Alarie Selected To USA Women's Basketball U-19 Team Trials

USA Basketball Release

PRINCETON, N.J. – After one of the greatest freshman seasons in program history, Bella Alarie has been selected to participate in the 2017 United States Women's Basketball National Team Trials from May 18-21 at U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to represent my country and Princeton with USA Basketball," said Alarie. "I will do everything in my power to prove myself worthy of the opportunity and make Princeton proud."

"We always say that at Princeton you can achieve your dreams in all areas," said head coach Courtney Banghart. "What a well-deserved honor for Bella to be invited to the U-19 USA Basketball team trials. Being selected amongst the nation's best is a testament to her hard work and her continual improvement as a player. The invitation is the first step and I know Bella is excited to earn the opportunity to play the game she loves, while representing her country, this summer."

Following the team trials and a two-week training camp, the 12-member U-19 National Team will participate in the 2017 FIBA U-19 World Cup from July 22-30 in Udine and Cividale del Fruili, Italy. The U-19 squad is coached by Suzie McConnell-Serio of Pittsburgh. She is assisted by Kamie Ethridge from Northern Colorado and Charlotte Smith from Elon.

The Ivy League Rookie of the Year and first team All-Ivy League player did not miss a game this season and was instantly inserted into the starting lineup. Alarie led the Tigers in scoring (12.6), rebounding (8.0), three-point field goal percentage (.379) and blocks (1.7). She was fourth in the conference in blocks and defensive rebounds (177), fifth in rebounds, sixth in three-point field goal percentage, seventh in points (377), eighth in offensive rebounds (64), ninth in field goals (139) and field goal percentage (.432) and 10th in points per game.

The Bethesda, Md., native is in the top five all-time for freshman single-season records in blocks (first) games played (tied for first), three-point attempts (109, second), three-pointers made (39, third), rebounds (241, third), points (fourth), field goals (fifth) and field goal attempts (322).

With her stellar season, Alarie helped Princeton to its eighth straight postseason tournament during the 2016-17 season, the best stretch in program history.

In addition to Alarie, athletes who have accepted an invitation to attend trials include: Janelle Bailey (Providence Day School/Matthews, N.C.); Jeannie Boehm (Harvard/Winnetka, Ill.); Chennedy Carter (Timberview H.S./Arlington, Texas); Charli Collier (Barbers Hill H.S./Baytown, Texas); Sidney Cooks (Saint Joseph H.S./Kenosha, Wis.); Mikayla Coombs (Wesleyan School/Norcross, Ga.); Gabby Cooper (Syracuse/Lansing, Ill.); Crystal Dangerfield (Connecticut/Murfreesboro, Tenn.); Shug Dickson (Tulsa/St. Louis, Mo.); Kathleen Doyle (Iowa/LaGrange Park, Ill.); Dana Evans (West Side H.S./Gary, Ind.); Nadia Fingall (Stanford/Navarre, Fla); Tyasha Harris (South Carolina/Noblesville, Ind.); Ruthy Hebard (Oregon/Fairbanks, Alaska); Tamara Henshaw (South Florida/Palm Coast, Fla.); Becca Hittner (Drake/Urbandale, Iowa); Joyner Holmes (Texas/Cedar Hill, Texas); Stephanie Jones (Maryland/Havre de Grace, Md.); Jordan Lewis (Alabama/Windermere, Fla.); Aarion McDonald (Washington/Fresno, Calif.); Minyon Moore (Southern California/Hercules, Calif.); Kayla Overbeck (Vanderbilt/Newbury Park, Calif.); Sedona Prince (Liberty Hill H.S./Liberty Hill, Texas); Reili Richardson (Arizona State/Brea, Calif.); Kylee Shook (Louisville/Colorado Springs, Colo.); Amber Smith (Missouri/Shreveport, La.); Alecia Sutton (Texas/St. Louis, Mo.); Megan Walker (Monacan H.S./Chesterfield, Va.); Evina Westbrook (South Salem H.S./Salem, Ore.); Christyn Williams (Central Arkansas Christian School/Little Rock, Ark.); Jocelyn Willoughby (Virginia/East Orange, N.J.) and Aaliyah Wilson (Arkansas/Muskogee, Okla).

Chairing the selection committee is George Washington University head coach Jennifer Rizzotti, who directed the 2011 USA U19 World Championship and 2010 USA U18 National teams to gold medal finishes and served as support staff for the 2014 USA World Championship and 2016 U.S. Olympic teams. In addition to Rizzotti, members of the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee include 2008 Olympic gold medalist Kara Lawson Barling as the athlete representative, and joining Rizzotti as representatives of the NCAA are University of Texas head coach Karen Aston, Temple University head coach Tonya Cardoza and North Carolina State head coach Wes Moore.

Originally known as the FIBA Junior World Championship, FIBA changed the names of its age-based world championships in 2005 to reflect the age of eligibility, and recently updated the names of all of its world championships to world cups. The tournament was held every four years starting in 1985. FIBA in 2005 modified its calendar and now conducts the U19 World Cup every other year. USA women's teams are 73-12 in U19/Junior World Cups, capturing a sixth-consecutive gold in 2015 with a 7-0 record.

USA was placed in Group A and will open against Mali on July 22, face China on July 23 and cap the preliminary round against host Italy on July 25. Following the preliminary round, teams will be seeded according to group play, and all participating teams will advance to the July 26 round of 16. Winners will advance to the July 28 medal quarterfinals, while the remaining teams will continue playing out for classification. The medal semifinals will be held July 29, and the gold and bronze medal games are slated for July 30.

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