Four Lobos Picked for National 3x3 Championships
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Four members of the 25-win Lobo women’s basketball team, Jaisa Nunn, Antonia Anderson, Madi Washington and Aisia Robertson, have been selected to compete in the 2018 USA Basketball 3×3 National Championships, held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs Saturday and Sunday, April 21-22.
The winning team from the 2018 3×3 Open National Championships will earn the opportunity to represent USA Basketball in the FIBA 3×3 World Cup. That will take place from June 6-10 in Manila, in the Philippines.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for Jaisa, Madi, AT and Aisia,” said head coach Mike Bradbury. “We are expecting a lot out of all four of them next year, so this will be a great way to play against some high-level competition. For Aisia, this is a great chance to play competitively after sitting out last season. I know they are all excited.
Nunn last season was UNM’s leading scorer at 17.0 points per game, and the leading rebounder at 10.2, the only player in the Mountain West to average a double-double on the season. Nunn also set a school record with a .637 field goal percentage. Madi Washington and Antonia Anderson were the top players off the bench for the Lobos in 2017-18, Washington averaging 6.4 points per game and Anderson 4.1 per game. Robertson redshirted last year, sitting out after transferring from the University of Kansas. She averaged 4.6 points per game over her two seasons at Kansas, and she was rated as the 84th and 85th best player overall by two national recruiting services out of high school.
“Playing 3-on-3 with a 12-second shot clock, you have to have a quick release,” said Robertson. “And with Jaisa down low I can definitely shoot without a conscience because I know she will get the rebound.”
For Jaisa Nunn, it’s her first experience with the national program. “The fact that it’s USA Basketball and there’s a chance for the Olympics and to keep playing is great. Also, we get to play against everyone else, because there are teams on the East Coast in the tournament, so it’s a chance to see where we are at.”
Nunn added, “To be hand-selected, it’s just fantastic. I’m glad to represent UNM and the Lobos in this tournament.”
The rules of FIBA 3×3 basketball have become more formalized over the years, and the FIBA 3×3 World Cup will be the fifth time the event is competed (2012, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018).
In 3×3, teams consist of four players with three on the court at any one time, and the game is 10 minutes long. There is a 12-second shot clock and each team gets one 30-second timeout. Baskets from inside the arc are one point, and from outside are two. The first team to reach 21 wins, or whomever is leading when the 10-minute game close expires. If the game is tied after 10 minutes, overtime will be played with the first team scoring two points winning.
Pool play will begin on Saturday for the 12 women’s teams in the tournament, with medal round play on Sunday. Below are the participants in the tournament:
*Competing for Ariel are Megan Bowen (Princeton/Chicago, Ill.); Lakin Roland (Dartmouth/ Jeffersonville, Ind.); Annie Tarakchian (Princeton/Orlando, Fla.); and Nicola Zimmer (Dartmouth/Brooklyn, N.Y.).
*Bye Felicia includes Danika Dale (Liberty/Fort Hood, Texas); Kristen McCarthy (Temple/San Dimas, Texas); Shaqwedia Wallace (Temple/Wilmington, Del.); and Veshaundra Young (Martin Methodist/Pulaski Tenn.).
*Representing the Colorado Buffaloes are Quinessa Caylao-Do (Colorado/Tacoma, Wash.); Annika Jank (Colorado/Edina, Minn.); Kennedy Leonard (Colorado/Southlake, Texas); and Alexis Robinson (Colorado/Ashland, Ky.).
*The Devs squad includes Courtney Ekmark (Arizona State/Phoenix, Ariz.); Kianna Ibis (Arizona State/Omaha, Neb.); Richardson and Jamie Ruden (Arizona State/Rochester, Minn.).
*DU WBB features Jasmine Jeffcoat (Denver/Superior, Colo.); Briana Johnson (Denver/Carson, Calif.); Lauren Loven (Denver/Scottsdale, Ariz.); and Samantha Romanowski (Denver/Mountlake Terrace, Wash.).
*Issa Bucket is comprised of Agee; Brianna Barrett (Southern California/Winnetka, Calif.); Teara Laudermill (Nebraska/Riverside, Calif.); and DeAjanae Scurry (San Diego State/Inglewood, Calif.).
*N.A.A.K. team is comprised of Kristen Anigwe (California/Phoenix, Ariz.), Napheesha Collier (UConn/O’Fallon, Mo.), Asia Durr (Louisville/Douglasville, Ga.) and Arike Ogunwobale (Notre Dame/Milwaukee, Wisc.).
*The Oregon Ducks roster includes Boley; Otiona Gildon (Oregon/Spokane, Wash.); Hebard and Ionescu.
*The Pacific Broncos are Jenn Bresler (Bellvue College/Duvall, Wash.); Gillian d’Hondt (Santa Clara/Seattle, Wash.); Kim Faust (Santa Clara/Kirkland, Wash.); and Ashley Graham (Pacific/Redmond, Wash.).
*Triple C’s and a K include Katie Batlin (Saint Mary’s College/Pleasant Hill, Calif.); Casey Morris (Texas Tech/Vallejo, Calif.); Chazny Nunes (Missouri-Kansas City/Vallejo, Calif.); and Charlee Underwood (California State, Fullerton/Emeryville, Calif.).
*The team of UNM is comprised of Antonia Anderson (New Mexico/San Antonio, Texas); Jaisa Nunn (New Mexico/Kirkland, Wash.); Aisia Robertson (New Mexico/San Francisco, Calif.); and Madison Washington (New Mexico/Red Oak, Texas).
*Representing the Washington Huskies are Mai-Loni Henson (Washington/San Diego, Calif.); Hannah Johnson (Washington/Santa Clarita, Calif.); Amber Melgoza (Washington/Santa Barbara, Calif.); and Jenna Moser (Washington/Colton, Wash.).