This Saturday, pink will be all the rage on the basketball court at the University of Victoria as the Vikes raise money for cancer research, while facing arch-rivals from the University of British Columbia.

The menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 Vikes face their UBC counterparts in back-to-back games at UBC on Friday, and at home on Saturday, the last of the regular season. For the home game, the menB次元官网网址檚 and womenB次元官网网址檚 squad will don pink uniforms in support of Shoot for the Cure, a fundraiser for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

B次元官网网址淧laying UBC is a big draw. ItB次元官网网址檚 a huge rivalry between the schools. Games with them are a huge factor in where we will place,B次元官网网址� said womenB次元官网网址檚 coach Dani Sinclair.

The Vikes women expect to finish between second and fourth place in its conference and should clinch a playoff slot in the Canada West Championship, the quarterfinals leading into nationals.

The Vikes women have a strong playoff record including nine national championships, but last year they missed making the playoffs. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 good for us to get back in there,B次元官网网址� Sinclair said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 like to beat UBC. They are a very strong team, ranked sixth in Canada. That poses a tough challenge for us.B次元官网网址�

This squad has plenty of talent, but Sinclair expects key players such as Debbie Yeboah (Winnipeg) and Claremont grad Jessica Renfrew to help carry the team into playoffs.

B次元官网网址�(Renfew) is good at running the floor ... one of our best three-point shooters and a good driver, she can get by anybody,B次元官网网址� Sinclair said.

The Vikes menB次元官网网址檚 team is coming into its final games in a strong second place behind powerhouse UBC. The men have their sights squarely set on the nationals this year after placing fourth in the Canada West Final 4 last year.

B次元官网网址淥bviously we want to get ourselves back into that game. When you get to the national tournament, anything can happen,B次元官网网址� said coach Craig Beaucamp.

Beaucamp agreed Saturday will be a high-profile game, and will support a good cause, but it will be more about bragging rights than significance in the standings.

We should have clinched second,B次元官网网址� Beaucamp said. B次元官网网址淧lacing first or second is more important than anything.B次元官网网址�

The Vikes women face UBC on Saturday at 5 p.m. and the men play at 7 p.m. at the McKinnon Gym. Entry is by donation to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

editor@saanichnews.com