FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – NAU women's basketball will be one of 1,550 schools and organizations participating in the 2010 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) “Pink Zone” initiative in its game against Idaho State on Saturday. The Pink Zone initiative is an effort for the WBCA's nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond.  Fans wearing pink will recieve FREE admission.

“The women's basketball community around the country embraces breast cancer awareness,” said head coach Laurie Kelly. “It is a game bigger than us and a reminder for how fortunate we are. It is a time to honor and celebrate those who have beat breast cancer, are still fighting the fight, or those who have lost their battle.”

Fans are encouraged to wear pink apparel in order to show support to breast cancer patients, survivors, and family members.  Coaches will be wearing pink and the NAU student-athletes will have pink headbands and socks as well as warm-up shooting shirts.

"Each year, I grow more and more amazed at the dedication of coaches, fans, student-athletes and women's basketball supporters who unite in the fight against breast cancer by participating in the WBCA Pink Zone," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "Through this initiative, women's basketball becomes much more than wins and losses, and I cannot think of a more important win than finding a cure for this disease."

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. The late Kay Yow, former North Carolina State University head women's basketball coach, served as the catalyst for the initiative after her third reoccurrence of breast cancer in 2006.

“We all have been touched by cancer,” Kelly said. “My grandmother died of cancer. I remember her and she is still a part of my life. This game lets me know how fortunate I am to be on the sideline as a coach in a game that means so much to so many.”

Saturday's game is scheduled for a 6:35 p.m. tip in the Walkup Skydome. For more information on the WBCA and the Pink Zone initiative, visit www.wbca.org

DID YOU KNOW…The Northern Arizona University athletics department recorded its highest cumulative grade point average since 1997, recording a 3.16 GPA among its more than 300 student-athletes at the completion of the fall of 2009 semester.