May 17, 2005
Hawkeye sophomore Krista VandeVenter has accepted an invitation to participate in the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Trials at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO, May 19-22. VandeVenter is one of 60 top American players who have accepted invitations. The Trials will be used to select finalists for the USA Under-19 World Championship Team and Under-21 World University Games Team.
“I am very excited for this weekend’s trials,” said VandeVenter. “Having an opportunity to play with and against some of the elite players in the country will be an invaluable experience and help me grow as a player.”
The Osseo, MN, native is one of only 16 invitees eligible for selection for either USA team. VandeVenter joins Wisconsin’s Jolene Anderson as the only Big Ten student-athletes eligible for both teams. Four other league standouts (Michigan State’s Liz Shimek and Lindsay Bowen and Ohio State’s Brandie Hoskins and Jessica Davenport) will attempt to make the Under-21 squad.
Invitations to the Trails were issued by the USA Basketball Collegiate Committee, chaired by Sue Donohoe, NCAA vice-president for Division I women’s basketball. Following the four-day Trials the USA Collegiate Committee will announce finalists for the 12-member USA Women’s Under-19 World Championship Team and the 12-member USA World University Games Team.
VandeVenter started all 33 games averaging 7.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg and 2.0 apg. An all-Big Ten Freshman Team honoree, she ranked first on the team in rebounding and fourth in scoring and assists. The 6-2 power forward pulled down an Iowa freshman single season record 252 rebounds, besting Cindy Haugejorde’s mark of 237 set during the 1976-77 season.
The last Iowa player to participate in the team trials was Lindsey Meder in 2001.