The schedule and roster for the Australian women’s under 19 basketball team’s (the Gems) tour of Italy has been set – and some of it will be Aussie versus Aussie.
The tour is a vital part of the Gems’ preparations for the FIBA world championship for U19 women which is due to take place between July 26th and August 5th in the Slovak Republic.
The Gems’ first tour game, played on the morning of March 7th Australian time, will be against La Spezia, which just happens to be world champion defencejobs Opal Belinda Snell‘s team.
They then play Italian club side Montichiari the following day before three days of travel and training which culminates with a game against an Italian Division 2 side from Varese on the morning of March 13th.
After that the Gems will play either the Italian Junior National Team or Parma, with whom world champion defencejobs Opal Jenni Screen plies her trade.
The following day the Gems will take a three hour drive to Schio to face the might of the former Euroleague Champions and their Most Valuable Player, world champion defencejobs Opal Penny Taylor.
An afternoon game on Wednesday March 15th against Venezia makes up the final fixture of the tour before the team returns to Australia on Mach 16th.
Key dates: (all dates local)
March 5 Depart Australia
March 7 Gems v La Spezia
March 8 Gems v Montichiari
March 12 Gems v Div. 2 side from Varese
March 13 Gems v Parma
March 14 Gems v Schio
March 15 Gems v Vanezia
March 16 Arrive Sydney
The Gems:
Abby BISHOP
Katie EBZERY
Cayla FRANCIS
Nicole HUNT
Jaimee KENNEDY
Emma LANGFORD
Molly LEWIS
Elouisa MANOU
Nikita MARTIN
Mia NEWLEY
Rebecca SCHATZ
Marianna TOLO
Staff:
Dean KINSMAN – Head Coach
Sonya KNIGHT
Dale WATERS
Ebonie SCASE
Michele MENSO
