THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2011
PAGE 7B
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Taking their talents to Italy
KATHLEEN GIER
kgier@kansan.com
Fighting jetlag, Kansas women's basketball team made the 15-hour flight back to Kansas City from Italy on Friday. On the bus ride back to Lawrence they took the opportunity to contact friends and family with their first chance for internet access in over a week. Even so, some of their first communication was with the teammates that they had traveled with as junior forward Carolyn Davis and sophomore guard Keera Mays tweeted each other from feet away.
"It was really good that we got to spend 10 days where it was just us no phones, so we had no distractions so we were just hanging out and it was good for us on and off the court," Davis said.
During their nine-day trip the Jayhawks celebrated birthdays, saw George Clooney's house at Lake Como and enjoyed Italy as tourists.
"We saw all these things you only see in movies," Davis said. "It was amazing."
After visiting the tourist spots, the jayhawks played three games against Italian teams. Kansas won all three games by wide margins including a 110-25 victory over Selezione Lombardi on Wednesday night in Varese.
The Jayhawks came from behind and defeated Roma Selezione in their first two games.
As they played, the team had to adjust to the more physical play of Italian basketball.
"They are learning really quick and doing what they are told," Davis said. "They are just giving us what they have right now."
While adjusting to European play, they also had to work with new team dynamics after adding five freshmen for the fall season.
Though the competition was difficult, freshman guard Bunny Williams said she was impressed at how much the team improved over the three game span.
Playing these games gave the team extra time before the season started to work together and learn the system of coach Bonnie Henrickson.
"It was a good opportunity because we got to see what practice is like and the pregame routine, I feel like we are ahead of everybody," Williams said.
Freshman guard Asia Boyd enjoyed the chance to learn quickly and spend time with her teammates.
"It was a good experience playing with the older kids," Boyd said. "We took everything in and tried to grow every game."
Kansas will take a couple weeks off practice before they start to prepare for the fall season.
— Edited by Rachel Schultz
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
When the KU women's basketball squad wasn't playing basketball in Italy, they took time touring around the country. The players soaked in this once in a lifetime experience by visiting many sites such as the Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel, the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon in Rome, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Accademi Gallery and Michelangelo's famous "David" sculpture in Florence, the Piazza San Marco Square in Venice and the Italian Alps in Lake Como. Fans can gain insight into their trip by reading the team's daily blogs on the KU Athletics website.
It's NOT too late... We still have great places left!
Country Club 512 Rockledge
The Woods 630 Michigan
Jacksonville 700 Monterey Way
Woodward 611 Michigan
785-841-4935
www.midwestpm.com
welcome BACK STUDENTS!
- PRECISION PIERCING
- PRECISION PERIVER
* KANSA'S BEST + AWARD WINNING ARTISTS
- KANSAS BEST + AWARD
HOSPITAL STERILIZATION
- HOSPITAL JEWELRY SELECTION
LARGE JEWELRY SELECTION
- LARGE JEWELRY SELLER
* SPECIALIZING IN CUSTOM ARTWORK
VOTED BEST IN LAWRENCE
938 MASS ST | 785-312-8186
www.bdc.tattoo.com