2008 Woodie Awards
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Stepping up for the U.S.
A U.S. Under-19 National Team tryout invitation caps Taylor Lilley's solid first year in Eugene
by Jeffrey Dransfeldt | Senior Sports Reporter
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When most freshmen were finding their way, the 5-foot-6 shooting guard showed poise. While others struggled for playing time, Lilley filled a void. She gave the Oregon women's basketball team a consistent three-point threat, averaging 8.3 points on .479 shooting.
Maybe, then, it shouldn't have been a surprise when Lilley was selected to tryout for the United States' U-19 World Championship Team. Lilley flew out early Thursday and continues through Sunday at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Lilley is one of 37 players selected to participate.
Oregon coach Bev Smith called Lilley and gave her the news.
"She's like 'I have some really exciting news for you' and I still had no idea. What could be exciting right now? She was like 'you're getting invited to go tryout for the USA National Team.' I was kind of like 'what?' It really didn't sink in," Lilley said. "It took me a while to get 'OK, wow, this is Under-19 USA National Team,' so it's a pretty big deal and I was pretty excited about it."
DePaul coach Doug Bruno is coaching the team and is being assisted by Cynthia Cooper and Carol Owens of Prairie View A&M and Northern Illinois University, respectively.
Lilley sees the tryout as another learning experience with the coaches and players from across the country. Notable tryout participants include Stanford's Jayne Appel, Tennessee recruits Vicki Baugh and Angie Bjorklund and California guard Natasha Vital.
"It's going to be one heck of an experience," Lilley said. "I'm just going to try and soak it all in when I'm there and just play my heart out and have fun, really."
The freshman worked twice per week with Oregon coaches this spring. Spring offers players time to work on their game individually outside of the team-oriented regular season.
"She's going to really benefit this spring from conditioning and strength and becoming a little bit more tested in terms of that physicality," Smith said. "She never backed down from anyone this year and, as we help her get a little bit stronger, I think that's going to be even more so next year as she competes."
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