June 28, 2002
TEMPE, Ariz. - In an attempt to raise money to fund the fight against breast cancer and turn in the first sell-out in the history of Arizona State women's basketball, the Sun Devils will play host to the AstraZeneca Hoops for the Cure Classic II Dec. 7, 2002 at the 14,088-seat Wells Fargo Arena on the Arizona State campus.
Tickets for the AstraZeneca Hoops for the Cure Classic II go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 28 and are available at the Arizona State ticket office in Sun Devil Stadium or by calling (480) 965-2381.
More information can also be found on the official web site for the AstraZeneca Hoops for the Cure Classic II at www.hoopsforthecure.org.
The 2002 Pac-10 Conference Tournament Champion Arizona State Sun Devils will take on 2001 national champion Notre Dame in the first game of the AstraZeneca Hoops for the Cure Classic II, while national powerhouses Vanderbilt and Purdue will play the second game of the nationally televised doubleheader.
Proceeds from the game will be donated to the Phoenix affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation to benefit breast cancer research, treatment and education in the Valley of the Sun.
"We are tremendously excited about the opportunity to host the AstraZeneca Hoops for the Cure Classic II and build upon the success of our first historic event," Arizona State head coach Charli Turner Thorne said. "People in the Valley made a huge statement about supporting women's athletics and a women's cause in our first game in 2000, and the support for this event has just continued to grow over the last year."
AstraZeneca, a maker of breast cancer therapies, has again signed on as the title sponsor for the event, which is designed to raise awareness of breast cancer, the most common type of cancer among women. An estimated 203,500 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States in 2002. An estimated 39,600 women will die from breast cancer in 2002, making it second only to lung cancer in cancer deaths and the leading cause of cancer deaths among women ages 40-59.
"AstraZeneca is proud to sponsor this important event," said David Brennan, President & CEO, AstraZeneca LP. "Like Arizona State, we are committed to breast cancer research and the public education efforts around this disease, which are critical to early detection and survival."
In the inaugural AstraZeneca Hoops for the Cure Classic, held Dec. 27, 2000, at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona State fell to six-time national champion Tennessee 67-63. That night, Arizona State set the school and Pac-10 Conference single-game attendance records with 16,782 fans in attendance at the first ever outdoor women's basketball game and raised over $10,000 for breast cancer research, treatment and education.
The Sun Devils return two starters and six letterwinners from their 2001-02 team which turned in one of the most successful seasons in school history. In addition to capturing the inaugural Pac-10 Tournament Championship with an upset of second-ranked Stanford, Arizona State tied the school record for most victories in a single season with its 25-9 record and made its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The Sun Devils also add a top 25 recruiting class heading into next season.
"Since our first game, I have had three close friends diagnosed with breast cancer, so on a personal level, this event means more to me than it ever has," Turner Thorne said. "With Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and Purdue coming in this year, we are committed to not only bringing the best women's college basketball in the country to the Valley but to continuing to raise awareness about the prevalence and danger of breast cancer in our society today.
"The AstraZeneca Hoops for the Cure Classic II is designed to bring people from all walks of life together toward a common goal, and the support we continue to receive from our administration, the community and people all over the country for this event has been overwhelming. I have no doubt that we will be able to meet our goals of selling out Wells Fargo Arena and more than doubling the amount of money we raised last time for breast cancer research, treatment and awareness. I firmly believe that there will be more people than there are seats, so get your tickets now!"
What They're Saying About the AstraZeneca Hoops for the Cure Classic II
"On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Phoenix affiliate, I want to thank and recognize the Hoops for the Cure Classic II Committee and the tireless dedication of Coach Charli Turner Thorne and the Arizona State University Athletic Department. We are grateful for their efforts to further the Komen mission to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment... We are proud of our association with Arizona State University and the Hoops for the Cure Classic II committee of volunteer community leaders. We look forward to a very successful event."
- Rita M. Block, President of the Phoenix Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation
"We are excited and honored to be a part of this year's Hoops for the Cure Classic. Between the high level of competition on the court, and the worthwhile goal of breast cancer research, the Hoops for the Cure Classic already is becoming one of the top events of the non-conference women's basketball season. The University of Notre Dame and the Fighting Irish women's basketball program are committed to making this year's event a special one, and giving the fans of the Phoenix area a chance to see four of the premier college basketball teams in America."
- Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw
"Getting invited to play in this event is the highest honor. I can't begin to tell you how many people we know who have battled cancer. For us to play in a game that brings awareness and hopefully funds to combat this disease is an unbelievable opportunity. We know how much of a challenge this game will be, but we also understand that there are bigger challenges in life."
- Purdue head coach Kristy Curry