by Alan Babbitt
Francesca Buchanan packed in a lot of her favorite things during a whirlwind, three-day trip to Salem, Virginia.
- Meeting new people and making friends.
- Giving of her time to others, particularly children and those participating in Special Olympics.
- And, of course, playing basketball while wearing a Hope College uniform.
The senior enjoyed every second of her trip this week to participate in the inaugural Beyond Sports Women's Collegiate NCAA Division III All-Star Game presented by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association on Saturday.
Photo Gallery
Buchanan was the lone all-star to post a double-double. The forward from Grant, Michigan (Sparta HS) finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds for Team Manning. She also shared team-high honors with two assists. Team Strong won, 99-77.
Earlier in the week, Buchanan received honorable-mention All-America honors from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
NCAA Video: Francesca Buchanan interview during game broadcast (starts at 42-minute mark of the video)
The all-star game, which preceded the women's national championship game at Roanoke College, was the culmination of an unforgettable experience that included community service and time with Division III's best women's basketball players, Buchanan said.
"The first night we had dinner as a team and met some amazing coaches," Buchanan said. "The next day, we had a coaches' panel and heard about all of their experiences. Then, we went to HopeTree Academy and worked with some awesome kids. It took me back to middle school and high school. That evening, we got to relax. I got to know 19 of the most amazing Division III women's basketball players.
"Today, we helped coach at a youth clinic in the morning. Watching them play the game we love with a lot of enthusiasm was awesome. Then, we got to play. We hung around and shot with Special Olympians before the game. At halftime, we didn't have to go to the locker room, so we got to watch them play.
"This week was a humbling experience," Buchanan said. "I love wearing the Hope uniform. It will always be special to me. I missed my teammates. It felt weird to be out there without them, but it was an awesome experience."
All-Star Game boxscore (PDF)
Francesca Buchanan pre-game interview
