PEORIA, Ill. -- The Bradley women's basketball team opens the final home stand of the year Friday with a 6 p.m. game against defending Missouri Valley Conference regular-season champion Northern Iowa at Renaissance Coliseum. Friday's game will be the team's ninth annual Pink Zone game with proceeds helping benefit Komen for the Cure.
In addition to Friday's annual Pink Zone game, the Braves will host a Pink Zone Reception Thursday, Feb. 16 at the Lariat Steakhouse (2232 W. Glen Ave.) beginning at 5 p.m. Head coach Paula Buscher and members of the Memorial Chapter of Komen for the Cure will speak at the free event. Individual attending are encouraged to make a donation for Komen for the Cure and RSVP by contacting the Bradley women's basketball office at (309) 677-4557.
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.
Bradley (13-12 overall, 4-9 MVC) will be hosting its ninth annual Pink Zone game, raising over $50,000 during the previous eight events. The first 500 fans will receive free pink Bradley t-shirts and all fans are asked to wear pink to the contest. Promotions also include a pink ball toss, raffles and a special Parade of Hope at halftime recognizing breast cancer survivors. To participate in the Parade of Hope and receive free admission to the game please email busportsmarketing@bradley.edu by noon on Friday, Feb. 17.
One of the highlights of the previous Pink Zone events has been Coach Buscher's Challenge, with Buscher pledging $25 per BU made three-pointer during Friday's game against Northern Iowa. Fans can pledge to match Buscher's donation to Komen for the Cure at the reception, at the game or by emailing busportsmarketing@bradley.edu
Northern Iowa (15-9 overall, 8-5 MVC) is fourth in the Valley standings, two games out of a three-way tie for first with Missouri State, Wichita State and Illinois State after a 60-71 loss at Indiana State Sunday. Friday's game will wrap up a season-long three-game road swing for the Panthers.
BradleyBraves.com will have video (subscription) and audio (free) streams of Friday's contest against UNI, in addition to a live chat on the live stats window.
Bradley looks to rebound from back-to-back road losses and has played five of the last seven games on the road. The Braves own a three-game home win streak after topping Southern Illinois 66-50 back on Feb. 4 and Friday's tilt opens a three-game home stand.
Senior MacKenzie Westcott (Williamsburg, Iowa/Williamsburg) had 13 points and 11 rebounds Sunday at Illinois State for her sixth double-double of the year and is averaging 11.3 points and 11.0 rebounds per game over the last four outings.
Fellow senior Leah Kassing (Mt. Sterling, Ill./Brown County) had 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting against the Redbirds to join Eileen Yerkes as the only players in program history with 300 points, 200 rebounds and 25 blocked shots in a season. Kassing grabbed her 500th career rebound Sunday at Illinois State.
