When tragedy struck close to home, the Sacramento State women’s basketball team came together to overcome adversity and make a difference.

In May 2009, junior guard Sami Field-Polisso’s mother, Nancy Polisso, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better known as ALS.

ALS is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. When ALS develops, the nerve cells waste away and can no longer send messages to the muscles. It can eventually lead to the muscles weakening, twitching or a patient losing the ability to move. The cause of ALS is unknown and is incurable. In most cases, ALS patients have the life expectancy of three to five years after diagnosis.

This season the team raised money through its 3-point shots in support of ALS, better known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, research.

After Field-Polisso’s mother was diagnosed, head coach Jamie Craighead wanted to do something special for ALS, said Adam Primas, director of marketing and promotions. Primas and Craighead then had a marketing meeting to discuss ideas on how to bring awareness and support about for ALS.

“We felt like ALS was something directly affecting our team and we wanted to do something to help,” Craighead said.

The women’s basketball program introduced its idea to the ALS Association of Greater Sacramento and began its campaign this season: Threes for the Disease.

To help with raising money for research, the program convinced Jiffy Lube of Greater Sacramento to be a sponsor for the campaign. Jiffy Lube agreed to donate $10 for every 3-pointer made.

On top of Jiffy Lubes’ donations, fans who attended the home games could fill out a pledge card and agree to donate a decided amount for every 3-pointer the team made. Primas said the team made about 215 3-point shots this season, but they will know exactly how many shots were made and how much money was raised later this week.

The women are also trying to package their campaign into the NCAA national promotion, Pack the House. The team that wins the Pack the House conference award is given $500 for its favorite charity. Craighead said Pack the House is an event in which the program tries to get the highest attendance of the season for that game. If successful, the women’s basketball program plans to give the money to the ALS Association of Greater Sacramento, Primas said.

Every season the women’s basketball program also has a Pepsi Kid’s Clinic game. This year, the proceeds from that game also went to the ALS association.

To raise awareness at home games, the team hung a Threes for the Disease banner in the gym to show fans the progress of the campaign and to keep track of the number of 3-pointers made. When the players had a home game after a road trip, they started with the number of threes that was made on the road.

Craighead, Field-Polisso and Primas all said awareness of ALS is being raised through the Threes for the Disease campaign, not just money.

“For us it’s trying to get that disease some recognition and to have people aware of the effects of ALS,” Craighead said.

Primas said many people do not know about ALS or what it consists of, and that through the Threes for the Disease campaign people are learning more about it.

“When my mom was diagnosed, I felt angry, upset and confused. I had never heard of the disease before,” Field-Polisso said. “I think just having (the banner) up in the gym will get people interested in donating or looking into it and helping out the research, which could lead to a cure or some kind of treatment.”

Field-Polisso said she is glad her team has decided to support her and her family in such a way. The women on her team support her through anything and are there when she needs someone to talk to.

“They are my family away from family – they are a great support system,” Field-Polisso said. “To have something like (Threes for Disease), I could never describe how grateful I am. I couldn’t ask for more.”

Nancy Polisso was grateful for the support her daughter’s team offered and returned the favor by attending the games.

The team plans to continue the campaign next season, and even after Field-Polisso graduates, Craighead said.

“I think it’s something that has touched our team and our hearts,” Craighead said. “It happened to one of our members directly and we will continue to try to raise awareness for ALS.”

You can reach Stacey Adams at [email protected]