COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Duke University sophomore Alana Beard heads the list of 12 of the nation's top 19-and-under standouts that were named to the 2001 USA Basketball Women's Junior World Championship Team on Monday. The selections were made by USA Basketball Women's Collegiate Committee following four days of trials, held June 15-18 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Committee also named six alternates who would be called upon to join the team in case of an injury during the USA's June 25-July 9 training camp.

Named to the team were: Alana Beard (Duke / Shreveport, La.), Tera Bjorklund (Colorado / St. Peter, Minn.), Shameka Christon (Arkansas / Hot Springs, Ark.), Monique Currie (The Bullis School / Washington, D.C.), Jessica Moore (Connecticut / Palmer, Ark.), Loree Moore (Narbonne H.S. / Harbor City, Calif.), Cappie Pondexter (John Marshall H.S. / Chicago, Ill.), Nicole Powell (Stanford / Phoenix, Ariz.), Stacy Stephens (Texas / Winnsboro, Texas), Ann Strother (Highlands Ranch H.S. / Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Diana Taurasi (Connecticut / Chino, Calif.) and Wynter Whitley (Holy Innocents' Episcopal / Atlanta, Ga.).

Selected as alternates were: Mistie Bass (Janesville Parker H.S. / Janesville, Wis.), Teresa Borton (West Valley H.S. / Yakima, Wash.), Amber Jacobs (Boston College / Clarks Summit, Pa.), Kelly Mazzante (Penn State / Montoursville, Pa.), Nicole Wolff (Walpole H.S. / Walpole, Mass.) and Shanna Zolman (Wawasee H.S. / Syracuse, Ind.).

Beard, Loree Moore, Pondexter, Powell and Taurasi helped the United States earn its 2001 Junior World Championship berth after winning five games in five days to capture the 2000 COPABA Junior World Championship Qualifying Tournament in Mar del Plata, Argentina. Averaging a team high 15.4 ppg., Beard paced the 2000 USA Junior National Team, Taurasi was the team's second leading scorer at 12.6 ppg., while the U.S. received contributions from Powell, 8.2 ppg., Pondexter, 6.6 ppg. and Loree Moore, 6.0 ppg.

One of two 2001 All-Americans, Beard captured National Freshman of the Year honors from the Women's Basketball Journal and earned All-America honorable mention from the Associate Press and Kodak/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). In addition, Beard was named 2001 NCAA Tournament All-West Region, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Freshman of the Year, All-ACC first team, All-ACC Tournament first team and ACC All-Defensive team. Powell was also listed among the 2001 Kodak/WBCA All-America honorable mentions, as well as being named 2001 Pacific 10 Conference Freshman of the Year, All-Pac-10 first team and Pac-10 All-Freshmen Team.

Three other collegians were listed among their respective all-conference teams, including Southeastern Conference All-Freshmen Team member Christon. Taurasi, the 2001 NCAA Tournament East Region Most Outstanding Player, was selected to the Big East Conference All-Rookie Team and Stephens was named All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention.

Included among the five high school players is 2001 Parade Magazine and Rawlings/WBCA Player of the Year Pondexter. Parade Magazine listed Loree Moore and Pondexter on its All-America first team, while Strother and Whitley were selected to the All-America second team. Pondexter was also named to the USA Today All-USA first team, along with Loree Moore, while Strother was named to the All-USA third team. Currie earned Maryland Player of the Year honors from Gatorade, while Loree Moore (California), Pondexter (Illinois), Strother (Colorado) and Whitley (Georgia) were also named as their respective state's Gatorade Circle of Champions Player of the Year.

In all, listed on the squad are seven (Beard, Bjorklund, Christon, Jessica Moore, Powell, Taurasi) who recently completed their first year of NCAA eligibility, four (Currie, Loree Moore, Pondexter, Whitley) who will be college freshmen in the 2001-02 season and one lone high school player (Strother) who will be a senior in the fall. There are six different NCAA schools and five conferences represented, with Connecticut, the Big East and the Big 12 boasting the most athletes with two each. Of the four incoming college freshmen on the USA team, two are slated to play for Duke (Currie, Whitley), one for Tennessee (Loree Moore) and one for Rutgers (Pondexter) in 2001-02.

