May 15, 2007
The Arizona State women's basketball team will be departing for Italy on Thursday for a nine-day tour of the country, which will include playing four contests against international competition.
Every four years teams are eligible to take advantage of this kind of unique opportunity. In 1999 and again in 2003 the Sun Devils traveled to Australia to compete against teams from "Down Under" in addition to traveling around and visiting some of the most famous sites in the world. This year's trip will include stops in Milan, Lake Como, Florence, Rimini, Padova, Verona and Venice.
Although it will not be the exact team Sun Devils head coach Charli Turner Thorne will have on the floor next season (next year's freshmen Rebecca Tobin and Stephanie Wilber will not be on the trip and rising sophomore Dymond Simon will not compete as she continues to recover from a torn ACL) the games in Italy will offer somewhat of a preview of the 2007-08 squad.
Juniors Sybil Dosty and Lauren Lacey will be able to compete along with the other returning members from last year's team, including returning starters Briann January, Reagan Pariseau and Jill Noe. Dosty and Lacey both had to sit out the 2006-07 season after transferring from the University of Tennessee and the University of Minnesota, respectively.
Below are some of the highlights of ASU's itinerary during its stay in Italy . Stay tuned the www.thesundevils.com for updates throughout ASU's trip.
Thursday, May 17
Travel from Phoenix to Milan
Friday, May 18
Sightseeing (walking) tour of Duomo
Travel to Como
Saturday, May 19
Sightseeing (on boat) tour of Lake Como, the most famous lake in Italy, where the Alps ascend up to 8500 feet above the crystal clear water of Lake Como
Visit the Bellagio, one of the most famous resorts on Lake Como, for lunch and sightseeing
Game No. 1 vs. Carugate Basket
Sunday, May 20
Travel to Florence
Sightseeing tour of Florence and Academia Museum
Monday, May 21
Travel to Pisa for sightseeing tour
Sightseeing tour of Florence and Academia Museum
Game No. 2 vs. Pallacanestro Femminille Monteca
Tuesday, May 22
Travel to Rimini for sightseeing tour
Wednesday, May 23
Travel to San Marino for sightseeing tour
Game No. 3 vs. Techno Allarmi Cervia
Thursday, May 24
Travel to Padova for sightseeing tour
Friday, May 25
Travel to Venice for sightseeing tour
Game No. 4 vs. Giants Basket Marghera
Saturday, May 26
Travel to Verona for sightseeing tour
Sunday, May 27
Travel home to Phoenix