By Joe Pantorno, Assistant Sports Editor

The Hofstra University women’s basketball team’s match up against Old Dominion on Sunday, February 15 at 12:30 p.m. is big for two reasons. The first being that the Pride has a chance to take down the third place Monarchs and gain momentum in the CAA as season’s end approaches. The second, which is much more important than a game of basketball, is that Hofstra will host “Think Pink” Day, a day to gain awareness for breast cancer and honor the late women’s basketball icon, Kay Yow.

Hofstra will be donning pink jerseys for the game in honor of awareness and fans are asked to wear pink to the game as well. Donations will be accepted at the game that will go to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, a cause that hits very close to home for the Hofstra women’s basketball team.

“Coach Yow is like the grandmother of this team,” said head coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey. “I was there [playing basketball for Yow at NC State] in 1987 when she had her first bout, that’s when she first got diagnosed so it means a lot.”

“It means a lot to me because multiple women in my family have battled with breast cancer,” said sophomore guard Candace Bond. “All the money, all the recognition, everything that’s going towards the Kay Yow Fund it means a lot.”

“I feel like we all personally have an obligation because we are so close to the situation,” said junior guard Nicole Capurso.

Hofstra is also calling out to all Girl Scouts and their families, who have an opportunity to get reduced tickets for five dollars and will receive a 2011 Hofstra women’s basketball patch.

The Pride is doing everything they can to spread awareness and help the Kay Yow Fund. The bigger the crowd, the better the chances of generous donations that can help cure such a terrible disease. 

“Every Pink Zone game is special to me,” said junior guard Jael Pena. “Just to represent and to give back and just to show the importance of breast cancer awareness is very important.”