Hill debuts for Canadian Senior National Team

Hokie graduate competes in six-game exhibition series overseas

July 17, 2017

BLACKSBURG – Former Virginia Tech guard Sami Hill has been busy since graduating in May with a human nutrition, foods and exercise degree. The Toronto, Canada native recently returned home from a two-week training and exhibition tour in China as she prepares for the FIBA Americas Women’s Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina later this summer.

Team Canada competed with three other nations over a six-game exhibition exhibition series while in China. Week one of the tour consisted of match-ups against Lithuania, Belarus and China in Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, China. Week two saw the same contests take place in Liupanshui, Guizhou, China. Canada defeated Lithuania and Belarus in both meetings, but fell to China.

“Playing for the Canadian national team is always an amazing experience, and this year moving up to the senior program has been great,” Hill said. “Although I've been playing with the U-23 team for the past few summers, playing at this level was a big adjustment.”

“I think the team played well overall and improved with every game,” Hill continued. “The coaches are still finalizing the roster for world qualifiers at the beginning of August, so this was a really good experience as an exhibition trip. There is no better feeling than representing my country and playing the sport that I love.”

During the Chinese tour, Hill played 21.6 minutes per game, scoring 4.7 points and pulling down 1.5 rebounds per game. In the final game against China, Hill scored seven points on 3-of-7 shooting from the floor, including a made 3-point basket.

“Sami is a great athlete who can impact the game at both ends of the floor,” Senior Women's Head Coach Lisa Thomaids said. “In China, she had the opportunity to gain some valuable experience at the Senior national team level by competing against Olympic-caliber players and teams.”

During her senior season, Hill put up career highs in nearly all statistical categories, including points per game (10.4), rebounds (4.4) and assists (1.5). Hill knocked down 50 3-point field goals and was selected to the All-ACC Academic team. Her 85 career made 3-pointers is good for eighth in program history.

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