Tulsa Women’s Basketball Team Heads to Dominican Republic in August

The Tulsa women's basketball team will be traveling to the Dominican Republic, August 2-9, for three basketball games, multiple community service events and some fun in the sun.

"I think any time you have an opportunity to take a group of young people to foreign soil, it enriches their perspective and encourages their curiosity, Head Coach Matilda Mossman said. "Our student-athletes will get a first-hand look at a country that does not offer the things that our players are accustomed to in the United States. It is my hope that our student-athletes will come back with a hunger and a new way of looking at what they receive on a daily basis."

TU will take on the Dominican National Team on both Wednesday, August 3 and Thursday, August 4, and Mauricio Baez, a Dominican professional team, on Saturday, August 6. Prior to the trip the Golden Hurricane is allowed 10 official practices by the NCAA.

Six of the 14-member Tulsa women's basketball roster has yet to step foot on the hardwood to represent the Golden Hurricane (four true freshmen, one red-shirt freshman and one junior-transfer). Three more are just sophomores, while two are juniors and three are seniors.

"With five new players, the opportunity to get in ten additional practices has been invaluable," Mossman said. "We have already learned so much about our new players and I know they feel they have learned as much about us and our system as well."

Erika Wakefield is Tulsa's top returner, as she led TU in assists and steals last season with 94 and 46, respectively. She is also the leading point scorer returning from a year ago with 8.7 points per game. Tyjae' Scales is the leading rebounder returning with 4.1 rebounds per game.

Sophomore Liesl Spoerl, and freshmen Crystal Polk and Tyjae' Scales hit their marks last season, boasting the three best field goal percentages on the team. Polk posted a 48.9 percent clip (64-131), while Spoerl had a 48.7 field goal percentage (37-76), and Scales had a 48.0 percentage (24-50).

Tulsa will also put on a kids basketball clinic and partner with Samaritan's Feet, a non-profit organization that helps provide shoes to children around the world that do not have them.

The TU players and staff will also have the opportunity to tour Santo Domingo, take a Zip Line canopy tour in Higuey and enjoy a day at the beach.

The NCAA allows its member institutions to take a foreign trip once every four years. Travel expenses for the trip were funded through a donation by Helen and Andrew MacKay.

"I would just like to thank Helen and Andy, because without their generosity this trip would not have been possible," Mossman said.

Follow the team on their journey through Facebook (/TulsaHurricane and /TulsaWBasketball), Twitter (@TulsaHurricane and @TUWBasketball) and Instagram (@TulsaHurricanePics and @TulsaWBB).

Tulsa Women’s Basketball Team Heads to Dominican Republic in August

Players Mentioned

Crystal Polk

Tyjae' Scales

Liesl Spoerl

Erika Wakefield

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