USA Basketball And Fort Carson To Host USA Women's U18 National Team Scrimmage Against Canada

June 17, 2010 - Colorado Springs, Colo.

USA Basketball and Fort Carson's Department of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation division will host the 2010 USA Women's U18 National Team and Canada in an exhibition scrimmage at 3:30 p.m. (MDT) on Sunday, June 20 at the Special Events Center on Fort Carson. The USA and Canada also will host a clinic for youths prior to the scrimmage at 2 p.m.

Admission to the scrimmage and clinic is free to the public. Fans will need to have their proof of vehicle insurance, vehicle registration and a picture identification to access Fort Carson.

Four years ago the USA U18 Team was also in Colorado Springs and held a scrimmage and clinic at Fort Carson. That team included Tina Charles, Maya Moore, Jayne Appel and Kayla Pedersen, who all played in this year's NCAA women's championship game.

'(Four years ago) it was awesome,' said Jen Rizzotti, USA U18 and University of Hartford head coach, who also was a USA assistant coach for the gold-medal winning U18s in 2006. 'We had such a phenomenal crowd, and they were so appreciative that we were there. The energy in the building was great, and we had a great battle against Canada. It was a lot of fun.

'I think you should always look to give back and maybe help to create a special evening for the people whose families are overseas,' Rizzotti continued. 'We hope to make their night something different, something special and give them something to look forward to.'

The 2010 USA Women's U18 National Team includes: Diamond DeShields (Norcross H.S./Norcross, Ga.); Stefanie Dolson (Minisink Valley H.S./Port Jervis, N.Y.); Reshanda Gray (Washington Prep H.S./Los Angeles, Calif.); Cassie Harberts (San Clemente H.S./San Clemente, Calif.); Bria Hartley (North Babylon H.S./North Babylon, N.Y.); Malina Howard (Twinsburg H.S./Twinsburg, Ohio); Alexis Jones (MacArthur H.S./Irving, Texas); Allyson Malott (Madison H.S./Middletown, Ohio); Kayla McBride (Villa Maria Academy/Erie, Pa.); Chiney Ogwumike (Cy-Fair H.S./Cypress, Texas); Cassie Peoples (Cy-Fair H.S./Houston, Texas); and Theresa Plaisance (Vandebilt Catholic H.S./Marrero, La.).

Rizzotti is being assisted by Florida State University head coach Sue Semrau and University of Central Florida head coach Joi Williams.

The USA women will compete in the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, June 23-27 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. The tournament will take place in Sports Center I and is open free of charge to the public.

The tournament format features eight teams divided into two preliminary round groups: Canada, Chile, Costa Rica and Mexico in Group A; and Argentina, Brazil, Puerto Rico and the USA in Group B. Preliminary round play will be held June 23, 24 and 25, and each team will play the other three teams in its preliminary group. The top two finishing teams in each preliminary round group will then advance to the June 26 medal round semifinals and play for 1st-4th places. Teams placing third and fourth in each preliminary round group will advance to the June 26 consolation semifinals and play for 5th-8th places. The FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women finals will be held Sunday, June 27.

The top four finishing teams in this year's FIBA Americas U18 Championship will earn berths in the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship.