Four players from the Missouri Southern men’s and women’s basketball programs, as well as a coach have been named to the USA Division II teams that will compete in the 2019 Brazil Tour as announced by director of USA Sports Tours & Events, Ron Smith Monday morning.
Coach Ronnie Ressel assumes the honor of leading the women’s team as head coach, while sophomore guards Amber Buch and Layne Skiles along with forward Madi Stokes join seven other players from five other schools to complete the women’s roster. Reggie Tharp from the Lions’ men will play for the D2 Men’s Team.
“This is an outstanding group of basketball players that come from ten different states and 12 different colleges and universities from across the United States,” said Smith. “We feel that we have some of the BEST of the BEST representing NCAA Division II basketball from across the country. These players have been high achievers both on the court and in the classroom. They represent everything good that the NCAA Division II institutions have to offer.”
The tour runs from July 22nd to July 31st where the teams will experience educational, cultural and social aspects of Brazilian life through city, school and sports club visits. They will also conduct a youth clinic while in the city of Jundiai, stay on the world famous Copacabana Beach, and take a tour of the Christ the Redeemer Statue, Sugar Loaf Mountain, two of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, plus Ipanema Beach, the International Market (Ipanema) and the Lapa Steps during their time in Rio.
Below is the FULL Schedule and Roster:
Tentative Game Schedule
Wednesday, July 24
USA D-2 Women vs. Sorocaba
USA D-2 Men vs. Sorocaba
Thursday, July 25
USA D-2 Women vs. Jundiai
USA D-2 Men vs. Jundiai
Saturday, July 27
USA D-2 Women vs. Mangueira
USA D-2 Men vs. Botafogo
Monday, July 29
USA D-2 Women vs. Fluminense
USA D-2 Men vs. Fluminense
2019 USA D-2 Women’s Basketball Team – Brazil Tour
Cassie Askvig University of Mary
Peyton Boom Minnesota State University-Moorhead
Kiley Borowicz Minnesota State University-Moorhead
Amber Buch Missouri Southern State University
Halley Busse Wayne State College
Kim Crown University of Central Missouri
Coral Gillette University of Mary
Alexis McAfee Washburn University
Layne Skiles Missouri Southern State University
Madi Stokes Missouri Southern State University
USA D-2 Women’s Coaches
Head Coach – Ronnie Ressel (Head Coach, Missouri Southern State University)
Asst. Coach – Heather Davis (Assistant Coach, University of Central Oklahoma)
2019 USA D-2 Men’s Basketball Team – Brazil Tour
RayQuan Elliott Pittsburg State University
Parker Fox Northern State University
Damani Hayes South Dakota State Mines & Technology
Jordan Janssen Wayne State College
Joe Laravie University of Southern Indiana
JT Shumate Walsh University
Mitchell Sueker South Dakota State Mines & Technology
Reggie Tharp Missouri Southern State University
Jason Towery University of Missouri-St. Louis
Matt Wilkinson University of Central Missouri
USA D-2 Men’s Coaches
Head Coach – Chris Foster (Head Coach, McKendree University)