BLOG: Indiana Women’s Basketball Tours Italy
8/4/2017 2:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Day Eight: August 10
Our time in this beautiful country is quickly coming to an end as we explored Venice today. This morning, we sent off assistant coach Janese Banks who returned back to Indianapolis for a wedding she is attending on Saturday. We then started our day by taking public transit over to the small island that is the incredible city before exploring its vast amount of city streets and canals. We then hopped on some gondolas for the traditional tour around the city to see the great architecture, bridges and flowers. Afterwards, the team and staff split up into groups to explore the city, shop and eat lunch. Unfortunately, we all got caught in a heavy thunderstorm around 3:45 p.m. local time that hindered the city for a better part of an hour. Some made their way back to the hotel and others continued to explore the city. It was such a pleasant way to end our tour buying souvenirs for ourselves, family and friends and to take a little bit of the country that has treated us so well!
It's another long travel day for us tomorrow, as we will fly out at 11 a.m. local time from Venice into Atlanta and then back to the Hoosier state around 9 p.m. ET then back to home sweet Bloomington!
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Day Seven: August 9
It was a travel and gameday in the next to last day in Italy as we made it to Venice this afternoon. After some much-needed rest in the hotel, we took off for our game around 6 p.m. and traveled 45 minutes to the west to face the Veneto Stars at 7:45 p.m. ET. In the most competitive game of the tour, five players scored in double figures led by 17 points from senior guard Tyra Buss to go along with four assists and three steals. Senior forward Amanda Cahill also added 12 points and tied a team-high nine rebounds with freshman guard Bendu Yeaney who grabbed nine boards and 10 points. Freshmen Jaelynn Penn (10 points, six rebounds) and Keyanna Warthen also each chipped in 10 points each.
Leading 23-11 after the first quarter, the Stars made a run at the Hoosiers before halftime. Cutting the lead down to as few as six in the second quarter, a Buss 3-pointer pushed IU's lead back up by double digits with 5:16 to play. They would lead 43-32 at the break before outscoring 24-6 in the third quarter as IU cruised to a 3-0 record in Italy.
It was then back to the hotel for a late dinner and turning in before the final day of sightseeing in Venice where we will see St. Mark's Square, San Marco Church, Rialto Bridge and take gondola rides. We can't believe our time in this beautiful country is coming to an end so soon! It has been without a doubt one of the most incredible experiences for our players and staff.
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Day Six: August 8Game day number two of the trip was played on Thursday as the Hoosiers won in convincing fashion, 86-31, over KZKSU Radnicki. Senior guard Tyra Buss led the way with 20 points, six assists, two steals and block while junior forward Kym Royster chipped in double figures yet again with 17 points, three rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Switching up their lineup from game one to game two, IU started Buss, Royster, freshman guard Bendu Yeaney, freshman guard Keyanna Warthen and redshirt sophomore Ali Patberg. Both Patberg and transfer Brenna Wise – who collected a team-high eight rebounds - are allowed to play in foreign tour competition per NCAA rules as they will sit out the 2017-18 season due to transfer rules. Freshman guard Jaelynn Penn came in off the bench to go 6-for-9 from the floor for 13 points. Sophomore forward Bre Wickware also added eight points while Wise contributed seven points as well. As a team, Indiana shot 55.2 percent from the floor and 81 percent from the free throw line.
Following the game, IU took off for Pisa where it saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa and had lunch. Then it was a 45-minute drive to the beach in Viareggio where the Hoosiers spent two and a half hours relaxing in the sun and water. Definitely a relaxing afternoon for the squad who has put in a ton of walking miles on this foreign tour. Then it was back to the hotel for rest and relaxation before heading out to our final stop of the tour in Venice. The final game of the tour is set for 7:45 p.m. local time (1:45 p.m. ET) against the Veneto Stars.
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Day Five: August 7
It was another busy day in Italy as we finally hit the court for the first game of the tour against KZKSU Radnicki. It was a convincing 76-26 win for the Hoosiers as junior forward Kym Royster led with 17 points and tied a team-high with eight rebounds. Senior guard Tyra Buss added 12 points, four assists and two steals and while freshman guard Bendu Yeaney also contributed double figures with 12 points off the bench. Freshman guard Alexis Johnson also saw productive minutes with eight points and eight boards in the win. It's time for game number two tomorrow at 11 a.m. local time against the same team as we spend our final day in Florence.
After the game, we hit the streets of Florence where we saw Ponte Vecchio, Lover's Bridge, the famous statue of David and shopped in the town center. Florence is well regarded for its vast selection of leather and gold so the team spent much of the day exploring the streets and making purchases to bring back to Bloomington.
