University of North Carolina Athletics
Barksdale Named to World University Games Team
June 21, 1999 | Women's Basketball
May 25, 1999
North Carolina's LaQuanda Barksdale, a rising junior on the women's basketball team, has been named to the 1999 USA World University Games squad. Barksdale, a 5-11 forward from Winston-Salem, N.C., will compete with the U.S. team July 5-11 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
Florida State's Brooke Wyckoff is the only other Atlantic Coast Conference player on the team. Other players named to the 12-member squad are: Rasheeda Clark (Pepperdine), Camille Cooper (Purdue), Helen Darling (Penn State), Katie Douglas (Purdue), Janae Hubbard (UCLA), Brandi McCain (Florida), Coco Miller (Georgia), Kelly Miller (Georgia), Ruth Riley (Notre Dame) and Ayana Walker (Louisiana Tech). The U.S. team, 64-12 overall in World University Games play, will be coached by Penn State's Rene Portland.
Barksdale said she got advice from UNC teammates Nikki Teasley and Juana Brown (1997 Junior World Championships team) and Chanel Wright (1998 R. William Jones Cup team) about what to expect at the USA Basketball trials in Colorado Springs. Apparently, the words of wisdom served her well. "I was a little surprised to hear that I made the team, but I'm excited," Barksdale said. "After I watched the 1996 Olympics I knew that I wanted to wear a USA uniform, so I'm excited to have the chance to compete for the U.S."
Barksdale averaged 13.9 points and a team-leading 7.8 rebounds per game for Carolina last season and was named to the the All-ACC third team.
