MARCY, N.Y. - SUNY Poly junior guard Molly Burdick competed for the USA D-III team in the USA Sports & Tours 2022 Womans Basketball Brazilian Tour. Burdick's travels with the small group of Division III student-athletes took her all over Brazil over the nine days of travel.
Burdick, a NAC First Team All-Conference selection in 2022 was the Wildcats leading scorer this past season. She scored her 1,000th career point, led her team to a 12-1 record in conference play, and helped the Wildcats win their fifth Conference Championship in the last six seasons.
The USA D-III Basketball Team experience was designed to expose a select group of NCAA-DIII players from around the country to a high level of international play. While the group was able to experience once-in-a-lifetime social, cultural, and educational moments through sightseeing and interactions, the lion's share of the focus was on playing a high level of basketball.
"Having watched Molly progress as an athlete since her freshman year, it was clear that she was ready for this next step not only as a player but as a person" said SUNY Poly Head Coach Jessica Skelton. "There's no doubt in my mind that Molly will take this experience and have it elevate her confidence, and in doing so will elevate our program this year"
My favorite part of the trip was the kid's clinics that we put on," said Burdick. "We had so much fun and the kids were so excited and grateful to learn from us. The experience helped me realize how fortunate I have been and made me even more thankful for all the opportunities I have had in the game of basketball."
Burdick played in three games against top-level talent while in Brazil, took part in youth camps, was able to take in the Brazilian culture, and had the opportunity to see the world-famous statue of Christ the Redeemer while in Rio de Janeiro. She returned from her trip on July 20th.
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