The Canadian National Womens Basketball Team includes Illinois State University junior Katie Donovan, who was one of 17 team members announced by Canada Basketball in anticipation of the teams early-June exhibition tour against the Japanese Womens Olympic Team.
The Kingston, Ontario native is one of eight current NCAA Division I players to make the squad. Averaging 19.9 points per game, Donovan led the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring and was No. 19 in the nation in 2003-04. The Canadian National Womens Team is in the early stages of preparing a challenge for the 2008 International Olympic Games.
Robin Pingeton, the 2004 Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year and Donovans college coach at Illinois State, is excited about her top scorers opportunity.
Its a huge honor for Katie and great recognition for Illinois State, said Pingeton, who led the Redbirds to a nine-game improvement from 7-21 to 16-13 in her first season at Illinois State. Katie is relentless in her workouts and she is a very driven player. Playing for Canada in the Olympics is a dream she has had for a long time. Nobody would be surprised if it came true.
The Canadian team will face the Japanese Olympians at four stops in British Columbia: June 4 at Terry Fox Secondary School in Port Coquitlam, June 5 at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, June 7 at Capilano College in North Vancouver and June 8 at Trinity Western University in Langley.
At Illinois State, Donovan will lead a group of three starters and eight letterwinners into her senior season in 2004-05.
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