Prepare to enter the Pink Zone

TANA TIME: The Mountaineers’ Tana Stickney has been a force inside the paint for EOU recently. - Observer file photo

On Jan. 30, EOU changed the slogan from blue to white and the athletic department will switch things up again Friday.

Fans will enter the “Pink Zone” for Friday’s game against Northwest University.

Eastern will ask fans to “Wear Pink and Get Aware” for this special evening in support of the Susan G. Komen foundation and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

The WBCA Pink Zone initiative is a global, unified effort for coaches to assist in raising breast cancer awareness on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond.

“This is an initiative that all divisions take part in,” Eastern Oregon women’s basketball head coach Anji Weissenfluh said. “It was started by Kay Yow, the former North Carolina State head coach, who passed away a few weeks ago.

“One hundred percent of the money they raise throughout the year goes to research. It’s been huge, everyone has jumped on board. It’s grown from 100 teams participating the first year, to thousands this year.”

EOU athletic director Rob Cashell and OHSU registered nurse Angie Abel recently received a grant from the Komen foundation for $1,600 for the event.

Exclusive “Wear Pink and Get Aware” T-shirts will be given out to the first 150 students to arrive. One Hundred additional shirts will be on sale for $10 in the Quinn Coliseum lobby.

A portion of the sales will be donated to CHD to help provide mammograms to uninsured women in our community.

Numerous other events will make the special night extraordinary. Legacy Ford has donated $250 to begin the 50/50 raffle which takes place at every home game.

Safeway has donated a $50 gift card which will be given away along with several other prizes including a Nintendo Wii game console.

The lobby will have a carnival-like atmosphere with many different booths.

OHSU and EOU students will be face-painting. The Blue Mountain Healing Arts massage school will be giving massages on donation. Fans will receive $10 off a future massage when they give a donation.

A mammogram technician from the Grande Ronde Hospital, the American Cancer Society, the Nazarene Church and ReMax will all have booths at the event.

“The coaches and players on our team, being females understand that every one in four have the possibility of catching it,” Weissenfluh said. “This is a cause that is special to our heart. Our student athletes have been excited that they can take part in it.”

Cancer survivors will be admitted for free to the game and will receive a free shirt.

Raylene Olson, a breast cancer survivor, will be an honorary coach for the Eastern women and will be calling a play during the game.

“She’s a special young lady,” Weissenfluh said. “We’re going to get her involved. She’ll be a part of our pregame and postgame locker room talks.

“We don’t want her to just sit there. If she’s going to be an honorary coach, we’re going to introduce her to coaching. I’m very vocal on the sidelines, so I may let her say some things I may usually say.”

With four games remaining in the regular season, the Eastern Oregon women’s basketball team sits in fourth-place in the league standings.

The Mountaineers (15-8) (10-6) have a two-game lead over fifth place Warner Pacific and a four game lead over Northwest who is in sixth place.

The top four teams at the end of the season will host a first round game in the conference tournament.

Three of EOU’s four remaining games are at home and are against opponents who have a combined overall record of 49-50.

Only one of the four final opponents has a winning record, The College of Idaho.

Northwest (8-17) (6-10) fell at home to the Mountaineers on Jan. 12, 67-51.

The Golden Eagles enter the game after falling at Northwest Christian last Friday, 66-54.

“At this stage of the season I think everyone has a sense of urgency,” Weissenfluh said. “Everyone is trying to position themselves for the playoffs.

“Northwest had an injury early in the season to its top player, Brittany Brauer. She’s playing to full strength now and you’re going to see a tough team.”

The women’s game is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.

The game can be heard on KLBM 1450 AM with the pregame beginning at 5:15 p.m.

The men’s game which tips off at 7:30 p.m. will be a part of the Coaches vs. Cancer program.

The program unites the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches in the fight against cancer.

“This is a program we have participated in the past four or so years,” EOU men’s basketball head coach Ryan Looney said. “In men’s basketball the general theme around the country are suits and sneakers.

“For us to show our support, on Friday and Saturday night the coaching staff will wear sneakers during the games.”