2000 USA Basketball Development Coach of the Year and University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma will direct the 2001 USA Basketball Women's Junior World Championship Team, and will be assisted by University of Oklahoma's Sherri Coale and Northeastern University's (Mass.) Willette White.

The 2001 USA Junior Team will train from June 25 - July 2 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs before traveling to Washington, D.C. on July 2 to host the 2001 USA Basketball International Invitational from July 4-8, which features junior national teams from Brazil, China and Japan.

The U.S. will conduct one practice session at George Mason University's Patriot Center, on July 3 at 11:00 a.m. (all times EDT), before kicking off the round-robin tournament on July 4 at the Patriot Center. The tournament's July 4-6 preliminary rounds are open to credentialed media only, however the July 8 gold and bronze medal games are open to the public free of charge.

The United States will open 2001 USA Basketball Women's Junior International Invitational play against Brazil on July 4 at 11:00 a.m. at the Patriot Center. The USA-Brazil contest will be followed by a 12:30 p.m. tip-off between China and Japan. The Invitational continues at the Patriot Center July 5 with a 1:00 p.m. game between Brazil and China, and the United States will face Japan at 2:30 p.m. The round-robin preliminary round concludes on July 6 at the Patriot Center with a 1:00 p.m. game between the U.S. and China, and a 2:30 p.m. match-up between Brazil and Japan. Moving the Invitational to George Washington University's Smith Center, the gold and bronze medal games will be held on Sunday, July 8. The bronze medal game will begin at 3:00 p.m., followed by the championship contest scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

Following one final practice in Washington on July 9 at 12:00 p.m. at the MCI Center, the 2001 USA Women's Junior World Championship Team will travel to Prague for a July 11-12 training camp before beginning 2001 FIBA Junior World Championship play on July 14 against Lithuania in Brno.

Held every four years since 1985, the U.S. is the defending FIBA Junior World Champions having won its first gold medal in four tries at the event in Natal, Brazil, at the 1997 Junior Worlds. Featuring 12 teams, the 2001 FIBA Women's Junior World Championship is scheduled to be contested July 14-22 in Brno, Czech Republic.

The 12 teams have been placed into two groups for preliminary round robin play. The United States will compete in Pool B and opens preliminary play against Lithuania on July 14. The U.S. will then play China on July 15, Brazil on July 16, Mali on July 18 and will conclude preliminary round play against Russia on July 19. Preliminary Pool A consists of Australia, Cuba, Czech Republic, France, Japan and Poland. The top two teams from each group will advance to the medal semifinals, with the winners of the medal semifinal games competing for the gold medal. The remainder of the field will compete for 5th - 12th place.

Owning an 18-9 overall record (66.7 winning percentage) at the competition, after finishing no better than fifth in the first three Junior Worlds, the USA captured the `97 gold medal with an exciting 78-74 overtime victory over 1993 Junior World Champion Australia.

The USA Basketball Women's Collegiate Committee is chaired by University of Texas Senior Associate Athletics Director for Men's and Women's Athletics Chris Plonsky. In addition to Plonsky, the Committee is comprised of NAIA designee Stephanie Findley (head coach, Oklahoma Christian University), NCAA appointees Tom Collen (head coach, Colorado State University), Gail Goestenkors (head coach, Duke University, N.C.), Donna Noonan (Vice President, Women's Basketball Championship, NCAA) and White. Representing the NJCAA is Mary Ellen Leicht (Assistant Executive Director, NJCAA), Muffet McGraw (head coach, Notre Dame University, Ind.) was appointed by the WBCA and Teresa Edwards (2000, 1996, 1992, 1988 and 1984 Olympian, 1994, 1990 and 1986 World Championship teams / Smyrna, Ga.) and Vickie Orr-Wiley (1992 Olympic bronze medalist, 1990 World Championship gold medalist / Birmingham, Ala.) are the athlete representatives.

