Temple University Athletics
CANDICE DUPREE TO ATTEND USA BASKETBALL WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM TRIALS
5.9.05 | Women's Basketball
COLORADOSPRINGS, CO-
The USA Basketball Women's Collegiate Committee, chaired by Sue Donohoe, NCAA vice-president for Division I women's basketball, issued invitations to 60 of the top high school and college players in America. Of the 57 Trials participants, 39 players possess prior USA Basketball experience. This is the first USA Basketball experience for Dupree.
Dupree, who led Temple to its best season in program history, was named an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American and the Atlantic 10 Conference's Player of the Year after averaging 16.3 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game. The 2005 A-10 Defensive Player of the Year, Dupree helped the Owls to a #15 National Ranking and the nation's best winning streak, which reached 25 games before ending in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.
If selected, Dupree will represent the United States at the 2005 World University Games to be held August 11-21 in Imzir, Turkey. A total of 21 teams will compete in the 2005 Games. The teams have been divided into four preliminary pools, three pools consisting of five teams and one pool consisting of six teams. The U.S. is in Pool B with China, Czech Republic, Poland and South Africa. Dupree's coach, Dawn Staley, was a member of the World University Games Team before being selected to the Olympic Team in 1996.
The World University Games, held every two years and organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), is a multi-sport competition open to men and women between the ages of 17 and 28, who are, or have been within the past year, a student at a college or university. The USA women have enjoyed outstanding success in the World University Games and have earned 12 medals in 13 appearances, including five golds, six silvers and one bronze medal, and have compiled an overall record of 75-15 since beginning play in 1973. The World University Games has served as an important developmental event for the U.S. Of the 71 all-time U.S. women's Olympic basketball team members, 37 have been members of USA Basketball Women's World University Games teams. Most notable among the list of WUG alumni are Anne Donovan, Pat Summitt, Lisa Leslie, Katrina McClain, Katie Smith and Ann Meyers.
The 2005 squad will be coached by Kathy Delaney-Smith of Harvard University. She will be assisted by LSU's Pokey Chatman and Boston College's Cathy Inglese.
Temple University junior Candice Dupree has been invited to attend the 2005 USA Basketball Women's National Team Trials, set to take place May 19-22 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Following the four-day Trials, the Collegiate Committee will announce finalists for the 12-member USA World University Games Team and the USA Women's U19 World Championship Team. Due to her age, 20 years-old, Dupree will only be eligible for selection to the USA World University Games Team.
