USA Athletes International Wins Four of Six Games in Australia

For Immediate Release: Monday, July 28, 2008

La Crosse, Wis. – Members of the 2008 USA Athletes International women's basketball team won four of six games on its recent trip to Australia. Three members of the UW-La Crosse squad took part in the trip to Melbourne and the Gold Coast near Brisbane.

Senior forward Mackenzie Hunter of Eau Claire (Regis) and senior guard Amanda Waldvogel of Wausau (West) along with Eagles’ head coach Lois Heeren participated on the tour June 29-July 11. Heeren served as the team's head coach.

USA Athletes International went 4-2 in Australia, opening with an 64-58 victory over Eltham. After an 59-57 loss to Bulleen, USA Athletes International notched an 83-56 win over Southern Peninsula. They then fell 86-82 to the Knox Raiders before ending the tour with a victories over Ringwood (75-67) and Maroochyoore (71-62).

Established in 1991, USA Athletes International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to giving amateur athletes an opportunity to experience the competition, history and culture of other countries on an international level.

This marks the fourth consecutive year members of the UW-L women’s basketball program has participated in the USA Athletes International Tour. Past trips included stops in Paris, London and Belgium. It was Hunter’s second trip, traveling to London in her previous stop, while Waldvogel made her first appearance for USA Athletes International. Heeren has made three trips abroad for the organization.

The trip included a six-night stay in Melbourne with a variety of activities. A stop in the Queen Victoria Market and a day trip along the Great Ocean Road were also included. The group spent four nights on the Gold Coast and visited the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, featuring over 1,400 Australian mammals, birds and reptiles. The tour also included time to surf, kayaking and a day trip to Bryon Bay to see dolphins, whales and sea turtles.

Hunter was named to the 2007-08 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) First Team after leading UW-L with 14.9 points per game. She became the fifth player in school history to earn all-conference honors twice in her career (also earned honor in 2005-06). Hunter ranks 15th in career points (991) at UW-L while being first in free throw shooting (83.7%).

Waldvogel played in all 26 games a year ago, averaging 3.8 points. She scored a season-high 12 points against Bethel University (Ind.) and UW-Oshkosh.

Heeren begins her 10th year at the helm of the women’s basketball program in 2008-09. She was named the WIAC Co-Coach of the Year in 2005-06 after leading UW-L to an overall record of 19-8.