2001 USA Basketball Women's Junior World Championship Team

Quotes Provided by USA Basketball

Head Coach Geno Auriemma
"I like the team a lot. The Committee had a real tough job, this was not an easy decision for them. I like the makeup of the team. I especially like the fact that they're very versatile, we have experience and youth, a little bit of everything. I'm excited about this. As defending champions, I don't even know if they realize how difficult and challenging this will be, but that's our job as a coaching staff. I think we'll be up to that challenge."

Alana Beard (Duke University / Shreveport, LA)
How do you feel about being back after helping the U.S. qualify and having a chance to win a World Championship?

"It's going to be another great experience. I'm going to use this to better my skills and my leadership. It's going to be a great experience playing with these girls and most of all playing with my two of my future teammates, that's going to be really great. Playing under the experience of the coaching staff is going to be really great and I'm happy to be back."

Did you feel pretty good with your Trials?
"It was okay, I could have done better, but I'm here and so I will make the best of it.

Have you ever traveled out of the country before last summer?
"No, that was the first time, it was a great experience, I loved it."

Tera Bjorklund (University of Colorado / St. Peter, MN)

What did you think of your performance at the trials?
"There was definitely a lot of competition and it was a really hard weekend. I'm really excited to make the team and this will be my first time actually going overseas and to be playing against all these great players is really going to be excited. It will definitely help for the next year for playing in college, it will be a great experience.

What part of your game did you focus on?
"Not so much anything specifically, just all-around, being there on defense, staying with my girl, then offensively doing what I know how to do and trying to score the best I can."

Monique Currie (The Bulls School / Washington, DC)

On being named as ne of the 12 team members?
"It was just a relief, and it was really exciting. I came here to work hard for four days and it paid off. I'm excited to be able to play with great players from our country and go represent our country."

Will this help you next year?
"Oh definitely you get a lot of experience and you get to work out with a lot of great players and play against a lot of different competition."

Did you watch the basketball in the Olympics last summer and did you ever think you'd have a chance to go out there and win a gold medal for your country?
"I used to always joke about it, but I guess we can now."

Are you excited about returning to D.C. for training and a tournament?
"That'll be exciting because everyone can come and see that."

Shameka Christon (University of Arkansas / Hot Springs, AR)

Did you think you had a good Trials?
"Yeah, there was some good competition. My mind set coming in was to play hard and do what I know how to do best and not get out of my game trying to impress the selection committee or anything like that. I just went out there and played my game.

Are you excited about having the opportunity to represent the U.S.?
"This is very exciting. I've been invited to this once before and I wasn't able to attend. I want to travel, play against some good competition and represent the U.S."

Did you ever think you'd have a chance to go out and try to win a gold medal for your country?
"No, no I sure didn't. Well I'm honored right now and really happy about it."

Jessica Moore (University of Connecticut / Palmer, AK)

Are you excited to be playing with your UConn teammate Diana Taurasi?
"I'm really excited because this will be the first real time I'll be able to play with Diana in a real situation because I redshirted last year, and that should be a lot of fun and I'm really excited and looking forward to it."

How did you think your trials went?
"I was really happy and I thought I did a very good job focusing on defense because that was what I really wanted to do because we have so many scorers here with all the guards. I really wanted to try and block shots, rebound and play good defense and that's probably what the committee liked about me the most."

Did you get nervous when they were calling out the names?
"Yeah I did, I got really nervous actually and they just kept on talking and talking and I was like `just tell us who is on the team.' When I heard my name I was relieved."

Did you have a good feeling?
"I was pretty confident about how I was playing and I thought I had a pretty good chance of making the team this year."

How much will this help you prepare for next season?
"I think this will help me because it will help give me more experience in game situations going into next year and hopefully this will make me more aggressive playing against bigger and better players."

