George Washington University Athletics
Women's Basketball Set for Spain Sojourn
7/18/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Photo Gallery of Wednesday's Practice
WASHINGTON - George Washington women's basketball is set to take its preparations for a repeat Atlantic 10 title overseas.
The Colonials will embark on a 10-day tour of Spain next month with stops in Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona. They'll play four exhibition games against European clubs with plenty of time left over to explore the homeland of decorated former Colonials Noelia Gomez ('99), Elisa Aguilar ('00) and Anna Montañana ('05) during the trip, which runs Aug. 13-23."This foreign tour will give our team a much-needed opportunity to grow close to one another, on and off the court," head coach Jennifer Rizzotti said. "More importantly, the women's basketball program at GW has deep roots in Spain and Spanish basketball. Noelia, Elisa and Anna all left home for illustrious careers in Foggy Bottom and beyond, including roles on the Spanish Olympic Team.
"Connecting with alumni is so important to the way we continue to build this program, and it only makes sense to bring our current team to meet the women who helped set the foundation of success at George Washington. We're excited to spend time with them, learn about their experiences at GW, and enjoy their culture for a few days."
GW started getting ready Wednesday with the first of 10 NCAA-permitted practices ahead of its departure. It will be the program's first offseason foreign trip under Rizzotti, who will head back to Spain in September as an assistant coach with Team USA for the 2018 FIBA World Cup of Basketball.
The extra on-court workouts, plus the exhibitions and bonding time in Spain, figure to give the Colonials a leg up on the 2018-19 season.
They add four first-year student-athletes and two transfers to a returning core of three starters and two key reserves that celebrated an A-10 championship last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years. Sydney Zambrotta, who recently joined the squad as a transfer from Louisville and will sit out this season per NCAA rules, will also participate in the games abroad.
"A lot of us have never played with each other before," said senior point guard Mei-Lyn Bautista, who averaged 8.1 points and 4.3 assists per game last season. "The fact that we'll have a head start and we'll get to play together before a lot of other A-10 teams do, it's going to be a great way to see what we're good at, what we're not and what we need to work at."
In Spain, the Colonials will mix business and pleasure with an array of sightseeing opportunities around their playing schedule. The itinerary highlights include a scavenger hunt around Madrid, a tapas crawl in Toledo and a catamaran cruise in Cambrils. In Barcelona, they will take in a flamenco show and visit the city's famed Sagrada Familia church.
GW is slated for its first exhibition Aug. 15 when it faces CD CREF in its home gym in Madrid. The top club in Spain's capital plays in the country's Liga Femenina de Baloncesto.
Three days later, the Buff and Blue takes on the Valencia All-Stars at L'Alqueria del Basket in the seaside city on the Mediterranean Coast.
To close the competitive portion of its trip, the Colonials will meet ZKK Celje on back-to-back days (Aug. 21-22) at Pavelló Esportiu Municipal in Barcelona. The Slovenian club has won seven straight titles in its home country's top league and in 2017 captured the regional Adriatic League crown.
"This is something you can't do every day," said senior forward Kelsi Mahoney. "To get to do this with some of your best friends while playing the game you love, I'm so incredibly thankful. I know these memories are going to last a lifetime."
Be sure to follow along with the Colonials in the coming weeks as they prepare for the trip and on their travels through Spain with updates posted on Twitter (@GW_WBB), Instagram (@GW_WBB), Facebook (George Washington Women's Basketball) and GWSports.com.
Game Schedule
Wednesday, Aug. 15 vs. CD CREF
Tip-off: 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET) at Canal de Isabel II Sports Centre in Madrid
Saturday, Aug. 18 vs. Valencia All-Stars
Tip-off: 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET) at L'Alqueria del Basket in Valencia
Monday, Aug. 20 vs. ZKK Celje
Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. local time (1:30 p.m. ET) at Pavelló Esportiu Municipal in Barcelona
Tuesday, Aug. 21 vs. ZKK Celje
Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. local time (1:30 p.m. ET) at Pavelló Esportiu Municipal in Barcelona
