Athletics

The power of pink

Lady Lions honor breast cancer survivors at 10th annual Pink Zone game

Penn State guard Teniya Page drove past Michigan Wolverine Madison Ristovski during game action at the Bryce Jordan Center on Jan. 17. Both Michigan and Penn State wore unique uniforms, trimmed in pink, for the 10th annual Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Zone game. The uniforms were auctioned after the game with proceeds benefiting breast cancer research. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — It's been close to 18 years since Donna Spoonhour was diagnosed with breast cancer, and on Sunday, for the third time, she attended the Pink Zone game with her family.

Spoonhour was one of 640 breast cancer survivors on the court at the Bryce Jordan Center at halftime to celebrate the 10th Annual Pink Zone game. Accompanied by her daughter, granddaughter and her granddaughter's friend, Spoonhour saw Penn State lose a close battle with Michigan, 91-87.

But regardless of the outcome of the game, Spoonhour was blown away by all the support aimed toward survivors. The day has become a great way for survivors to come out and enjoy themselves with friends and family, with events before and after the game that survivors can attend.

Breast cancer survivors were honored during a special halftime ceremony at the 10th annual Pink Zone Game at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center Jan. 17. Penn State Lady Lion Basketball, along with Penn State's Hershey Breast Cancer Center, welcomed more than 700 cancer survivors to the game vs. Michigan followed by a reception with the team and a silent auction to benefit breast cancer research. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Penn State Pep Band welcomed Lady Lion basketball fans, along with more than 700 breast cancer survivors, to the Bryce Jordan Center with a rousing rendition of 'Fight on State' prior to the 10th annual Pink Zone game on Jan. 17. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Lady Lion center Ashanti Thomas wore a bright, pink headband at the 10th annual Pink Zone Game to Help Fight Breast Cancer on Jan. 17 at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center. The game, vs. Michigan, included a special halftime ceremony honoring more than 700 breast cancer survivors. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Penn State junior Lindsey Spann (12) guarded Michigan's Siera Thompson during first-half action at the 10th annual Pink Zone Game at the Bryce Jordan Center. Spann scored 17 points in the Lady Lions 91-87 loss to the Wolverines. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Nittany Lion prompted fans to make some noise during the 10th annual Pink Zone game at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center on Jan. 17. More than 700 breast cancer survivors and their families were in attendance to see the Penn State Lady Lions battle the Michigan Wolverines. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Lady Lion coach Coquese Washington sported a bright, pink boa during pregame festivities at the 10th annual Pink Zone Game at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center Jan. 17. The annual Pink Zone Game welcomes busloads of breast cancer survivors from throughout the northeast. Proceeds from the game, and a silent auction, benefit breast cancer research. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

