Birmingham, AL – The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference basketball tournament began today dressed in Pink. Teams from around the SIAC displayed support of the fight against cancer by wearing pink SIAC shirts, uniforms, socks and shoelaces during the opening round of the SIAC tournament.

The SIAC provided each of the women’s teams with pink SIAC conference shirts which were provided by Russell Athletics.  Albany State University started the day off garnished in their pink Lady Rams jerseys, which they recently wore during their home game earlier this season.  The games to follow were no different as teams warmed up with their SIAC shirts and many of the coaches wearing pink ties.  Miles College ended the day wearing pink uniforms in the final women’s game of the day.  The referees calling the games wore pink whistles in accordance to the initiative.

The SIAC, in observance of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Associations (WBCA) initiative to globally raise breast cancer awareness on the court, across campus, in communities and beyond, decided to make the first day of the tournament Breast Cancer Awareness Day.  The SIAC encouraged the community to wear pink to today’s games. The SIAC also provided tickets to the local community Breast Cancer Research centers inviting those affected by cancer to attend.  Fans were also directed through PA Announcements to visit the WBCA’s Pink Zone to purchase Pink apparel and other gifts.

The SIAC thanks George Cooley and Russell Athletics for their contributions, as the student athletes and the entire SIAC family brings awareness to this disease.

For more information on the WBCA and the Pink Zone please visit www.wbca.org/pinkzone.  For up to date information on the SIAC tournament please visit www.thesiac.com.