CONSTANTA, Romania – Rising junior Ana Ion (Bucharest, Romania/Episcopal School of Jacksonville (FL)) of the Alfred University women's basketball team is currently competing for her home nation of Romania, as the FIBA 3x3 2021 Europe Cup qualifiers wrapped up play on Saturday, June 27.
 
Ion's top-seeded Romania team clinched a spot to the 2021 edition of the Europe Cup due to their international ranking (third internationally), so the squad aimed to entertain their fans in style. They did just that, going 1-1 in the qualification zone, which included a dramatic 14-12 overtime victory over Ireland. Individually, Ion finished with two rebounds and one assist in the Ireland win and added three rebounds and a steal in a 18-13 loss to Sweden.
 
"It was a pretty nerve-wracking experience, but I had a lot of fun," Ion said. "It's just surreal to have played for my home country in front of family and friends at home…it hasn't quite hit me just yet."
 
Ion, the 2019-20 Empire 8 Women's Basketball Rookie of the Year, will return to the hardwood for the 2021-22 season after a year off during the COVID-19 pandemic. In her last full season in 2019-20, Ion led the Saxons with 11.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. She focused on track and field last season, where she earned Empire 8 Outdoor Track and Field Rookie of the Year honors.
 
Before returning to Alfred, Ion will look to put on the Romania jersey one more time, as she will train to qualify for the U20 Romania squad, which will compete later this summer. Ion will rejoin a Saxon team that finished with two wins in the truncated 2021 spring schedule, making their first postseason appearance in program history.