The NDSU women’s basketball team will participate in the 2009 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association “Pink Zone” initiative. Scheduled Feb. 13-22, the global, unified effort by the association’s coaches assists in raising breast cancer awareness.

On Feb. 14 at 2 p.m., the women’s team will host Southern Utah University at the Bison Sports Arena. The team will wear pink warm-up shirts and shoelaces as part of the “Pink Zone” effort.

The first 1,000 fans will receive pink T-shirts, courtesy of Innovis Health. Head coach Carolyn DeHoff, also will donate 50 cents to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund for every fan in attendance, and State Farm Insurance agent Jill Henning will donate $100 to the same fund for every three-pointer the Bison make.

Last year, NDSU raised $3,605 at the event.

NDSU is one of more than 1,250 schools and organizations participating in the “Pink Zone” initiative this year. Formerly known as "Think Pink," the effort began in 2007 to raise breast cancer awareness in women's basketball, on campuses and in communities.

More than 120 schools took part in 2007, the event’s inaugural year. More than 1,200 teams and organizations participated in 2008, reaching about 830,000 fans and raising $930,000 for breast cancer awareness and research.