FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 4, 2001 Contact: Ernie Larossa, Assistant AD/SID 410/516-0552

BALTIMORE, Md. -- This Friday, January 5, 2001, Johns Hopkins University will host two American Cancer Society Coaches Vs. Cancer basketball games, the first beginning at 6 p.m., at the Newton H. White Athletic Center (located adjacent to Homewood Field) at the Johns Hopkins University. At 6 p.m., the Johns Hopkins women's basketball team will play the New York University (NYU) women's basketball team. At 8 p.m., the Johns Hopkins men's basketball team will play the New York University (NYU) men's basketball team. Donations will be accepted at the door to support the Coaches vs. Cancer program.

Johns Hopkins and NYU boast four of the most successful basketball programs in the nation. The Blue Jay women have advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last six years and currently sport a 5-3 record. The NYU women are currently ranked second in the nation and count the 1997 NCAA Division III Championship among their recent accomplishments. This will be Johns Hopkins' third game of the season against a team currently ranked in the top five in the nation. On the men's side, the Johns Hopkins men have participated in the NCAA Tournament seven times in the last 11 years under the guidance of all-time winningest coach Bill Nelson, while NYU has made seven appearances in the last nine years. The Blue Jay men are currently 5-4, while NYU is 6-2.

The American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer program is dedicated to decreasing risk of cancer by utilizing fan contributions to fund research, education, advocacy, and services of the American Cancer Society. Coaches Vs. Cancer was founded in 1993 as a partnership of the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). In 1995, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) endorsed participation among their members, and in 1999 became an official partner. The alliance establishes the American Cancer Society as the official cancer charity of the NABC and the WBCA. More than 500 men's and women's college and high school basketball coaches have participated in Coaches Vs. Cancer initiatives across the country. Since its inception in 1993, Coaches Vs. Cancer has raised over $10.6 million dollars.

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. - 30 -