PINEVILLE, La. – Thursday night's doubleheader against the University of Texas-Dallas and Saturday's matinees with the University of the Ozarks will go far in deciding the fate of the Louisiana College men's and women's basketball seasons.

At the same time, LC is hoping that fans will help to change the lives of others by donating to the “Make a Change in 14 Days” program and observing “Think Pink Day” on Saturday afternoon.

The fundraiser has stationed collection boxes in the Health and P.E. departments and at this week's home basketball games to raise money for the St. Frances Cabrini Hospital I Alexandria's Cancer Center. On Saturday, coaches, media, and fans will be wearing pink to show support for cancer awareness and research.

Saturday afternoon will also be Louisiana College's annual “Fill the Field House,” which offers free admission to both the women's and men's basketball games, this year in conjunction with Think Pink Day.

Women's coach Janice Joseph-Richard is deeply passionate about the event, as she is a survivor of a 2006 breast cancer diagnoses.

“It's a big deal for me, and Louisiana College has made it a big deal for the school as well since I've been here,” said Joseph-Richard, whose team is now ranked 25th in the nation in this week's USA Today ESPN poll. “That's been very special to me.”

These are important games for Joseph-Richard's team as well, beginning with a rematch of the top two teams in the ASC East on Thursday night.

LC edged Texas-Dallas on the road last week, but still finds itself a half-game behind the Comets for the division lead after the Lady Cats' weekend game against Ozarks were cancelled due to inclement weather.

“We know they're coming for revenge,” said senior Tillisha Givens (Monroe, La./Ouachita Parish High), who scored 12 points in 40 minutes of play in Dallas and helped the Lady Cats comeback from a 14-point first-half deficit. “It's gonna be another dog fight, so we know we just have to be focused and ready to play.”

Joseph-Richard has had the team focused on defense this week, in a hope to avoid the breakdowns they suffered early in the game at Texas.

“When you're playing good defense your offense will come,” said the coach.

Men's coach Gene Rushing also has his team focused on defense, hoping to cool down a UT-Dallas team that hung a 94-66 defeat on them a week ago.

After Thursday's test with the ASC East leading Comets, the Wildcats will play an Ozarks team that is desperate for wins and, like them, still has a shot at the fourth playoff spot in the East division.

“There's no let up,” admits Rushing. “You got a ranked team coming in Thursday that is really outstanding and then you've got a really tough team coming in Saturday who is really hungry trying to make the tournament as we are. So it's a fight to the end.”

Givens also noted the extra motivation for these already big games, given the weekend's significance.

“To have one of the biggest games of our season (in conjunction with Think Pink Day) it's very important, and we're trying very hard to win it for (our coach),” said Givens.