Temple University Athletics
DUPREE SURVIVES FINAL CUT TO GAIN SPOT ON USA BASKETBALL'S 2005 WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES TEAM
8.1.05 | Women's Basketball
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO -
After training with 16 finalists in Colorado Springs since July 28, Temple University junior Candice Dupree has earned a spot on the final 12-member 2005 USA Women's World University Games Team. This is the first USA Basketball experience for Dupree, though she is following in Temple Head Coach Dawn Staley's footsteps. Staley was a member of the World University Games Team before being selected to the Olympic Team in 1996.The USA Basketball Women's Collegiate Committee issued invitations to 60 of the top high school and college players in America. Following five team trials in May, the committee narrowed the field down to just 16 finalists, only 12 of which would represent the United States in the 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, 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.
Named, in addition to Dupree, to the 2005 USA Women's World University Games Team were: Cappie Pondexter (Rutgers/Chicago, Ill.); Seimone Augustus (LSU/Baton Rouge, La.) and 2001 Junior World Championship Team bronze medalist Monique Currie (Duke/Washington, D.C.); Jessica Davenport (Ohio State/Columbus, Ohio); Megan Duffy (Notre Dame/Dayton, Ohio); Sylvia Fowles (LSU/Miami, Fla.); Erin Grant (Texas Tech/Arlington, Texas); Brandie Hoskins (Ohio State/Dayton, Ohio); Liz Shimek (Michigan State/Empire, Mich.); Brooke Smith (Stanford/San Anselmo, Calif.) and Lisa Willis (UCLA/Long Beach, Calif.). 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.
The USA team will remain in Colorado Springs for training through Aug. 4. The team will practice twice daily at the U.S. Olympic Training Center's Sports Center II and Colorado College's J. Juan Reid Gymnasium. The squad will practice at Sports Center II Aug. 1, 3 and 4 and at J. Juan Reid Gymnasium on Aug. 2. Departing for Turkey on Aug. 5, the team will resume training Aug. 6-9 in Izmir prior to the U.S.'s opening game at the World University Games against the Czech Republic on Aug. 10.
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.
