COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Drake University women's basketball junior
Becca Hittner (Urbandale, Iowa) is one of 36 players who are expected to attend trials for the 2019 U.S. Pan American Games Women's Basketball Team May 16-20 at the United States Olympic Training Center.
Hittner previously attended the 2017 Under 19 Team USA trials in Colorado Springs. The team members selected this month will return to Colorado Springs for training camp July 23-Aug. 5, before competing in the women's basketball tournament at the 2019 Pan American Games from Aug. 6-10 in Lima, Peru.
Expected to participate with Hittner in May are: Bella Alarie (Princeton/Bethesda, Md.), Janelle Bailey (North Carolina/Charlotte, N.C.), Brittany Brewer (Texas Tech/Abilene, Texas), Chennedy Carter (Texas A&M/Mansfield, Texas), Te'a Cooper (TBD/Powder Springs, Ga.), Kathleen Doyle (Iowa/Lagrange Park, Ill.), Chelsea Dungee (Arkansas/Sapulpa, Okla.), Dana Evans (Louisville/Gary, Ind.), Kiah Gillespie (Florida State/Meriden, Conn.), Vivian Gray (Oklahoma State/Argyle, Texas), Tyasha Harris (South Carolina/Noblesville, Ind.), Ruthy Hebard (Oregon/Fairbanks, Alaska), Joyner Holmes (Texas/Cedar Hill, Texas), Stephanie Jones (Maryland/Havre de Grace, Md.), Aari McDonald (Arizona/Fresno, Calif.), Karissa McLaughlin (Purdue/Fort Wayne, Ind.), Amber Melgoza (Washington/Santa Barbara, Calif.), Ayana Mitchell (Louisiana State/Conyers, Ga.), Beatrice Mompremier (Miami/Miami, Fla.), Nancy Mulkey (Rice/Cypress, Texas), Erica Ogwumike (Rice/Cypress, Texas), Michaela Onyenwere (UCLA/Aurora, Colo.), Eleah Parker (Pennsylvania/Charlotte, N.C.), Jaelynn Penn (Indiana/Louisville, Ky.), Destiny Pitts (Minnesota/Detroit, Mich.), Mikayla Pivec (Oregon State/Lynwood, Wash.), Lindsey Pulliam (Northwestern/Silver Spring, Md.), Kristin Scott (Iowa State/Kasson, Minn.), Destiny Slocum (Oregon State/Meridian, Idaho), Amber Smith (Missouri/Shreveport, La.), Sug Sutton (Texas/St. Louis, Mo.), Kobi Thornton (Clemson/Shellman, Ga.), Kiana Williams (Stanford/San Antonio, Texas), Peyton Williams (Kansas State/Topeka, Kan.) and Kay Kay Wright (UCF/Orlando, Fla.).
Suzy Merchant (Michigan State) will lead the team as USA head coach, with USA assistant coaches Felisha Legette-Jack (Buffalo) and Vic Schaefer (Mississippi State).
"Our coaching staff is excited about the talent, depth and experience of the invitees for the 2019 Pan American Games team trials," Merchant said. "The roster includes numerous past USA Basketball medalists as well as an impressive group of invitees that boast both individual and team successes nationally and within their respective conferences. We are looking forward to the opportunity to work with all of the participants, USA Basketball staff and committee members to help collectively put together the best team to compete for a gold medal at the 2019 Pan American Games this summer."
Athletes eligible for this team must be U.S. citizens who currently are enrolled as a full-time collegiate student with remaining eligibility for the 2019-20 school year.
Hittner, the reigning MVC Jackie Stiles Player of the Year, is currently at the 2019 USA Basketball Women's 3x3 National Championships and Minicamp in Las Vegas, Nev., May 1-2.
Hittner is participating in a minicamp with seven other elite college basketball players before competing in the 3x3 event starting May 3. The eight athletes participating in the minicamp will be split into two teams of four and join 13 additional teams who qualified for the event through local qualifying tournaments.
The 3x3 event begins with preliminary rounds on Friday, May 5, which will determine the seeding for the knockout stages which are slated to begin Saturday at 6 p.m. local time. The event, which is in its eighth year, will be held outdoors for the first time at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center in the heart of Las Vegas and is free to attend.
