The Blue and Gold will be thinking pink this weekend at Pauley Pavilion.
The UCLA women’s basketball team, in association with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, will host a “Think Pink” game Sunday against the University of Washington to promote awareness of breast cancer. The team will sport brand new pink uniforms in a game that will be televised nationally by ESPN2.
“I’m pretty sure we’re the only team in history wearing pink uniforms,” junior Chinyere Ibekwe said. “It’s a very big deal, and for a good cause.”
In an effort to raise money for the cause, the custom uniforms will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to research. For UCLA, the opportunity to play an important game on television while supporting an admirable cause is an exciting proposition.
“We’re ready,” Ibekwe said. “We’re very excited to prepare for this game. I think we’re even painting our nails pink.”
Coach Kathy Olivier is equally enthusiastic about the event and hopes for a full house on Sunday. Students who arrive early will be given special “Think Pink” shirts in recognition of their support.
“Our team is very excited about the opportunity to be on ESPN sporting some good uniforms,” Olivier said. “We would absolutely love to see this place packed up and wearing pink.”
That being said, however, there are still games to be played and won.
The Bruins, who are riding a two-game losing streak after falling to the Bay Area schools last weekend, look to regain momentum down the stretch against the bottom half of the Pac-10. With their record currently sitting at 11-11, the Bruins would need to win each of their last seven games in order to hit the 18-win mark, an ideal number for postseason consideration. It is clear this won’t be an easy task.
“We need to try extremely hard to win out. The reality is, our backs are against the wall,” Olivier said.
Their first test will come with the Washington State Cougars on Friday night. The Cougars are the current cellar-dwellers of the conference, not having won a Pac-10 game yet. But even they pose a challenge in the eyes of Olivier.
“I don’t think we’re in a position to be complacent,” Olivier said. “If anyone gets hot, they’re scary.”
Ibekwe concurred with her coach’s assessment, insisting that the Bruins would not be caught looking ahead of any opponent this late in the season. Players and coaches were not shy in addressing the current situation as a must-win one.
“I think right now we’re in a good situation with five home games left,” Ibekwe said. “But we are in a must-win situation. We need to take every game seriously because anything can happen.”
In order to perform on the level they wish to achieve, UCLA will have to shore up its rebounding and especially find a spark for its suddenly lagging offense. Over the weekend, the Bruins shot their lowest percentage on the season: 32 percent.
“I think offensively we’ve been out of the flow,” Olivier said. “We also have to get back to rebounding. We struggled with that this last weekend.”
Two wins at home would be a major boost for the Bruins, who currently sit at 6-5 in the conference. With a number of home contests on the horizon, UCLA enters this weekend’s play with renewed confidence despite the previous weekend’s sweep. Protecting its home turf is its first priority.
Sunday’s “Think Pink” game in Pauley Pavilion will begin at 1:30 p.m.