By Layne Weitzel, TTU Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech will be playing for something far more important than a win on Saturday.

The Golden Eagles will hold their annual Play4Kay initiative on Saturday in conjunction with their 5:30 p.m. CT game against Belmont. Play4Kay, a tradition around the nation in both collegiate and high school women's basketball programs, is the Kay Yow Cancer Fund's largest fundraiser. Kay Yow, longtime head coach of the NC State Wolfpack and 1988 Olympic gold medalist coach of the U.S. women's national basketball team, passed away in January 2009 after a long battle with breast cancer.

Tech is one of over 120 NCAA Division I programs who will take part in the initiative this year, along with numerous other NCAA Division II and III, NAIA, NJCAA and K-12 programs across the country. The official window of 2018 Play4Kay is Feb. 9-19.

Play4Kay began during the 2004-05 basketball season and was previously known as "Think Pink" and "Pink Zone." Women's basketball teams kick-started the initiative by wearing pink in honor of Coach Yow and those battling cancer, and the movement has grown tremendously over the years.

Tennessee Tech will do its part to show support for cancer awareness on Saturday by wearing pink uniforms and shoes, but Tech's jerseys will be a bit more personalized than just the change of color.

The pink jerseys will feature the surnames of select cancer survivors and others affected by cancer. The jerseys have been generously sponsored by members of the Tech community and women's basketball team.

Tech players will also escort these survivors and those affected by cancer in a presentation during halftime of the men's basketball game on Saturday.

Everyone in attendance at the game is encouraged to wear pink to honor those affected by cancer.