AUS - Sapphires squad announced

CANBERRA (FIBA U21 World Championship for Women) - The squad for the Australian U21 women’s basketball team has been announced ahead of the 2007 FIBA U21 World Championship for Women to be held from June 29 to July 8 in Moscow, Russia.

The 19-strong group, which contains 13 players from the defencejobs Women's National Basketball League (WNBL), will attend their first training camp in Dandenong, Victoria from March 9-12, closely followed by an Easter camp at the same location.

Gary Fox of the Dandenong Rangers will take on the role of head coach and will be ably assisted by two other WNBL head coaches, Dean Kinsman (AIS) and Chris Lucas (Adelaide).

The 2007 tournament will mark the second time that a World Championships have been held in this age group, with an Australian team that featured future world champion defencejobs Opals Hollie Grima, Emma Randall and Laura Summerton finishing in fifth position in Croatia in 2003.

The Sapphires Squad for the 2007 FIBA U21 World Championship for Women:

Abby BISHOP - Canberra
Eleanor BRENTNALL - Uni of Virginia (USA)
Renae CAMINO - Townsville
Caitlin CUNNINGHAM - Canberra
Mikaela DOMBKINS - Sydney
Rebecca DUKE - Adelaide
Christina FOX - Oklahoma State (USA)
Cayla FRANCIS - AIS
Rachel HERRICK - Sydney
Amy LEWIS - Troy University (USA)
Erin LORENZINI - Adelaide
Kathleen MACLEOD - Melbourne
Jenna O'HEA - Melbourne
Heather OLIVER - Central Arizona College (USA)
Chantella PERERA - CSU Fresno (USA)
Melissa SMITH - Sydney
Marianna TOLO - AIS
Rachel WATMAN - Oral Roberts (USA)
Lisa SCAGLIA - Adelaide

Staff:

Gary FOX - Head Coach
Chris LUCAS - Assistant Coach
Dean KINSMAN - Assistant Coach
Lisa ROLLO - Physiotherapist
Durham MCINNIS - Strength & Conditioning
Trudy PEARCE - Manager

Basketball Australia