Bright stage lights rained down on Moniquee Alexander, leaving her tear-stained cheeks nowhere to hide. The college film crew turned away from the camera and milled about in the shadows, trying to act busy as Alexander attempted to compose herself.
Alexander, a 6-foot-6 sophomore on the UCLA women's basketball team, was filming a public-service announcement to promote breast cancer awareness. Simultaneously, she was revealing a side of her life that, in the past, had been too difficult to put on display.
Alexander's mother, Paulette Prince, died of breast cancer when Moniquee was 11. Alexander's sister, Raven, was 3 at the time. The disease robbed the sisters of their only parent and forced them to live with relatives. The experience was especially life-changing for Moniquee, who was old enough to realize her mother's health was deteriorating and death was inevitable.
"My mom's death is like a box," Alexander said. "I don't open it a lot to people."
As part of the Women's Basketball Coaches Assn.'s campaign to raise funds for breast cancer awareness and research, Alexander and her teammates will wear customized uniforms with pink trim during a nationally televised Pacific 10 Conference game Sunday against visiting Washington. The uniforms will later be auctioned.
"Even if I play well, or play bad, that's my game to her," said Alexander, her eyes welling up again. "To wear pink, it's like she's there."
During the game, Alexander's public-service announcement will be shown on big screens inside the arena. She hopes it might influence somebody to get screened, or take action to better their chances against the disease. Despite her doctor's recommendation, Alexander's mother decided against a mastectomy when she was first diagnosed. Instead, she chose to fight the disease on her terms.
Over the next few months, Alexander watched her mother's movement and appetite decrease. Soon, she could no longer speak and needed an oxygen mask to breathe.
One morning, Alexander awoke for school and headed to the bathroom in her mother's bedroom. She was cut off at the doorway by her uncle, Chris Lewis, and immediately knew her mother had died during the night. The ensuing days were some of the most emotional of her life.
"I think the worst part was the funeral," Alexander said. "To be that young and know that the person in that casket is your mom."
