Panthers Set Plans For Trip To Europe In May
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (April 9, 2008) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's basketball team will travel to Europe in May for a four-game exhibition schedule with local and national teams, head coach Sandy Botham announced today. The Panthers will leave the States for Holland May 20 and return to Milwaukee May 28. While in Europe, the team will visit cities throughout the region, including Amsterdam and Paris. "Going to Europe is an incredible opportunities for our student-athletes," Botham said. "For our students, it will be a great cultural experience. It will be very educational with all of the different countries we are going to. It will also be great for our athletes to play against some of the top clubs in Europe." UWM will be allowed by the NCAA to practice for 10 days prior to the trip to get back into playing condition. Milwaukee's playing schedule will consist of games with the Holland U20 National Team, the Belgium U20 National Team, USVO Valenciennes of the Ligue Féminine de Basketball in France and Sint Kateline Waver of Belgium's First Division. Valenciennes is coming off a sixth league championship in seven years in 2007, as well as a French Cup victory. Its roster boasts three players with WNBA experience. Meanwhile, Sint Kateline Waver has existed for two seasons, taking second and third in its first two seasons in the Begium First Division. The U20 national team from Belgium is coming off a fifth-place finish at the 2007 Euro Championships. "The opportunity to go on this trip wouldn't have happened without the contributions of our supporters," Botham said. "Through their generosity, we were able to make this trip a reality. This had been something we have been working very hard toward the last few years." UWM went 17-14 last season and tied for second place in the Horizon League behind league player of the year Traci Edwards. Milwaukee will feature almost its entire roster from the 2007-08 season, which includes, in addition to Edwards, seniors Aubri Rote and Meredith Onson, as well as junior Turquoise McCain, a league all-defensive team selection this season.
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