10/20/2023
AVE MARIA, Fla.- Two players and two coaches from the Ave Maria University women's basketball program represented the University overseas last month, as players Gianna Santacroce and Isabella Starzyk, as well as head coach Alex Moorehead and assistant coach Jillian Miller, traveled to Europe for a series of games sponsored by USA Athletes International.
USA Athletes International is dedicated to giving amateur athletes and coaches the opportunity to participate in international sporting events throughout the world, while also allowing them to broaden their educational and cultural knowledge of the world through the experience. With over 29 years of experience in international sports travel, USAAI has grown to be one of the oldest and most respected sports travel organizations in the country. What started with one baseball team has grown to 14 different sports, with tens of thousands of student-athletes visiting more than 25 different countries since our inception.
"The opportunity to Coach for USA Athletes International has been another blessing from God to coach the game I love across borders with some of the best players around the country," Moorehead said. "We had players from California, Indiana, New York, and Ohio selected to represent their respective Universities and the country, which is a unique privilege that we did not take for granted."
The group played four games, winning three. The USA team earned victories over Forwodians Bucks, Batouwe Ladies 1 Lekdetec & Batouwe Ladies 2 Lekdetec, with the only defeat coming against one of the highest rated teams in Belgium, Athenas Lummen. Santacroce averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds throughout the 4-game stretch, while Starzyk averaged 7 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks per game.
In addition to the basketball, the trip was highlighted by multiple landmark visits, including to the Anne Frank House, a canal tour through Amsterdam, Castle Schloss Drachenberg (which inspired multiple Disney movies) and the Cathedral of Our Lady and Cologne Cathedral , two of the tallest cathedrals in the world.
"The international games provide us the ability to continue growing the game of basketball across the world and an incredible opportunity to represent Ave Maria University at some of the most competitive levels in the world," Miller said. "Having the privilege as a coach to expand my knowledge and coach young individuals from across the country allows us to grow stronger as coaches, players, and most importantly people."
