Kentucky guard Samantha Mahoney is among 57 of the country?s top players to accept an invitation to try out for the 2005 USA Basketball Women?s National Team Trials.
The Trials determine the finals for the 2005 USA U19 World Championship and World University Games teams. The Trials are set to take place May 19-22 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Invitations to the Trials were issued by the USA Basketball Women?s Collegiate Committee, chaired by Sue Donohoe, NCAA.
Following the four-day Trials the Collegiate Committee will announce finalists for the 12-member 2005 USA Women?s U19 World Championship Team and the 12-member USA World University Games Team.
Mahoney, a native of West Bloomfield, Mich., completed her freshman season at Kentucky, ranking second on the squad in scoring (10.6 ppg), steals (30), assists (67) and blocks (17). She was named to the All-SEC freshman team after leading UK and finishing 16th in the league in scoring with an average of 12.5 points per game in Southeastern Conference play. Mahoney started at guard in 27 of UK?s 34 games and helped lead the Cats to the semifinals of the Women?s National Invitation Tournament.
?We are really proud for her and excited that she has this opportunity to represent Kentucky women?s basketball at the USA Trials,? UK Coach Mickie DeMoss said. ?I think it says a lot about what she was able to accomplish as a freshman.?
The Trials begin Thursday, May 19, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. (all times MDT). Sessions for the U19 team candidates will be held from 8:30-10:30 a.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 20, and 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 21. Trials sessions for the World University Games team candidates will be held 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 20, and from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 21. The Trials will conclude on Sunday, May 22 with a session from 8:00-10:00 a.m.
Finalists for both the USA U19 and World University Games squads will be announced following the May 22 session. All Trials sessions will be held in Sports Center II.
Of the expected 57 Trials participants, 33 are only eligible, because of age, for selection to the USA World University Games Team; 13 trials participants who were born on or after Jan. 1, 1986 (19-years-old or younger) and have completed at least one year of college eligibility are eligible for selection to either the USA U19 or the USA World University Games teams; while the remaining 11 invitees who graduate from high school in 2005 and are born on or after Jan. 1, 1986, are eligible for only the USA U19 World Championship Team.
Mahoney is eligible for either the USA U19 World Championship Team or USA World University Games Team.
