The University of Dayton women’s basketball team is taking a tour to Italy with Basketball Travelers. 

“I’m most excited to see the team enjoy this experience of being in Italy together,” said UD Head Coach Jim Jabir. “I think this is a great team bonding experience and it will help us grow. I’m also really looking forward to all the amazing food in Italy!”

The Flyers leave for Rome tomorrow and will stay through Aug. 11. In addition to sightseeing at the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica and Sistine Chapel, UD will play ASD Bull Basket Latina on Aug. 11.

The Flyers will spend time in Florence before playing All Star Vicenza on Aug. 14 in Venice.

UD will also make stops in Pisa, Lake Como and Verona.

They play the Chemcats Chemnitz on Aug. 17 and then travel to Milan before going home on Aug. 18.

UD returns four starters and nine letterwinners from last year’s 28-3 team that was ranked 16th in the final coaches’ poll and 18th nationally by AP.  Among the returnees are sophomore All-Atlantic 10 performers Andrea Hoover and Ally Malott, along with A-10 All-Rookie selections Amber Deane and Kelly Austria.  Hoover, a first team all-conference pick, was Dayton’s top scorer (12.9 ppg.).  The incoming freshman class is ranked No. 20 in the nation by All-Star Girls Report, the highest ranking ever for the UD women’s basketball program.