Tomorrow's itinerary includes game number two and following a day trip to Pisa where we will see the world famous Leaning Tower of Pisa and a beach day for the group. It will be a nice relaxing change of pace and some rest and relaxation before we hit the final leg of the tour in Venice on Wednesday.
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Day Four: August 6
The Hoosiers are on the move! We've left Rome and arrived just outside of Florence (about a four-hour bus ride) in a town called Montecatini Terme at approximately 8 p.m. local time. The day started up with the bus swinging by the airport and picking up our final two tourists in senior guard Tyra Buss and director of player development Bree Bass. We were so happy to see them! After hugs all around, we took off and headed for the Tuscany region of Italy where we stopped in Siena for lunch. We had excellent caprese salads and a mix of spaghetti with bacon and onion, wild boar spaghetti and mushroom ravioli with ricotta. We then had a chance to walk around the town square, Piazza del Campo, and had opportunities to shop.
Up next is three games in three days starting with games against KZKSU Radnicki 2016 tomorrow and Tuesday. Tomorrow's game will begin around 11 a.m. local time (5 a.m. ET). A full recap will be available on IUHoosiers.com after the game.
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Day Three: August 5
It's our final full day in Rome L
The Hoosiers spent the entire day in Vatican City, exploring St. Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums where they were able to see the Sistine Chapel. Touring these places came with much excitement for all of us, but especially for junior forward Brenna Wise who is a practicing Catholic.
"This has been one of my favorite stops on the tour," Wise told IUHoosiers.com "I am just so fortunate to be here and so grateful to see the Vatican. This is a day I will never forget."
Have we also mentioned its hot?
In what is forecasted as the final day over 100 degrees (something very unusual for Italian summers), but highs will reach the mid-90s throughout our entire trip. Our entire group has done a good job of staying hydrated and water is very accessible. We've also done a lot of walking each day, getting in at least five miles in the first three days each (according to our FitBits!).
After we finished our tours, it was off for free time for the group who at lunch just outside the Vatican walls back in Rome and to do a little shopping. Everyone took the subway back to the hotel and is getting some rest in before we have our final meal in the hotel at 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET).
Tomorrow is a travel day when the team heads to Florence in the morning. On our way out of the city, we will pick up our late arrivals at the airport in senior guard Tyra Buss and director of player development Briana Bass. Buss is fresh off her five-day stint at USA Basketball U23 Women's Team trials in Colorado Springs. While she didn't make the cut for the 12-man roster (out of 36 athletes participating), we're excited for her to have that opportunity to see national-level competition and so proud of her representation of IU at the trials. Ciao for now, Hoosiers!
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Day Two: August 4
It was more sightseeing in the capital city of Rome for the Hoosiers as the group visited the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and the Coliseum. After breakfast at the hotel, we hit the streets around 9 a.m. local time with a walk around the Palatine Hill ruins, which was the origin of Rome. It sits 40 meters above the Roman Forum and where Julius Caesar died. After about two hours of exploring the ruins, the Hoosiers headed down the street to the Colosseum where they did a self-guided tour through the ancient ruins. We have also run into a couple of other college basketball programs since we've been here including the Arizona State men's team and LSU women's team this afternoon outside of the Colosseum.
Next it was on to lunch where we dined on pizza, pasta, bread and salads at Volare near the Colosseum and afterwards gelato (of course). The heat continues to tear across the country, pushing upwards of 101 degrees Fahrenheit this afternoon. Some of us continued to use the hotel pool to cool off before dinner and a free night to hang out at the hotel. Tomorrow is our final full day in Rome as we are set to see Vatican City!
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Day One: August 2/3
Ciao, Hoosiers! We've finally made it to Italia after about 16-17 hours of travel time yesterday, which included a 9:30 a.m. departure from Cook Hall on August 2nd. A 1 p.m. flight from Indianapolis and 4:30 p.m. flight into the capital city of Rome followed, landing at approximately 8 a.m. local time today (August 3rd). Not only did it mark the first time out of the country for a handful of players, it marked the first-ever plane rides for players like freshman Jaelynn Penn (she did great, by the way!).
We wasted little time, hitting the ground running. Upon arrival, we met our tour guide, George, who will be showing us around the country for the next nine days. While much of Indiana was asleep, IU hit the streets of Rome as we saw the famous Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and Spanish Steps. Arriving at the hotel a little after 2 p.m., the Hoosiers hit the pool for some much-needed R&R before dinner later this evening.
It's also worth noting, it's HOT in Italy right now. And when we say hot, we mean hot. It's one of the hottest summers on record in the country, with expected highs topping over 100 for the next three days.
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