MOORHEAD, Minn. — Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball player
Megan Hintz spent July 30-Aug. 8 representing the Dragon's as part of the USA D-2 Basketball Team Tour in Brazil. The tour was coordinated by USA Sports Tours and Events.
Hintz followed in the footsteps of teammates
Drew Sannes,
Cassidy Thorson, and
Jacky Volkert as Dragons who have played on the tour. The teams are made up of invited NCAA Division II players from across the country. Team members have been recognized nationally, regionally, and at the conference levels.
"Playing with athletes from the region and conference was an awesome opportunity. I got to know them as players and as people off the court," Hintz said. "They were all very good candidates for the tour, and it will be fun to play against them once the season rolls around."
This was Hintz's first trip outside of the United States, and she said it was a humbling and eye-opening experience to be immersed in Brazilian culture.
"At MSUM we have access to so many resources, even something like drinking water that we have at our fingertips," she said. "In Brazil that wasn't always the case, and that was a big take away to realize how fortunate we are to play basketball for our respective schools."
The team played four games over 10 days starting on Aug. 1 where they faced the Jundiai U22 club team, and turned around to play Osasco's top club team Aug. 2 the team played. Hintz said that the biggest challenge was to learn how to play together after just one practice with players from so many different programs. She was also impressed with the speed of the game and listed that as something she hopes to carry into the upcoming season.
The team then played Mangueira Basquete Club of Rio on Aug. 4 and had their final game Aug. 6 against Fluminense. When the team had free time, they were able to go to the beach and experience Brazilian culture at street markets where locals were selling a variety of items such as handbags, shoes, and coffee beans. The team came back to the states with a 2-2 record after winning their final two games by wide margins.
Hintz averaged 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season for MSUM, helping the Dragons to a second straight NCAA Tournament appearance and a second straight NSIC title. She will be a junior at MSUM this season.
