Courtesy: Princeton Athletic Communications

PRINCETON, N.J. (2/3/11) - The Princeton women's basketball team will hold its annual Pink Zone game on Saturday, Feb. 19 when it hosts Brown at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m.

All fans wearing pink will get into the game for free. If you forget to wear pink, Pink Zone short sleeve t-shirts will be available for purchase for $15 and long sleeve shirts are available for $25, with proceeds going to local and national breast cancer organizations.

Fans will see pink around Jadwin Gym including balloons, decorations and programs. Princeton University Dining Services will provide free coffee, hot chocolate, pink cupcakes and cookies. Fans who wear the most pink will have an opportunity to win prizes throughout the game. 

The coaching staff and cheer squad will all be wearing pink. The Princeton Tigers, who currently boast a 14-3 overall record, will weave pink laces in their sneakers and wear pink socks and warm-ups. The officiating crew will call fouls using pink whistles.

At halftime, members of the audience who have been affected by breast cancer will be asked to come down to the court and form a human pink ribbon at center court.

Donation boxes to support breast cancer research can be found in the lobby of Jadwin Gym, where Robert Wood Johnson Health System and the Breast Cancer Recourse Center from the YWCA Princeton will have booths set up to provide information and education about their organizations and breast cancer.

A silent auction will be held with items from local businesses up for bid, including a three-month membership to the Robert Wood Johnson Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness and a $150 gift certificate for Viburnum Florists. 

Locally, Princeton has teamed up with Robert Wood Johnson Health System, YWCA Princeton's Breast Cancer Resource Center and Princeton Against Cancer Together (PACT).

Monies from the event will benefit: The Breast Care Connection at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Foundation, The Breast Cancer Resource Center and the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.

The WBCA began the WBCA Pink Zone in 2007 as an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness in women's basketball, on campuses and in communities. The late Kay Yow, the Fund's namesake and former N.C. State head women's basketball coach, served as a catalyst for starting the WBCA Pink Zone. After three bouts with breast cancer, Yow passed away in January 2009.

In 2010, over 1,800 participants came together to surpass $1,045,000 in donations and reached more than 922,000 fans across the nation. Over 22 schools broke attendance records through their participation. Overall, the WBCA Pink Zone has raised nearly $3.3 million, has reached almost 2.7 million fans, and has unified over 4,700 participants in only four years.