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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology women's basketball team hosts its annual Breast Cancer Awareness Game on Saturday, Feb. 7, when the Fightin' Engineers welcome Manchester to Hulbert Arena for a 3 p.m. contest.
The game marks the ninth annual game in which the women's basketball program has raised funds and awareness for breast cancer. The issue hits close to home for Rose-Hulman's head coach, Jon Prevo, who is a cancer survivor himself. Prevo's wife, Deanna, also defeated the season over a decade ago.
A ceremony with more than 40 Wabash Valley breast cancer survivors will take place 20 minutes before tipoff, at 2:40 p.m. The ceremony will honor area survivors with all money raised from T-shirts, cotton candy sales, and other donations will go directly to the Wabash Valley Breast Cancer Survivors, Inc., organization. Last year, the event raised nearly $2,000 bringing the nine-year total to $10,000.
T-shirts will be on sale at the game for $12 each, and all the proceeds from the gate will also be donated to Wabash Valley Breast Cancer Survivors, Inc. The funds will be presented by the team's upperclassmen at an upcoming group meeting.
The shirts also have a new twist this year with a slogan that puts even the game of basketball into a proper perspective.
They read: "Supporting the Fighters, Admiring the Survivors, Honoring the Taken, and never ever giving up Hope."
GAME PREVIEW
The Teams: Rose-Hulman (10-10, 6-7 HCAC) hosting Manchester (10-10, 7-6 HCAC) on Saturday, Feb. 7. Tipoff is slated to begin at 3 p.m.
Last Time Out: Rose-Hulman won a 52-44 decision in North Manchester on Dec. 13. Senior Gracie Gibbs led the Engineers with 12 points. As a team, Rose-Hulman shot 56 percent from the field while holding Manchester to 31 percent from the field.
Team Leaders: Gibbs leads the team offensively averaging 9.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Sophomore Abbie Marshall is second on the team in both categories, averaging 7.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Katie Arterburn (10.6) and Alyssa Hammond (10.4) are the two Spartans averaging double figures in scoring.
NCAA Stats: As of Feb. 1, Rose-Hulman ranks 29th in the nation in scoring defense allowing opponents 52.1 points per game.
HCAC Stats: As of Feb. 4, the Engineers lead the conference in scoring defense (52.1) and field goal percentage defense (.351).
All-Time Series: Manchester leads the series 21-7. The teams are 3-3 over the last six meetings.
