PURDUE ATHLETICS ADDS ESSAY CONTEST TO NATIONAL GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY CELEBRATION

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue Athletics will once again celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The festivities begin Feb. 1 at 11 a.m. in Lambert Fieldhouse when fans of all ages are invited to attend a special event prior to the women's basketball game against Northwestern.   National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) is an event held in all 50 states in an effort to celebrate achievements in athletics, healthy living, and the positive influence of sports participation. The theme for the 2009 campaign is "Look Who's Playing" and the Purdue event will feature interactive stations hosted by Purdue student-athletes as well as inflatable games, snacks and prizes.  The event will run from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., is free and open to all.   The women's basketball game against Northwestern will follow and will feature a special halftime recognition of the players and coaches from Purdue's 1999 women's basketball national championship team.   This year a new element has been added to Purdue's NGWSD celebration and it is a Look Who's Playing essay contest for middle school students across the state of Indiana. Youth in grades six through eight are invited to participate in the contest by writing about their reasons for playing sports.   Contest entries will be judged by the women's basketball staff and the winner will be provided four complimentary game tickets, recognized as the contest winner on court at the game and be given two tickets to the 2009 Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis.   To enter, students are asked to share their reasons for playing sports and the lessons they have learned, and do so by completing the following sentence (in 150 words or less): I play sports because…   Entries can be faxed to (765) 496-3400, mailed to the Promotions office: Mackey Arena Room 69, 900 N. University St., West Lafayette, IN, 47907, or emailed to sportspromo@purdue.edu.  All entries must be received by Friday, January 23 at 5 p.m. to be eligible for consideration.   The Feb. 1,  NGWSD event will be part of an entire weekend celebration as Purdue honors the 10th anniversary of Purdue's 1999 NCAA women's basketball national championship. Members of the team and coaching staff will be on hand to celebrate and will participate in a halftime recognition at both the men's basketball game on Jan. 31 and the women's game on Feb. 1. Women's basketball game tickets have been discounted to 1999 prices ($7 for adults and $3 for students) for the Purdue vs. Northwestern game only and are available by calling 1-800-49-SPORT or online at purduesports.com.   About National Women and Girls in Sports Day: NGWSD began in 1987 as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for women's sports. Since that time, NGWSD has evolved into a day to acknowledge the past and recognize current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports. The national celebration is jointly organized by the National Girls and Women in Sport Coalition. - P-