Courtesy of Sarah Houseknecht, CACC Office

NEW HAVEN, CT - The Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) is jumping into the "Pink Zone" early this year. Each of the 14 CACC schools will be supporting the cause or hosting a "Pink Zone" game to raise awareness of breast cancer on the court, campus and in the community.

The national dates for the "Pink Zone" games, set up by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), will be Feb. 12-21. According to the WBCA, over 1,350 women's basketball teams and supporting organizations will raise breast cancer awareness during this time. Some CACC institutions held their event as early as Tuesday, Feb. 2. Although each school will be supporting the same cause, many different groups will benefit.

The effort for breast cancer awareness started with a campus-wide PINKOUT at Georgian Court University on February 2. The event raised $1,050 dollars as the Lions faced off against conference rival, Holy Family University.  

Bloomfield College will host Holy Family on Sunday, Feb. 7 in a "Pink Zone" game. Each team will be sporting pink for the game and Bloomfield plans to use a pink game ball.

Post University will host Goldey-Beacom College on Thursday, February 11 at 6:00 pm. Post will be taking pledges from fans to raise money for every statistic players rack up.  Post is one of several CACC institutions that have participated in WBCA "Pink Zone" events since they commenced in 2007.

For one player in particular, the "Pink Zone" events are extra important. Taylor Doyle, a sophomore at Post University, plays both basketball and volleyball for the Eagles. The sports management major from Mystic, Conn., dealt with breast cancer first hand about a year ago. Her mother, Robin Doyle, was diagnosed with the disease.

"She is doing pretty well," said Taylor Doyle. "She had two surgeries, because they didn't get it all the first time. And then she went through radiation. Now she'll be on medication for the rest of her life, a pill."

Doyle said her mother will be in attendance at Thursday's game and will be sponsoring her for the cause. She said she is thankful that her school has set aside this day of awareness because breast cancer can hit anyone at any time.

"It creates a support system," said Doyle. "I feel like you never know. I never thought it would happen to my mom."

Conference officials will also be getting involved. Officials will be using pink whistles as they "Call for a Cure." This will be the third year officials will be involved and over the past two years, "Calling for a Cure" has raised $45,000 nationally, according to the WBCA.

CACC "Pink Zone" games will resume on Feb. 11 when Holy Family players and coaches wear pink as they host Philadelphia University. Three more games will be played on Feb. 13 at Chestnut Hill College, Wilmington University and Philadelphia University. Chestnut Hill will lace up their pink shoe laces to take on Dominican College at 1 p.m. The Griffins will warm-up in WBCA "Pink Zone" T-shirts that fans can also purchase at the game.

Wilmington will be using a pink game ball for their "Think Pink" event. In Wilmington's face off with Concordia, the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition will be present to offer information and collect donations. All fans will receive a pink ribbon and any breast cancer survivor in attendance will receive a pink carnation for supporting the Wildcats.

Philadelphia will wear pink to warm up as they host Bloomfield. The team will also sport pink sweatbands for the game at 1 p.m. on Feb. 13. The first 50 fans in attendance wearing pink will receive a "Think Pink" wristband. Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) representatives will be spreading awareness to fans during the game and will also be collecting donations. A speech will be given in honor of current and former student-athletes battling cancer.

Nyack College will host Felician Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Nyack Hospital Breast Center. They will also be holding a "pink fan" contest in which the winning fan  will receive a prize.

Concordia and Dominican will both be playing at home on Feb. 18 dressed in pink. Both schools will raise money for the Kay Yow WBCA Cancer Fund. Goldey-Beacom will also play that day versus Georgian Court using a pink game ball. University of the Sciences in Philadelphia will be accepting donations for breast cancer awareness at all home games during the month of February.

CACC "Pink Zone" games will finish up Feb. 20 at Felician and Caldwell College. Felician will sell pink T-shirts when they take on Goldey-Beacom. Caldwell will be partnering with St. Barnabas Ambulatory Hospital, who will be providing breast cancer information when the Cougars host Wilmington. Coaches and players will also be wearing pink.

"My mom is a breast cancer survivor," said Caldwell Head Women's Basketball Coach Linda Cimino, "Which is the reason I've taken such an interest in the event."

All 14 CACC institutions will support breast cancer awareness and the "Pink Zone" this February. Although the WBCA started the "Pink Zone" program in women's basketball, many of the CACC men's basketball programs have taken the initiative to join in and support breast cancer awareness.