DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University women's basketball team is nearing the start of its 10-day trip to Italy. Drake will have the last of the 10 allowable practices to prepare for the trip on Saturday morning before departing for Italy on Sunday night.
 
The Bulldogs will visit several Italian cities, including Rome, Florence, Venice and Como as well as microstate San Marino before returning to Des Moines on Aug. 17.
 
The extra practices allowed by the NCAA for teams taking overseas trips gave the Bulldogs opportunities to develop as a team before playing three games against foreign competition while in Italy. This will mark the first time in program history that Drake women's basketball has taken an international summer trip.
 
The trip also includes an educational aspect as the team started a class Italy in a Global Economy on July 5 and is taught by Dr. Jeffrey A. Kappen, assistant professor of international business at Drake University. The class met for two hours a day, Monday to Thursday for four weeks leading up to the trip. The class will continue for the Bulldogs in Italy with the itinerary filled with ample chances to experience and learn from immersion in Italian culture while touring sites of historical and cultural significance.
 
Fifth-year head coach Jennie Baranczyk is excited for her team to partake in this once-in-a-lifetime trip while also getting the extra practices for her team that features three freshmen and Becca Jonas, who is back after missing the entire 2015-16 season due to injury.
 
Below is the Bulldogs' itinerary for the trip along with the schedule for their three games. Be sure to visit the trip central page here for a daily recap that will include daily blog posts via Tumblr from the student-athletes. Photos and videos will also be posted. Use the hashtag #DogCiao to follow the team's twitter (@drakewbb) and instgram (@drakewbb) accounts.
 
Sunday, Aug. 7
Travel – Des Moines to Minneapolis to Rome, Italy
 
Monday, Aug. 8
Arrive in Rome
Tour Rome
 
Tuesday, Aug. 9
Tour Vatican City
 
Wednesday, Aug. 10
Tour Rome
Travel - Rome to Florence, Italy
Game vs. Italian Select
 
Thursday, Aug. 11
Tour Florence
Game vs. TK Hannover (German team)
 
Friday, Aug. 12
Travel - Florence to San Marino
Tour San Marino
 
Saturday, Aug. 13
Tour San Marino
Game vs. Pesaro Select
 
Sunday, Aug. 14
Travel - San Marino to Venice, Italy
Tour Venice
Travel - Venice to Lake Como, Italy
 
Monday, Aug. 15
Tour Lake Como
 
Tuesday, Aug. 16
Tour Lake Como
 
Wednesday, Aug. 17
Travel - Lake Como to Milan, Italy to New York to Minneapolis to Des Moines