More than 700 cancer survivors were honored during halftime festivities at the annual Pink Zone Game on Jan. 17 at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center. Breast cancer survivors from throughout the northeastern United States received four free tickets to the game vs. Michigan along with a post-game reception hosted by the Lady Lion basketball team. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Penn State guard Teniya Page drove past Michigan Wolverine Madison Ristovski during game action at the Bryce Jordan Center on Jan. 17. Both Michigan and Penn State wore unique uniforms, trimmed in pink, for the 10th annual Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Zone game. The uniforms were auctioned after the game with proceeds benefiting breast cancer research. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Penn State Lionettes Dance Team entertained the crowd at the Bryce Jordan Center during a break in the action at the annual Pink Zone Game, hosted by Penn State Lady Lion Basketball and the Penn State Hershey Breast Cancer Center, on the afternoon of Jan. 17. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Breast cancer survivors embraced during an emotional halftime ceremony at the 10th annual Pink Zone Game at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center Jan. 17. Lady Lion Basketball and Penn State Hershey welcomed more than 700 cancer survivors to the game vs. Michigan followed by a reception with the Lady Lion players and coaches. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The 10th annual Pink Zone Game at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center  Jan. 17, 2016. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Breast cancer survivors were honored during a special halftime ceremony at the 10th annual Pink Zone Game at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center Jan. 17. Penn State Lady Lion Basketball, along with Penn State's Hershey Breast Cancer Center, welcomed more than 700 cancer survivors to the game vs. Michigan followed by a reception with the team and a silent auction to benefit breast cancer research. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Penn State Pep Band welcomed Lady Lion basketball fans, along with more than 700 breast cancer survivors, to the Bryce Jordan Center with a rousing rendition of 'Fight on State' prior to the 10th annual Pink Zone game on Jan. 17. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Lady Lion center Ashanti Thomas wore a bright, pink headband at the 10th annual Pink Zone Game to Help Fight Breast Cancer on Jan. 17 at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center. The game, vs. Michigan, included a special halftime ceremony honoring more than 700 breast cancer survivors. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Penn State junior Lindsey Spann (12) guarded Michigan's Siera Thompson during first-half action at the 10th annual Pink Zone Game at the Bryce Jordan Center. Spann scored 17 points in the Lady Lions 91-87 loss to the Wolverines. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Nittany Lion prompted fans to make some noise during the 10th annual Pink Zone game at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center on Jan. 17. More than 700 breast cancer survivors and their families were in attendance to see the Penn State Lady Lions battle the Michigan Wolverines. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Lady Lion coach Coquese Washington sported a bright, pink boa during pregame festivities at the 10th annual Pink Zone Game at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center Jan. 17. The annual Pink Zone Game welcomes busloads of breast cancer survivors from throughout the northeast. Proceeds from the game, and a silent auction, benefit breast cancer research. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

More than 700 cancer survivors were honored during halftime festivities at the annual Pink Zone Game on Jan. 17 at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center. Breast cancer survivors from throughout the northeastern United States received four free tickets to the game vs. Michigan along with a post-game reception hosted by the Lady Lion basketball team. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Penn State guard Teniya Page drove past Michigan Wolverine Madison Ristovski during game action at the Bryce Jordan Center on Jan. 17. Both Michigan and Penn State wore unique uniforms, trimmed in pink, for the 10th annual Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Zone game. The uniforms were auctioned after the game with proceeds benefiting breast cancer research. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The Penn State Lionettes Dance Team entertained the crowd at the Bryce Jordan Center during a break in the action at the annual Pink Zone Game, hosted by Penn State Lady Lion Basketball and the Penn State Hershey Breast Cancer Center, on the afternoon of Jan. 17. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

Breast cancer survivors embraced during an emotional halftime ceremony at the 10th annual Pink Zone Game at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center Jan. 17. Lady Lion Basketball and Penn State Hershey welcomed more than 700 cancer survivors to the game vs. Michigan followed by a reception with the Lady Lion players and coaches. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

The 10th annual Pink Zone Game at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center  Jan. 17, 2016. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

"It's such a nice thing for them to do, to honor us," Spoonhour said. "Everything, all the details, they make sure that you're taken care of and it's really sweet. It's very exciting. We love it and we always have a really good time."

Players share a similar sentiment toward the game. Senior Brianna Banks was playing in her first Pink Zone game, but raved about how much it means to her and the team.

"This is probably the best game of the season. If we make it to a championship game, I still would say this is the best game of the season because of what it means and who we get to play for," Banks said. "Even though we play for everybody everyday, today is a special day for survivors. It really means a lot to us that they all come out every year and cheer for us whether we win or lose."

With the 2016 Pink Zone game now in the books, head coach Coquese Washington and her team can look forward to continuing the tradition in years to come.

"When you look at everybody that's here, it's not just about Lady Lion basketball, it's about what it means to Centre County, what it means to the Penn State community, and having this community galvanizing and rallying around a cause," Washington said. "You just see and feel the Penn State spirit of giving back on this day. I think you feel that every Pink Zone game, and as it continues to grow it speaks volumes about Penn State University and who we are as a University and who we are as an athletic department."

No matter when the 2017 Pink Zone game will be played, there's no doubt that Washington and her team will have it circled on their calendar.

Editor's note: This story originally appeared on www.GoPSUsports.com, the official home of Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics. 

Last Updated January 18, 2016

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