Escalera to Represent Puerto Rico at FIBA U19 World Championships

BOULDER ? University of Colorado sophomore guard Yari Escalera will compete with the Puerto Rico junior national team at the FIBA Women's U19 World Championships, July 15-24, in Tunisia, Africa.

Escalera and the Puerto Rico squad will begin pool play on Friday, July 15, against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Tunis at 10 a.m. local time or 3 a.m. MDT. Puerto Rico is in Group A along with the United States of America, Russia, Korea, Congo and Serbia & Montenegro. Puerto Rico will play Team USA on Tuesday, July 19, at 1:30 p.m. MDT.

Group B consists of China, Austrailia, Tunisia, Canada, Spain and Hungary. The top four teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals on Friday, July 22, followed by the semifinals on Saturday, July 23, and the championship game on Sunday, July 24.

Puerto Rico qualified for the World Championship Tournament by claiming the silver medal in last summer's FIBA Americas Zone Championships in Mayaguez, P.R. This will be the first time a women's team from Puerto Rico has participated in a world championship. Puerto Rico finished as runner up to the USA World Junoir Qualifying team coached by former CU head coach Ceal Barry.

Escalera, a native of Humacao, P.R., played in all 28 games for the Buffaloes in 2004-05 as a true freshman averaging 3.8 points, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game. She ranked third in assists and 3-point field-goal percentage (.333, min. 20 att.) among all Big 12 Conference freshmen last year and was fourth in free-throw percentage (.714, min. 20 att.) and fifth in steals.

Puerto Rico's Preliminary Round Schedule (MDT)

Friday, July 15 vs. Democratic Republic of the Congo, 3 a.m.

Saturday, July 16 vs. Serbia & Montenegro, 11:30 a.m.

Sunday, July 17 vs. Korea, 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 19 vs. United State of America, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 20 vs. Russia, 9:30 a.m.

Friday, July 22 Quarterfinals

Saturday, July 23 Semifinals

Sunday, July 24 Championship