DALLAS (SMU) - On Tuesday, Feb. 7, SMU Women's Basketball hosted the visiting Tulsa Golden Hurricane in its "Pink Game" at Moody Coliseum. During the contest, SMU wore special pink uniforms to honor breast cancer survivors, and sought to raise awareness for breast cancer research. In front of a crowd including a number of breast cancer survivors and representatives of the American Cancer Society, SMU dominated from the start of the game, eventually coming out victorious 81-58. This was the Mustangs' highest scoring game in conference play under Head Coach Toyelle Wilson, who is in her second season on the Hilltop. The Mustangs shot 58% from the field, including 7-12 from three point range, whilst out-rebounding Tulsa 42-20.
 
The Mustangs warmed up in special shooting shirts, and wore all-pink uniforms for the game, including a number of players donning pink sneakers. Before tip off, SMU's starting five were welcomed onto the floor by breast cancer survivors Michelle Berndt, Keesha Weaver and Karen Gray. These three women were honored by those in attendance with a rapturous standing ovation. The Mustangs presented their guests with flowers, before the entire team took an on-court picture with the survivors.
 
Berndt said it was "amazing" to be honored on the court with the Mustangs, and spoke about the need for women to be comfortable speaking about the experience of surviving breast cancer, to help publicize the fight, and honor those we have lost. "When you go through something this traumatic, you try to forget that it ever happened, but I think it's important to remember it happened, because it's what made me who I am today. It made you stronger, it made you see true inner beauty, it made you truly appreciate life, and we have to mourn those who we lost, but we also have to celebrate those that survived. And so these events bring me back to reality. I'm thankful to be alive."
 
Caitlin Rodgers, from the American Cancer Society, organized this event, and has worked with SMU Athletics for the past four years on events of a similar nature. Rodgers lauded the importance of bringing people together to fight this battle, with intercollegiate athletics being a perfect way to spread awareness. Rodgers said, "I definitely think that (a game like this) shows that unity, and how there's this common factor in life that almost everybody is gonna come across. I think it really shows (people) - especially the athletes - that they're not alone… Some of them might have family members or friends that are going through it as well, so it kind of unites the community, because what better way to do that than in a college sporting event? It's one of the best ways to unite people, so it kinda just amplifies it to another level of why it's so special and why it brings everybody together during the game."
 
Berndt added "We can't do it alone. We (The ACS), as a non-profit, can make a difference, and we do, but with the community's involvement it's a bigger impact so if we truly wanna find a cure, and we truly wanna continue to raise awareness we need SMU's support, and the community to stay involved."
 
Coach Wilson closed her post-game press conference with a tribute to the breast cancer survivors in attendance: "We told the girls before the game, we're playing for a bigger purpose, not just cause they look cute in pink.It was an honor to be able to play in front of them."
 
The Mustangs return home a week from tomorrow, hosting Wichita State at Moody Coliseum. More information on the American Cancer Society can be found at https://www.cancer.org/about-us/who-we-are.html