The U.S. Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team came out quickly against Brazil to improve to 3-0 overall in the second day of the U.S. Women’s International Friendly at the Olympic Training Center, and defeated Brazil 84-34.

 

Team USA started on a 13-0 run in the first 5:15 of the first quarter, and closed out the quarter with a 28-2 advantage with three-time U.S. Paralympic Games hopeful Becca Murray of Germantown, Wisconsin, scoring 12 of her 22 points in the first quarter, while two-time U.S. Paralympic hopeful Rose Hollermann of Eysian, Minnesota, putting up 10 of her 33 points in the first as well.

 

The U.S. team substituted a variety of players throughout the remainder of the game, and its defensive prowess maintained, allowing five other 2016 Paralympic hopefuls to score: Desi Miller of Monroe, Washington; Christina Schwab of Dane, Wisconsin; Abigail Dunkin of New Braunfels, Texas; and Megan Blunk of Gig Harbor, Washington; and Gail Gaeng of Fredrick, Maryland.

 

Lia Soares of Brazil put up 23 points, and Perla Assuncao scored 8.

 

The opening game of the second day featured Canada narrowly edging out China, 62-57. In the first half, Canada broke out quickly and took a nine-point advantage into halftime, 35-26. China edged its way back into the game during the third and fourth quarters, where they were within two points during the waning two minutes of the game. Canada relied upon the 13 rebounds and 21 points from Janet McLachlan, who collected six points in the fourth. Cindy Ouellet and Katie Harnock found double digits with 17 points and 10 points, respectively. Team China saw Jimeng Dai score 18 points, with Yun Long contributing 15.

 

This evening, Canada and Brazil will close the second day of competition out at 7 p.m. MDST.

 

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.

 

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
Sunday, April 5:
Game #1 – USA def. China, 73-50
Game #2 – Canada def. Brazil, 58-44
Game #3 – USA def. Canada, 70-66
Game #4 – China def. Brazil, 54-35

 

Monday, April 6:
Game #5: Canada def. China, 62-57
Game #6: USA def. Brazil, 84-34

 

Schedule
Monday, June 6 (All times MDST)
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