Steffanie Blackmon Finalist for USA Basketball 20-and-Under National Team
5/21/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
May 21, 2002
WACO, Texas - Following three days of trials involving 36 athletes, 16 of the nation's elite 20-and-unders were named finalists for the 2002 USA Basketball World Championship for Young Women Qualifying Team, USA Basketball announced Monday. Included on the 16-member list is Baylor's Steffanie Blackmon. The Lady Bear was one of four players added late to the tryout list and the only one of the four to make the final cut.
The 16 USA finalists include: Jacqueline Batteast (Notre Dame / South Bend, Ind.); Steffanie Blackmon (Baylor / Dallas, Texas); Kara BrownBraxton (Georgia / Jackson, Mich.); Shameka Christon (Arkansas / Hot Springs, Ark.); Vanessa Hayden (Florida / Orlando, Fla.); Ebony Hoffman (Southern California / Harbor City, Calif.); Amber Jacobs (Boston College / Clarks Summit, Pa.); Laurie Koehn (Kansas State / Hesston, Kan.); Kelly Mazzante (Penn State / Montoursville, Pa.); Amber Obaze (Louisiana Tech / Dallas, Texas ); Nicole Ohlde (Kansas State / Clay Center, Kan.); Jia Perkins (Texas Tech / Granbury, Texas ); Cappie Pondexter (Rutgers / Chicago, Ill.); Heather Schreiber (Texas / Windthorst, Texas ); Stacy Stephens (Texas / Winnsboro, Texas ) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota / Hutchinson, Minn.).
"I think we have a great group to choose from," said USA and Texas Tech University head coach Marsha Sharp. "I'm interested to see what 12 finally get on that plane with us. All 16 deserve to come and get another look in July. I don't think there's any question that we've got a lot of strength at every position. We've got some good guard play, some post players who really bring a lot to the table. I think we can put some good combinations on the floor together and I'm excited to coach them."
The finalists will return to Colorado Springs, Colo., on July 7 for the USA team training camp, which will run through July 11 (times TBD). Following the July 7-11 training camp, during which will time the final 12member 2002 USA 20and under squad will be selected, the U.S. is scheduled to continue its training July 12-16 in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil prior to the start of the 2002 Confederation of Pan American Basketball Associations (COPABA) World Championship For Young Women Qualifying Tournament.
Hosted by Brazil in Ribeirao Preto July 17-21 and featuring eight teams from North, South and Central America as well as the Caribbean, the top three nations will qualify for the inaugural International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Championship For Young Women which is scheduled to be played in Dubrovnik, Croatia in July 2003 (dates TBD).
Blackmon is the third Baylor player selected to attend the USA Basketball Women's National Team Trials. Former Baylor standouts Sheila Lambert and Danielle Crockrom both attended the Trials last season. As a freshman for Baylor last season, Blackmon appeared in 32 games ... Was the first player off the bench for the No. 7 Lady Bears ... Played behind All-American and first round WNBA draftee Danielle Crockrom ... Averaged 10.0 points and 5.2 rebounds a game ... Led the team in blocked shots with 38, ranked second on the team in rebounding and third in scoring (behind two All-Americans)... Named the team's most improved player ... Ranked No. 7 in the Big 12 in blocked shots ... Scored in double figures in 12 games ... Produced two double-doubles ... Scored a career-high 21 points against Bucknell and pulled down 12 rebounds against North Texas for a career high ... Led the Lady Bears in rebounding in six games ... Blocked three shots in a game five times ... Blocked a career-high four shots against Bucknell.
For more information, photos and quotes from all 16 finalists from the USA Basketball Under-20 Team Trials, go to www.usabasketball.com.
