Jenni Benningfield Invited to USA Basketball Tryouts 5/7/03

Vanderbilt’s Jenni Benningfield (6-3, Sr., F, Louisville, Ky.) is one of 60 basketball players invited to tryout for the USA Pan American Games Team, USA Basketball announced today. The tryouts will be conducted May 22-25 in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the US Olympic Training Center.

“This is such a great opportunty to show everyone what I can do,” Benningfield said. “I’m looking forward to playing with and against a lot of great players from around the country. Playing in the summer will enable me to be a better player for next season.”

Benningfield finished the 2002-03 season as the team’s leading rebounder with 7.9 rebounds a game, sixth in the SEC. She also averaged 16.5 points a game and shot 55.6 percent from the field (212-381), fourth in the SEC. She became the 23rd Commodore player to join the 1000-point club and now totals 1,068 points. She led the Commodores in points and rebounds in 14 games and totaled a team-high 11 double-doubles. She was named to the Coaches’ and Associated Press All-SEC second teams and also earned Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention Honors.

“I am extremely excited and happy for Jenni to get this opportunity,” Vanderbilt Head Coach Melanie Balcomb said. “Her work ethic and improvement this season has enabled her to compete amongst the best power forwards in the country.  I am sure she will represent Vanderbilt with a tremendous effort at this well-deserved tryout.”

The 2003 Pan American Games action is set to take place Aug. 2 - 9 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK ON http://www.USABASketball.com/women/03_wtrials_athletes1.html

TRIALS SESSIONS
Thursday, May 22
6:00 p.m. = Session I
Friday, May 23
9:00 a.m. = Session 2
5:00 p.m. = Session 3
Saturday, May 24
9:00 a.m. = Session 4
5:00 p.m. = Session 5
Sunday, May 25
8:00 a.m. = Session 6
USA teams will be announced following Session 6
 
* All Trials Sessions, which run approximately two hours and are subject to change, will be held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center Sports Center II in Colorado Springs, Colorado.