Roadrunner Jene Vanderbilt shoots over her defender at a recent game.
Women's basketball all-star challenge comes to UTSA
(March 22, 2002)--In addition to playing host to the top four women's basketball teams in the nation, UTSA will also be the site of the 2002 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-Star Challenge to be played at the UTSA Convocation Center at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 30. This year's game will showcase a matchup between the USA National Team and the WBCA All-Stars, which is made up of the top 20 college seniors in the nation not participating as a team in the Final Four.
The WBCA All-Star players, selected to participate by NCAA Division I coaches ballot, include 17 players from NCAA Division I as well as top seniors in Division II, Division III and NAIA. In addition to the game, there is a 3-point shooting competition.
Outstanding WNBA stars such as Ticha Penicheiro, Chamique Holdsclaw, Betty Lennox and Tracy Redd have participated in this contest. During the 2001 game, participants included co-MVP's Semeka Randall (Seattle Storm) and Marie Ferdinand (Utah Starzz).
A USA Basketball Senior National Team faced a WBCA All-Star Team once before on April 1, 1996. The 1995-96 USA Basketball Women's National Team, which received 28 points and 13 rebounds from 2002 U.S. team member Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles Sparks), defeated the 1996 WBCA All-Stars 92-57 at Morehouse College in Atlanta.
The exhibition game will give the public its first glimpse at the 2002 USA Basketball Women's World Championship Team and will also provide an opportunity for several USA World Championship hopefuls to compete alongside the first six members of the squad.
The first six members of the eventual 12-member 2002 USA Basketball Women's World Championship Team were announced previously and included: Holdsclaw (Washington Mystics); Leslie; DeLisha Milton (Los Angeles Sparks); Dawn Staley (Charlotte Sting); Sheryl Swoopes (Houston Comets) and Natalie Williams (Utah Starzz). Several players that will be selected by the USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team Committee to train with the USA World Championship during its spring training will be announced at a later date.
The USA National Team will make a six-day stopover during the women's NCAA Final Four in San Antonio that will be highlighted by the exhibition game on March 30, as well as a pair of open practices and an autograph session.
Tickets for the WBCA All-Star Challenge are $10 for reserved seating and $8 for general admission and are available at the UTSA Ticket Office. For more information, call (210) 458-UTSA.
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TODAY'S HEADLINES:
UTSA research efforts lauded in Congressional RecordUTSA auto collision expert to speak March 28
Women's basketball all-star challenge comes to UTSA
Aramark, UTSA to sponsor '2002 Food Expo'
Internationally acclaimed Latino artist to speak at UTSA March 28
British actors to perform 'Macbeth' at UTSA March 27-28
Mexican novelist Carlos Fuentes to speak at UTSA March 27
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© The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2001