February 16, 2011

Tech to host Think Pink, Pack The House Night Saturday

Fans are encouraged to wear pink and to fill the stands Saturday night when the Golden Eagle basketball teams host a doubleheader in Eblen Center. All fans wearing pink for "Think Pink" Night can buy tickets for one dollar.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Tech women's basketball team is hosting its annual "Think Pink" Night in Eblen Center Saturday when they host Austin Peay in the first game of a doubleheader at 5:30 p.m. All fans are encouraged to wear pink in show of their support for breast cancer awareness. Everyone wearing pink can purchase tickets for one dollar.

The team will add some splashes of pink to their uniforms for the event, which is a national initiative by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

Additionally, it's Pack The House Night as the Golden Eagle women hope to break the school attendance record. The largest crowd to watch a Tech women’s game is 6,113 (vs. Middle Tennessee in 1990), so it will take a massive effort from the student body, the Tech community, and the Cookeville area fans to top that mark.

“These are all important games for our team right now,” said second-year head coach Sytia Messer. “The ‘Pack The House’ promotion is important for our team, and we’re looking forward to a great turnout.

“The other event - ‘Think Pink’ – is so important because raising awareness for the latest developments in breast cancer research and treatment, that’s obviously more important than the game itself,” Messer said. “The larger the crowd that night, the greater the number of people who will have the opportunity to learn something that could save lives.

“Every one of our players and coaches is excited about the opportunity to play a role in ‘Think Pink’,” Messer said.

Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game to increase visibility of the color associated with finding a cure for the disease.

There will also be the customary cash drop into the stands plus the popular $250 cash prize for the student group exhibiting the most spirit. Student groups are asked to bring a sign or banner identifying them as a group, and to be in the stands no later than halftime of the women’s game.

The doors of Eblen Center will be open at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, with the women’s game scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. The women's game will be televised live by WCTE TV.

The men's contest, scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff, brings Gardner-Webb to Eblen Center for the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

Tech students are admitted free to all regular season home games with a valid TTU ID. For questions regarding Pack The House Night or Think Pink, or for ticket information, contact the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center at (931) 372-3940.