. More than 120 schools unified for this effort and helped make the inaugural year a success, and, in 2008, over 1,100 teams and organizations participated, reaching over 830,000 fans and raising over $930,000 for breast cancer awareness and research.

The Mustangs will wear "Pony Up for the Cure" pink t-shirts during warm-up, and the SMU coaches, band and cheer and pom squads will also wear pink apparel.

"Pony Up For The Cure" t-shirts will be available for sale day of game for $10. Half of the proceeds will benefit the Dallas County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. SMU's athletic website, www.smumustangs.com, will host an online auction where 90% of the proceeds will benefit Komen Dallas.

Breast cancer survivors will get in free to the events.

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