#MGoEurope Travel Log: Monday, Aug. 28
8/28/2017 5:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball, Features
The Michigan women's basketball program is on a week-and-a-half trip to Europe (Aug. 21-31) with stops in Italy and Greece. Follow the Wolverines on social media (#MGoEurope) and with a daily travel log on MGoBlue.com.
Monday, Aug. 28
9:30 a.m. -- The group met for breakfast and then headed out for the Olympic Stadium (Panathenaic Stadium) and the Parthenon.
10 a.m. -- We arrived at the Olympic Stadium after seeing the changing of the presidential guard at the parliamentary building. They have two guards guarding the tomb of the unknown soldier and change every hour. To be a presidential guard, you have to be at least 6'0'' and wear two sets of wool leggings during the shift.
When we got to the stadium, our guide let us know that instead of just stopping by and taking photos on the outside, we were actually going to go inside and explore. It was breathtaking to go inside the stadium that was made completely of marble.
"That was incredible," senior Jillian Dunston said. "Especially as athletes, it is a dream to go to the Olympics. Being able to come to the first Olympic Stadium today was pretty special."
We got to go inside to the museum as well, where there were torches from every year of the modern Olympics and the official poster/program of every Olympiad.
11:15 a.m. -- After we were done with our tour of the stadium, we headed out for the Acropolis and Parthenon. It is located atop a big hill, so we had to hike up it to get there.
Once we reached it, it was just breathtaking. Our tour guide kept telling us about the mythology that went along with why the temples were built up there. We saw the temple for the Nike goddess, along with the Parthenon and a few more temples. The view of Athens from up there was something like none of us had ever seen. We could see our hotel, the Aegean Sea and just how sprawling Athens really is.
"The Parthenon is so historic," junior Jillian Dunston said. "It is incredible. This is a place that we have only seen in textbooks really before today. The fact that we are here seeing it in person is kind of crazy. Athens looks gorgeous from up here. When you are walking through the little town, everything seems so small but when you are up here, you can really see how big it really is."
1 p.m. -- After we were done with the Parthenon, we headed back to the Plako area we were yesterday. We were given a few hours to shop and eat before heading back to the hotel to rest up before our game tonight.
"I like it a lot better than Italy and I thought it was going to be the complete opposite," junior Dunston said. "The food has been awesome. The clothes are different and the people are different but it is really cool."
5:30 p.m. -- The team gathered for its pregame meal in the hotel, enjoying a nice meal before heading out for the game.
7:30 p.m. -- The team hosted a clinic to teach the game of basketball to a group of 15 elementary-aged boys. They worked on ball handling, shooting, finishing and post moves around the basket for about 45 minutes before the game.
"We have been afforded this amazing opportunity to be over here, seeing the world and playing a game we all love," head coach Kim Barnes Arico said. "It is important for us to give back to you and give to younger kids. We have a responsibility to be mentors and role models. We want to show these kids and everyone out there that you have so many opportunities -- in sport and in life -- if you work hard. That is something our program prides itself on and it was great to get out there today with that group of kids."
9 p.m. -- Tipoff against Sporting Athens, the oldest club in Athens. It was all Michigan in this one from start to finish as the Wolverines eased to a 90-44 win. U-M jumped out to an 8-2 lead and never looked back in the game, leading by as many as 46 when the final horn sounded.
Junior Nicole Munger led the offensive charge, going for 19 points off the bench with three boards and a steal. Classmate Hallie Thome chipped in 15 points with six boards and three steals in 20 minutes, while freshman Deja Church turned in a 12-point performance along with seven steals. Senior Maria Backman rounded out U-M's double-figure scorers with 10 points and eight rebounds. U-M grabbed 59 rebounds in the contest and outscored Sporting, 63-8, in the paint.
"I was definitely happy with the improvements we made between our first game and tonight," Barnes Arico said. "We talked about taking care of the ball and making great decisions out there. I think that some of our issues in the first game with that was just nerves and jitters because it was our first time playing together. I thought we really cleaned that up tonight. We shared the ball and made the extra pass.
"I really loved how hard we played and the effort that we gave," she continued. "I said to the team that it's August and we are in Greece. We don't have to be diving on the floor for loose balls and getting tips and deflections. But here we are, diving on the floor and taking charges. It speaks volumes to the intensity, passion and focus of our players."
Another game is on tap for the Maize and Blue tomorrow at 7 p.m. But first, the group is headed to the beach for a swim in the Aegean Sea in the morning!
