Colorado Springs, Colorado – Team USA came out to play on Sunday at the Olympic Training Center as they opened the U.S. Women’s International Friendly with a commanding win over China, 73-50. Team USA’s Rose Hollermann of Elysian, Minnesota, a two-time U.S. Paralympian, and Becca Murray of Germantown, Wisconsin, looking for a third trip the Paralympic Games, combined for 47 points, in the maiden game of the three-day tournament. 

Hollermann, a perfect 10 for 10 from the charity line, put up 21 points in the first half propelling Team USA to a 38-22 lead over China. Murray, who lead the U.S. with 10 rebounds, put up an all-around performance scoring 21 points in the winning effort. Desi Miller of Monroe, Washington, had 11 points, while five-time U.S. Paralympian Christina Schwab of Dane, Wisconsin, made six points. 

Chen Haizhen led China with 16 points, while Lei Tianiiao put up 14 points. 

In the second game of the morning session, Canada cruised to a 58-44 victory over Rio 2016 Paralympic Games host Brazil. 2014 World Champion Canada was propelled to the win with nine of its 12 players scoring. Canada’s top scorer was Arinn Young with 19 points, while five others combined for 27 points. 

For Brazil, Lia Soares and Perla Assuncao were the leading scorers with 10 points and seven points, respectively. 

The event located in Sports Center I provides a strong field of international teams, and is open to the public free of charge. Fans are invited to attend the games, and must enter the Olympic Training Center through the Boulder Street entrance. 

The Sunday evening session will renew the border rivalry between the United States and Canada. In 2014, Canada defeated the United States in the semi-finals of the World Championships and went onto win the gold medal, while the United States finished fourth. Last summer at the 2015 Parapan Am Games in Toronto, Team USA returned to the top of podium by edging Canada for the gold medal and qualifying for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. 

Brazil and China will close out the Sunday set of games at 7 p.m. 

In the final preparation phases for the Rio Games, the U.S. team will see a variety of teams in the next five weeks. Team USA will have two more international competitions following the Colorado Springs event (Olympic Training Center, Lake Placid, New York, June 22-26 and Women’s World Super Cup, Frankfurt, Germany, July 13-18).

The U.S. women’s team qualified for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games by winning the 2015 Parapan American Games. The U.S. women dominated the Parapan Am competition by outscoring their opponents by 55 points per game and avenged their 2014 World Championships fourth-place finish by defeating Canada for the gold medal in Toronto, Canada. 

The U.S. Women’s Head Coach is Stephanie Wheeler of Champaign, Illinois, who won two Paralympic Games in 2004 and 2008, and will be assisted by NWBA Hall of Famer Trooper Johnson of San Lorenzo, California, and Amy Spangler of Madison, Wisconsin, with Kearstin Gehlhausen of Whitewater, Wisconsin, serving as the team leader. 

The U.S. Women’s team finished fourth at the 2012 London Paralympics, after claiming the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing and 2004 Athens Paralympic Games. 

 

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2016 U.S. Women’s International Friendly

Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, Colorado

June 5-7, 2016

Results

Game #1 – USA def. China, 73-50

Game #2 – Canada def. Brazil, 58-44

Game #3 – USA vs. Canada at 5 p.m. MDST

Game #4 – Brazil vs. China at 7 p.m. MDST

Schedule

Monday, June 6 (All times MDST)

9 a.m.  China vs. Canada

11 a.m.  USA vs. Brazil

5 p.m.  China vs. USA

7 p.m.  Brazil vs. Canada

Tuesday, June 7 (All times MDST)

9 a.m.  Canada vs. USA

11 a.m.  China vs. Brazil

5 p.m.  USA vs. Brazil

7 p.m.  China vs. Canada

 

U.S. Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Roster

No.  Name Residence Hometown Birthdate

4 Megan Blunk Urbana, Ill. Gig Harbor, Wash. 09/12/1989

23 Abby Dunkin Arlington, Texas New Braunfels, Texas 11/24/1995

11 Vanessa Erskine Zwickau, Germany Kearney, Mo. 07/12/1994

2 Gail Gaeng Champaign, Ill. Frederick, Md. 12/27/1992

15 Rose Hollermann Arlington, Texas Elysian, Minn. 12/25/1995

5 Darlene Hunter Arlington, Texas Commerce Township, Mich. 04/16/1982

9 Desiree Miller Whitewater, Wis. Monroe, Wash. 08/12/1987

12 Becca Murray Germantown, Wis. Germantown, Wis. 03/15/1990

10 Jennifer Poist Tucson, Ariz. McSherrystown, Pa. 03/14/1989

8 Natalie Schneider Crete, Neb. Crete, Neb. 02/11/1983

24 Christina Schwab Lakewood, Colo. Dane, Wis. 07/31/1980

33 Mackenzie Soldan Tuscaloosa, Ala. Hemlock, Mich. 05/14/1992

Coaching Staff:

Head Coach: Stephanie Wheeler, Champaign, Illinois

Assistant Coach: Trooper Johnson, San Lorenzo, California; Amy Spangler, Madison, Wisconsin

Team Leader: Kearstin Gehlhausen, Whitewater, Wisconsin

Athletic Trainer: Karla Wessels, Lexington, Kentucky