Aug. 13, 2006
MEXICO CITY, Mexico - Incoming Dayton freshman Kendel Ross helped Team Canada to a third place finish at the 2006 FIBA Americas U20 Championships to qualify the Canadians for the 2007 FIBA U21 World Championship.
Ross (Sarnia, Ont.) averaged 8.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game as Team Canada went 3-2 in the competition with victories over Bahamas, Puerto Rico and Mexico. The 6-1 guard/forward led the entire six-team field in free throw percentage as she converted 12 of 13 attempts from the line (92.3 percent). Ross also led the Canadians by playing 27.2 minutes per game. Boxscores from each game of the tournament and overall statistics are available at www.fibaamericas.com
"I am proud of our team and what we have accomplished here at the U20 World Championship Qualifying Tournament," stated Canadian Head Coach Linda Marquis. "The team responded well both on-and-off the court despite the short training schedule and their young age compared to the competition. Qualifying for the world championship is a terrific accomplishment for Canada."
Earlier this summer, Ross helped the Canadian Junior National Team to a silver medal at the FIBA America's U18 Championship Qualifier in Colorado Springs, Colo. The guard/forward averaged 9.4 points per game and 9.2 rebounds per game while leading Team Canada to a 4-1 record in the seven team tournament. She also had 1.0 assist and 1.0 steals per game while averaging 26.0 minutes per contest.
Ross is one of six newcomers who will join the Dayton basketball family this Fall. UD has been one of the most improved teams in the nation over the past two seasons under the direction of Head Coach Jim Jabir. In his first season with the Flyers, Dayton won just three games. Last year, UD had the fourth best single-season turnaround in the nation with 12 wins overall for a nine-game improvement. The Flyers have won 17 games in 2005-06 and tied for the second best improvement in the NCAA from the 2003-04 season to the 2005-06 campaign.
Dayton's 17-12 regular season record was not only one of the best turnarounds in the nation, but is among the most successful seasons in Flyer women's basketball history. UD hit the 17-win plateau for just the second time in its Division I history and the first time in 22 years. Last season's win total matches the third most wins since the 1984-85 season. Dayton was also 8-8 in Atlantic 10 regular season games, which was one shy of its most ever wins in A-10 play.
