PEORIA, Ill. -- The Bradley women's basketball team will be hosting a Pink Zone Reception Thursday, Feb. 16 at the Lariat Steakhouse (2232 W. Glen Avenue) in advance of the team's ninth annual Pink Zone Game, Feb. 17 against defending Missouri Valley Conference regular season champion Northern Iowa.
The reception will be held Feb. 16 from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Lariat Steakhouse and will feature comments from Bradley head coach Paula Buscher and members of the Memorial Chapter of Komen for the Cure. The event is free and will include light refreshments, but individuals attending are encouraged to make a donation to Komen for the Cure. Fans are asked to RSVP for the reception by calling the Bradley women's basketball office at (309) 677-4557.
The reception is part of the team's ninth annual Pink Zone game which will be played Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. against Northern Iowa. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game and the first 500 in attendance will receive a free pink t-shirt. The Braves will be wearing commemorative pink uniforms for the game.
Breast cancer survivors are invited to participate in a halftime Parade of Hope and will receive free admission to the Feb. 17 game. Parade of Hope participants are asked to email busportsmarketing@bradley.edu prior to noon on Feb. 17 with their information.
In-game promotions include a pink ball toss, with prizes including gym membership. spa and salon services, car repair, pink basketballs and 2012-13 Bradley women's basketball season tickets.
In addition, Coach Buscher will again extend her Coach's Challenge, asking individuals to donate $25 per Bradley three-pointer. Participants in Coach Buscher's Challenge can sign up at the Pink Zone Reception (Feb. 16), the Pink Zone Game (Feb. 17) at Renaissance Coliseum or be emailing busportsmarketing@bradley.edu. The Braves have shot 39.3 percent (53-for-135) from beyond the arc and averaged 6.6 three-pointers per game in the previous eight Pink Zone events.
Donation stations will be available around Renaissance Coliseum during the game, along with areas to purchase tennis balls for the halftime ball toss and raffle items donated by area businesses. All proceeds and donations from the Pink Zone events will benefit the Memorial Chapter of Komen for the Cure, a local foundation dedicated to breast cancer research. Check or cash donations only can be accepted and checks should be made payable to Komen for the Cure.
Bradley has helped raise approximately $55,000 during the previous eight Pink Zone events.
Game tickets can be purchased at the Bradley Athletics Ticket Office, by calling (309) 677-2625 or online at BradleyBraves.com. Adult tickets are $8 and youth/student tickets are available for $4. Family 4-pack tickets are also available for purchase for just $16.
The Pink Zone initiative is a global, unified effort for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) nation of coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. The WBCA Pink Zone and Think Pink event has been rebranded as Play 4Kay in memory of coach and administrator, Kay Yow. Since the Kay Yow Cancer Fund's inception, $1.5 million has been raised for scientific research focused on women's cancers.
