LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ -- The success of women's athletics has become a tradition at Rider. As such, the University will set aside a day to recognize the accomplishments of its female student-athletes -- as well as women's athletics in general -- in its third annual celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

This year's events are scheduled for Sunday, February 14 and will proclaim the theme, "Gotta Love Women, Gotta Love Sports, Gotta Love Women In Sports."

National Girls and Women in Sports Day began in 1987 to honor the talents and accomplishments of the late volleyball great Flo Hyman, a leading activist for equality in women's sports who died in 1986 at the age of 32. The day has evolved into an effort to bring national attention to the achievements of female athletes and to challenges and issues facing females in sport.

The events at Rider will begin with the ceremonial lighting of the Girls and Women in Sports Showcase of Lights at 11:30 a.m. in the lobby of Alumni Gym. Immediately following will be the noon tip-off of the Rider vs. Fairfield women's basketball game. Shortly after the conclusion of the game, a special reception for approximately 150 of Rider's women student-athletes will be hosted at the home of University President Bart Luedeke.

The second half of a Rider basketball doubleheader will conclude the day's events when the Rider men's team meets Siena at 4 p.m.

The entire program is open to the public. All children under the age of 15 who are accompanied by an adult will be admitted free to the women's game. Rider students, faculty, and staff are admitted free of charge. Special event T-shirts will be distributed to lucky fans prior to the game and during timeout activities, and special guests will be on hand to speak with those in attendance. In addition, all girls age 15 and under will receive a free one year subscription to Gball, a new magazine devoted to girls basketball.

For information on reserving group or individual game tickets to one or both games, contact the Rider University athletic ticket office at (609) 896-5054.

Rider University's Lawrenceville campus is located five miles south of Princeton and three miles north of Trenton on Route 206 in Lawrence Township, NJ. The campus is one-half mile south of exit 7A of Interstate 95.