May 20, 2002
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame rising sophomore forward Jacqueline Batteast (South Bend, Ind./Washington HS) has been selected as one of 16 finalists for the 2002 USA Basketball World Championship For Young Women Qualifying Team, USA Basketball announced Monday. The finalists were chosen after three days of trials (May 17-19) involving 36 of the nation’s top 20-and-under players at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The 16 finalists will return to Colorado Springs on July 7 for the USA team training camp, which will run through July 11. Following the training camp, which will be used to select the final 12-member team, 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 July 17-21 in Ribeirao Preto, the tournament will feature eight teams from North, South and Central America as well as the Caribbean, with the top three nations qualifying for the inaugural International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Championship For Young Women, scheduled to be played in Dubrovnik, Croatia, in July 2003.
“I didn’t think I would be nervous (when the finalists were revealed), but I was actually,” Batteast said. “My heart started to pound a little bit. But once I heard my name, I was very excited to go out and represent my country.
“I remember sitting down when I was little, watching Lisa Leslie and the rest of the Olympic team a couple of summers ago,” she continued. “Now I’m starting off where they once were, so I’m looking forward to it.”
“I’m extremely pleased that Jackie was chosen as a finalist for the USA Young Women’s Qualifying Team,” Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw said. “She will gain so much international experience, which will definitely help her throughout her career. It will also be a great opportunity for her to play more this summer and continue to improve her game at a higher level. The experiences she will gain over the next few months should certainly help us as a team next year.”
Batteast, a 6-2 forward, started 22 games for Notre Dame this past season, averaging 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, and earning recognition as both the United States Basketball Writers’ Association (USBWA) National Freshman of the Year and a Women’s Basketball Coaches? Association (WBCA)/Kodak All-America honorable mention selection. She also was a unanimous choice as the BIG EAST Conference Rookie of the Year, was a second-team all-conference pick and was unanimously voted to the BIG EAST All-Rookie Team. In addition, she was a six-time BIG EAST Rookie of the Week, ranking among the top 10 in the league in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage (.404), blocked shots (1.38 bpg.) and double-doubles (11).
Batteast was one of six finalists to earn All-America honors in 2001-02. She also was one of three finalists to be named her conference’s Freshman of the Year this past season.
Irish rising sophomore center Teresa Borton (Yakima, Wash./West Valley HS) also competed in last weekend’s national team trials, but she was not selected as one of the 16 finalists.
“I was excited to see Teresa played as well as she did during the trials,” McGraw said. “The experience she had over the weekend will enhance her individual development and also help us as a team next season.”
Batteast is now in line to become the latest Notre Dame player selected for national team play. Ruth Riley competed with the U.S. Women’s Select Team in 1998, and later earned a silver medal with the 1999 U.S. World University Games squad. Last month, she completed a four-week spring training camp with the U.S. Senior National Team and is waiting to hear if she has been selected for the 2002 U.S. World Championship Team, which will compete in China Sept. 14-25.
Other Irish players who have been chosen for U.S. national teams include: Beth Morgan, who won three medals (one gold, one silver, one bronze) while playing for four American squads from 1996-99, and Katryna Gaither, who won a silver medal with the 1997 U.S. World Championship Qualifying Team and picked up a bronze medal with the 1999 U.S. Pan American Games Team.
A total of three BIG EAST players were among the 16 finalists announced Monday. In addition to Batteast, Rutgers guard Cappie Pondexter and Boston College guard Amber Jacobs were chosen by the USA Basketball Women’s Collegiate Committee, chaired by Texas Senior Associate Athletics Director for Men’s and Women’s Athletics Chris Plonsky.
Texas Tech head coach Marsha Sharp will direct the 2002 USA Basketball World Championship For Young Women Qualifying Team. Her assistants are collegiate head coaches Nikita Lowry of New Mexico State and Lisa Stone of Drake.
“I think we have a great group to choose from,” Sharp said. “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 and 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.”
— ND —