LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky guard Rhyne Howard scored 11 of her team’s 20 points in a one-point loss to Oregon in the championship game of the USA Basketball Women’s 3×3 National Championship over the weekend in Las Vegas.
The two-day event, which was held outside in Las Vegas for the first time since it was launched in 2012, also served as the 2019 USA Basketball Women’s 3×3 National Team trials, as all eligible athletes are in consideration for selection to the 2019 USA Women’s 2019 U.S. Pan American Games 3×3 Basketball Team. That team will be announced following the May 16-20 trials for the women’s five-on-five Pan Am Games squad.
Olympic fans will see the launch of a new basketball discipline with the inclusion of 3×3 in 2020. The exciting and fast-paced game officially was unveiled in international competition at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games and has since become a fan favorite at FIBA 3×3 World Cup events. Played on a half court with a 10-minute clock, and a 12-second shot clock, the first team to 21 points, or the team in the lead at the end of regulation, is the winner.
Howard was one of eight athletes that participated in a minicamp after submitting applications and being accepted by USA Basketball to compete in the tournament. The eight were divided into two teams for the event with Howard selected to the Drive team. Howard helped Drive to a 3-1 record in pool play before a 17-9 win over Michigan in the quarterfinal play-in game and 14-12 overtime win vs. Yee’go in the quarterfinals. Drive defeated NC State in the semifinals before falling to defending national champion Oregon, led by Sabrina Ionescu who earned MVP honors.
Howard will now turn her attention to 2019 USA Women’s U19 World Cup Team Trials later this month at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The 12-member team will be selected at the end of trials with training camp to follow July 5-19 and U19 World Cup competition taking place July 20-28 in Bangkok, Thailand.
For more information on the Kentucky women’s basketball team, visit UKathletics.com or follow @KentuckyWBB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
