USA - USA announce team for Women's U19 World Championship

ORLANDO (2011 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women) - USA Basketball on Sunday named its national team for this summer's FIBA U19 World Championship for Women following a five-day training camp at Walt Disney World Resorts, Florida.

The USA, the three-time reigning champions, will head to Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas, Chile, with 12 players who all boast previous international experience as they look to once again defend their gold medal.

Eight of the 12 players selected helped the USA to victory at the inaugural FIBA U17 World Championship for Women in France last summer.

The remaining four were on the national team that qualified the USA for this summer's championship by winning the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women.

"This was very difficult and that's a credit to the girls, how hard they worked and how committed they were in their desire to want to be on the team," said USA U19 women's national team head coach Jennifer Rizzotti.

"I'm excited about finally being down to 12 and thinking over the next few weeks about what I can do with this group of kids to make sure we are as prepared as we can be heading down to Chile and try to win a gold medal."

As part of their training camp, the USA took on Brazil's U19 women's team in an exhibition game which was a part of the ESPN Rise Girls Showcase.

The USA prevailed 49-37 in a game that featured four ties and five lead changes.

The Americans made their presence felt inside as Elizabeth Williams tallied 15 points, six rebounds and five blocks and Breanna Stewart added 11 points, grabbed seven boards and swatted five shots as well.

"I think we all started off a little bit slow, because the game was pretty physical," Williams said afterwards.

"I was trying to be a little more patient and play some good defense. Our team defense really helped us out, because offensively we weren't really clicking."

The 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women gets underway on 21 July.

The USA are in Group B of the Preliminary Round where they will face Argentina, Japan and Russia.

2011 USA U19 World Championship for Women team: Jordan Adams, Cierra Burdick, Diamond DeShields, Stefanie Dolson, Bria Hartley, Alexis Jones, Ariel Massengale, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Imani Stafford, Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck, Elizabeth Williams.

FIBA