E.A. Diddle Arena is normally full of red, but the color scheme was a little lighter Thursday for Western Kentucky’s 72-52 victory over Troy.

Click here for photos from the Lady Toppers’ game with Troy.

The Lady Toppers participated in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s “Think Pink” campaign aimed at raising breast cancer awareness.

The pink theme was evident throughout the arena. The first 1,000 fans who entered the building received pink T-shirts. Troy was also given pink T-shirts to wear during warmups.

There was pink lettering on every message shown on the Pepsi vision board and the referees blew pink whistles.

But the biggest show of support came from the WKU players and coaches, who wore special attire specifically designed by Russell Athletics for Thursday’s game.

The coaching staff had white polo shirts with pink lettering, while the players wore pink uniforms with white letters and numbers.

“It was a lot of fun because it was something that was so good,” WKU coach Mary Taylor Cowles said. “You never know when life’s going to put this challenge in front of you or somebody in your family or a close friend might be faced with this challenge. To able to do it in the fashion we did tonight … Russell really stepped up and made it happen for us.”

The uniforms were a big hit with the players.

“I think ours looked better than the other teams you’ve seen on TV,” senior Charlotte Marshall said. “Our (pink) was a pretty pink.”

WKU wraps up its participation in the “Think Pink” campaign with a silent auction for senior forward Crystal Kelly’s game-worn jersey. The proceeds will go to breast cancer research.

“It was a such a great cause and a lot of people came out for that,” Kelly said. “They looked great on us. It was great to be out there.”

2,609 and counting

Kelly’s 17-point night put her in elite national company.

The senior forward now has a 2,609 points in her record-setting career – a stat that places her among the greatest players in women’s basketball history.

Kelly has climbed into 23rd place on the NCAA’s all-time scoring list, passing former Vanderbilt great Chantelle Anderson and three other players. Kelly needs 23 points to pass Duquesne’s Korie Hlede and is just 33 points from moving into the career top 20.

Missouri State’s Jackie Stiles is the all-time scoring leader with 3,393.

“I didn’t even know I was even close to something like that,” Kelly said. “It’s like I always say, I can’t get the ball to myself. Credit to my teammates for getting it to me. It’s such a great honor.”

But one that Marshall said is deserving.

“She’s worked so hard for it,” she said. “Like I’ve said, nobody can stop Crystal Kelly when she puts her mind to it.”

February frenzy

WKU’s home win Thursday is part of the norm under Cowles.

The Lady Toppers are now 25-2 at Diddle Arena in February the past six seasons, with all but one of the wins coming against Sun Belt Conference opponents.

Western’s only two losses were a 70-60 setback to Arkansas State in 2004 and a 78-63 defeat to Middle Tennessee last season.