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| 08-21-2002 | Previous edition: 08-20-2002 |
        
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Printer-friendly version Players gain experience in Europe
Sports Editor For two members of the women's basketball team, this summer was anything but routine. Juniors Beth Jones and Lindsey Hicks both got the opportunity to play overseas to enhance their skills and have an experience of a lifetime. Hicks, a 6-foot-1-inch forward, was selected to join 11 other conference players on a tour of Holland and Belgium, during which they played five games. The team left June 14 and returned June 24. It was a trip Hicks almost didn't get to go on. When the member of the Purdue women's basketball team was selected to represent the Boilers on the Big Ten Women's Basketball Foreign Tour Team, Hicks was not the one chosen. Mary Jo Noon, the original selection, could not attend due to an injury, so Hicks was chosen to be the replacement and throughout the trip showed why she deserved to be there. The change came as a result of Noon’s health following a procedure to remove an infected bursa, a sac of fluid that protects bony prominences, of the fifth metatarsal on her right foot. Noon, a 6-foot-5-inch senior center, is expected to fully recover. Hicks said she was pleased she got the opportunity to go. "Of course you would want Mary Jo to go because she is a senior," said Hicks. "But I was really excited about it." Hicks didn't waste any time showing off her skills and led the team in scoring in the first game. She scored a game-high 12 points for an 80-57 victory over the Netherlands National Team on June 16, in Den Helder, Holland. Hicks averaged 2.5 points and 1.5 rebounds in 30 games as a reserve during the 2001-02 season and she said the increase in her scoring output may have been due to the laid back nature of the games. "We didn't have plays to do, so it was whatever you want," said Hicks. "It was fun to play like that and I just had a lot of fun with it." Hicks didn't stop her high scoring with the first game and scored another 12 points in the team's next outing. The 96-62 win over Den Helder BBC of Holland on June 17 put the Big Ten team at 2-0. The Big Ten All-Stars then traveled through Amsterdam before arriving in Belgium, where they took on the Ekeren squad in Antwerp on June 20. Hicks gave another solid effort, scoring six points in the 86-52 win. Hicks finished out the five-game tour scoring 10 against Euronyl Waregen and six in the 96-92 win over BBC Meetjesland. The team finished the tour 5-0 and Hicks averaged 9.2 points per game. The team was overseas for 10 days, but Hicks said the players had plenty of free time and opportunities to see the sites and have a good time. In the time there she got to know her fellow players in the Big Ten. "It was fun getting to know them to know what everyone thinks about us and the stereotypes we have about each team," said Hicks. "It was really fun and it makes you look forward to playing them in the regular season." While Hicks was playing in Belgium and Holland, her teammate Jones was spending her time in Spain. Jones, a 5-foot-9-inch guard, along with players from all over the country, played with Athletes in Action. It is a Christian organization that shares their faith through athletics of all kinds. The trip began for Jones with a weeklong stay in Cincinnati where the team practiced before they departed for Spain. Jones said the team spent time in several smaller towns in Spain, but most of the two weeks was spent in Barcelona. For Jones the trip was a chance for her to both play basketball and work on her Spanish. "I was planning on going to Spain to study abroad, but then I was told about the opportunity to play in Spain," said Jones. It was a really good opportunity because I was working on Spanish and working on basketball." Jones and her teammates from all over the country won all the games they played, and like Hicks, Jones said games were more relaxed. "Some opportunities to play a lot of basketball are not to have the pressure of collegiate play and have fun," said Jones. "But we took things seriously and got a lot of game experience and got a lot of playing time." During her time in Spain, Jones, like Hicks, formed relationships with her teammates and others. "I was able to build relationships not only with my teammates, but with the people of Spain," said Jones. "They are amazing people." Jones averaged 3.2 points and 1.2 rebounds per game off the bench and said the summer has taught her more about herself as a player. Both Jones and Hicks will look to increase their playing time in this upcoming season, and head coach Kristy Curry said she was proud of both of the players and their trips should help them greatly as they attempt to increase their roles on the team. "It is an education experience to see a different part of the world and play against good players," said Curry. "It can only give you a jump start." "It is their opportunity," said Curry. "Certainly the experience would be very valuable for them." Printer-friendly version |
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