June 11, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - The 2002 Big Ten Women's Basketball Foreign Tour team came together in Evanston on June 12 in preparation for the team's departure to Holland and Belgium. This marks the 11th consecutive year that the Big Ten has sponsored a women's basketball foreign tour. Last year's All-Star team, which traveled through France and Switzerland, completed its five-game slate with an unblemished 5-0 record.
This year's squad is being directed by Northwestern Head Coach June Olkowski. After the team reports to the NU campus on Wednesday, Olkowski will conduct a pair of practices on Thursday and a final practice on Friday. Olkowski, who recently completed her third season at Northwestern, will be leading the Big Ten Foreign Tour for the first time in her career.
The team departed on Friday, June 14, to begin its tour. To follow the team's progress, fans are invited to go to the Big Ten website.
"I'm excited about this opportunity," said Olkowski. "As a coach, I want to win as many games as we can, but away from the court I want the players to enjoy their experience and take away some positive memories."
Along with Olkowski, Northwestern's contingency is made up of junior center Leslie Dolland (Bloomington, Minn./The Blake School) and freshman guard Melissa Culver (Littleton, Colo./Heritage). Dolland and Culver were the second and third leading scorers on the Wildcat's squad last winter. Dolland averaged 7.6 points per game while Culver maintained a 7.2 ppg average. Culver led the team with 130 assists and hit 34 percent (34-for-99) of her three-pointers attempted. Dolland pulled down 100 rebounds and hit 45 percent (71-for-159) from the floor.
The Big Ten All-Stars take the floor for the first time on Sunday, June 16 in Den Helder, Holland, to face the Netherlands National Team. The squad will be in action again on Monday, June 17, against the Den Helder BBC.
After a two-day stay in Amsterdam, the team travels to Antwerp, Belgium to face Ekeren (June 20). Following the game, the team will move on to Brussels. After a day off in Brussels, the team will bus to Gent, Belgium, to play Euronyl Waragem on Saturday afternoon, June 22.
"Traveling overseas to play basketball will be a great cultural experience for our team," said Olkowski. "The players (and coaches) getting to know each other in a non-competitive environment, learning to live in another country will expose us to a unique adventure."
The final game of the tour will take place on Sunday, June 23 in Kaprijke, Belgium, against BBC Meetjesland. On Monday, June 24, the team will depart Brussels and return to Chicago.
While overseas, the group will take in a variety of historical and cultural attractions, including a canal tour, the Vincent Van Gogh museum, the Jewish Historical Museum, the Anne Frank House and the St. Jean Baptiste au Beguinage Cathedral. Schedule follows.
Friday, June 14: Team departs Chicago, IL Saturday, June 15: Team arrives Amsterdam, Holland Sunday, June 16: GAME 1 vs. Netherlands National Team, Den Helder, Holland Monday, June 17: GAME 2 vs. Den Helder BBC, Den Helder, Holland Tuesday, June 18: Visit sites in Amsterdam Wednesday, June 19: Visit sites in Amsterdam Thursday, June 20: GAME 3 vs. Ekeren, Antwerp, Belgium Friday, June 21: Visit sites in Brussels Saturday, June 22: GAME 4 vs. Euronyl Waragem, Gent, Belgium Sunday, June 23: GAME 5 vs. BBC Meetjesland, Kaprijke, Belgium Monday, June 24: Team departs Brussels, Belgium; Arrives Chicago, IL
Foreign Tour All-Stars Big Ten Conference 2002 Roster
No. Name Year Ht. Pos. Hometown School 45 Brenda Blackburn Jr. 6-6 C Ardmore, Okla. Illinois 24 Jill Hartman Sr. 5-11 G/F Evansville, Ind. Indiana 13 April Calhoun So. 5-8 G New Hope, Minn. Iowa 33 Stephanie Gandy Jr. 5-10 G Detroit, Mich. Michigan 3 Julie Pagel Jr. 5-11 F Utica, Mich. Michigan State 25 Corrin Von Wald Sr. 5-9 G/F Hudson, Wis. Minnesota 42 Leslie Dolland Sr. 6-2 F Bloomington, Minn. Northwestern 12 Melissa Culver So. 5-7 G Littleton, Colo. Northwestern 34 Caity Matter So. 5-11 G Bluffton, Ohio Ohio State 22 Jess Brungo Jr. 6-1 F Allison Park, Pa. Penn State 55 Lindsey Hicks Jr. 6-1 F Lebanon, Ohio Purdue 11 Stephanie Rich So. 5-11 G Washington, Iowa Wisconsin
Head Coach: June Olkowski (Rutgers `82)
Assistant Coach: Tricie Johnson (UIC `94)
Athletic Trainer: Nichelle Pajeau (Iowa `96--Illinois `98)