ALTOONA, Pa. - The Penn State Altoona women's basketball team renews its annual effort to support the fight against breast cancer this week at its Pink Zone event on Wednesday, February 6. The Lady Lions host crosstown rival Mount Aloysius College at 6:00 PM in the Adler Gym, and all fans in attendance are encouraged to wear pink.

As they have for the past six years, the women's basketball team will be raising money to donate to the Altoona Regional Hospital's digital mammography department. Before and throughout the women's and men's basketball games on Wednesday evening, fans can support the cause through a variety of ways.

Leading up to Wednesday, the team sold limited edition blue tie-dye "Entering the Pink Zone" t-shirts to members of the community and fans. The squad has sold 250 t-shirts to date, a figure that the team hopes to increase to 300 this week.

The Lady Lions will also be selling pink ribbons for one dollar apiece. The ribbons are used to honor those who have survived breast cancer, as well as memorialize those who lost the fight. The ribbons will be hung throughout the Adler building, coloring the lobby and hallways pink.

The team is also auctioning off two theme baskets: a Pink basket and a Penn State basket. Fans can purchase tickets to put their name into the raffle, and two winning tickets will be drawn that night.

Additionally, the proceeds from all of the game tickets will be donated to the cause. Tickets for all adults are $3, and children and students can enter for $1.

The Lady Lions have also placed collection jugs in businesses throughout the Altoona area, allowing the community to donate even if they cannot attend the games on Wednesday.

Prior to the women's game, there will be a ceremonial tip-off with a special pink basketball. The ball will be tossed by Valerie Brumbaugh, the assistant Penn State Altoona women's volleyball coach who was diagnosed with breast cancer in October and has recently undergone therapy. Brumbaugh is a friend of Penn State Altoona women's basketball head coach Donna Kling, who is helping to spearhead her team's effort to support the fight against breast cancer along with her assistant coaches Pat Nagle and Casey Shoup.

"The Pink Zone game and initiative is important because breast cancer and so many other forms of cancer will probably touch each of our lives, and to raise awareness and funds may help with someone's survival," said Kling. "To accomplish that is the biggest 'win' we can ever hope to achieve."

The Pink Zone activities at Penn State Altoona have been coordinated by the women's basketball team's coaches and student-athletes. Over the past six years, the team has donated nearly $24,000 to the Altoona Regional Hospital.

Following the women's game, Penn State Altoona men's basketball will face Mount Aloysius at 8:00 PM, during which the Pink Zone activities will continue.