The Australian Under-19 Women’s team – the Gems – has confirmed its
final squad of 12 for the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup and Victoria is well represented with four players, the head coach and an assistant coach all part of the team.
After a successful FIBA U18 Asian Championship, where the team defeated
China to be the first Australian team to ever win the converted U18 Asian
Woman’s Championship, the Gems will no doubt be hoping to capitalise on
this momentum leading into the event.
They will head to Spain on Tuesday 4 July to play in a series of friendly
games in a four nations cup prior to the World Cup commencing Saturday
15 July. The Gems will face Spain, France and the mighty USA, providing
an ideal preparation for the FIBA U19 World Cup.
The Gems’ Australian U19s Women’s Team:
Paige Burrows (Victoria)
Isobel Borlase
Tayla Brazel
Sophie Burrows (Victoria)
Jayde Clarke
Rubi Gray
Tess Heal (Victoria)
Isla Juffermans
Jessica Petrie
Nyadiew Puoch (Victoria)
Saffron Shiels
Ruby Vlahov
Coaching Staff
David Herbert – Head Coach (Victoria)
Keegan Crawford – Assistant Coach
Zoe Carr – Assistant Coach (Victoria)
Donna Turner – Team Manager
Vivien Der Tateossian – Physiotherapist
Maja Markovic – Team Doctor
Head Coach David Herbert said he was impressed by the athletes at the
recent camp and is looking forward to seeing what the team can produce
on the international stage.
“I was very pleased with the talent and standard of play at our recent U19
World Cup selection camp,” Herbert said.
“All players competed with high intensity and showed a maturity above
their years to pick up the Australian style of play that was implemented.
“The team has the potential to come together and challenge for the FIBA
U19 World Cup and if they play with a selfless, team-first mentality and
come together, which I know they can, they have the ability to really
make an impact at this event,” he added.
The Australian team takes on Spain, Argentina and France in the pool
rounds before playing in the round of 16 to determine their fate in this
tournament.