What about playing this summer for Geno Auriemma who is the USA Junior World Championship Team head coach and is also your head coach at Connecticut?
"It should be a load of fun and I'm looking forward to it."

Cappie Pondexter (John Marshall High School / Chicago, IL)

After going to the qualifying tournament last summer, were you even more motivated to try and be on this so you could try and win a World Championship?
"Yes, I remember last year Coach Auriemma told us that we had to be better then what we were last year this year and that's what I wanted to try and do this year, playing better and being more competitive."

What do you think you bring to this team?
"Bring the team together, play the point, be a leader and bring excitement."

Have you thought about having the chance to play for a World Championship?
"I never thought about it. Winning the gold last year was exciting for me but I can tell this is going to be even more exciting."

Nicole Powell (Stanford University / Phoenix, AZ)

How did you feel when you heard your name called as one of the 12 team members?
"I was really anxious and I'm so happy. I thought it was close and I heard her call (Cappie) Pondexter and I said `please say my name' and she did, I was so excited.

Were you happy with your performance at the Trials?
"I didn't play my best, but I played hard and I was just trying to do what they asked, I was just trying to rebound and play as a team and just play smart and it worked out well so I hope I can contribute to the team this summer.

How much did participating in the trials last year and playing on the USA Junior World Championship Qualifying Team help this time?
"I think it helped a lot, I think coming in here I kind of knew what to expect so I wasn't as anxious. Some of the other girls had asked me what to expect. I wasn't so much in awe of this place and the other athletes that were here."

Did you have an emphasis focus on for the Trials?
"I wasn't sure, I didn't know what position I would be playing in and I wasn't sure of what they were looking for exactly, so I was just trying to play hard, crash the boards and I was just trying to do the little things, play good defense and just be steady the whole time.

"Last year we cruised through the tournament and I know this year is going to be a lot tougher. I know all the teams have been playing together for a long time, the other players are going to be a lot better, But I think our team will be ready, we have a really good team and I'm excited to play."

Stacy Stevens (Texas / Winnsboro, TX)

What does it mean to you to have made the team and be able to play for your country?
"I feel great. It's really cool."

Have you traveled outside of the U.S.?
"I've been to Cancun, but that's about it."

How do you think you think trials went for you?
"I was so-so. I just tried to hustle and rebound - my strengths and tried to play my best."

Ann Strother (Highlands Ranch H.S. / Highlands Ranch, CO)

What did you think about your experience at these Trials?
"It was great experience to be here and playing with these girls is going to be probably one of the best experiences of my life."

Were you nervous when they were calling out the names?
"Yes, I had a pit in my stomach."

Were you relieved when you heard your name called?
"Yeah, a lot of relief and I'm really excited to just be here"

What part of your game did you try and focus on during the trials?
"I knew that the players here would probably be bigger and stronger than me and the only thing I could do is play hard and play my heart out and that's what I did and I guess that was enough."

Has the fact that you made the USA Junior world Championship Team sunk in yet?
"I think that it will probably all set in when we start practicing next week, ut I don't think it really has yet."

Diana Taurasi (Connecticut / Chino, CA)

What are your thoughts on being named to the team?
"I'm excited and happy. We're really looking forward to going out there and representing our country, so we're excited."

You played for USA Basketball last summer. Do you think that experience will help you? How do you think trials went for you?
"Pretty good. I just went out there to try to have fun and play solid and I think that's what everyone did."

What would it mean to you to bring home the gold medal?
"Especially at this level, it would probably mean everything. It's probably the highest accomplishment as a team and individually all of us would have."

Wynter Whitley (Holy Innocents' Episcopal (Duke) / Atlanta, GA)

What are your thoughts on how trials went this weekend?
"They were tough, but I think I grew. I know I grew mentally, more than physically, and if I didn't make it, I knew that I tried my hardest and if I did, I deserved it."

What does it mean to you to play for your country and maybe bring home the gold medal?
"It gives me chills. I mean, it's your country. Wow. It would be great."