April 14, 2003
Duquesne's Candace Futrell (Altoona, Pa./Altoona) has received an invitation from USA Basketball to participate in team trials for the 2003 Pan American Games and inaugural FIBA World Championship for Young Women. USA Basketball committee members will select the two 12-member teams and alternates for the events.
Futrell is the first player from Duquesne to be invited to try out for the teams.
"I feel honored to be invited. I'm going to do my best to try and make the team. I will be competing with some of the best women's college players in the country, so it's not going to be easy", said Futrell. "But I'll be ready and proud to represent Duquesne and the Atlantic 10."
Futrell, a 2003 third team All-Atlantic 10 selection, led the Dukes with 19.5 ppg and was second with 46 three-point field goals. The 5-10 guard has scored in double-figures in 50 of her career contests and 20 or more points in 20 of those outings. Futrell averaged 3.7 rpg and was one of Duquesne's most consistent shooters hitting .756 (62-82) from the line, .409 (151-369) from the field and .371 (46-124) from three-point range. Futrell became just the fourth junior to hit 1,000 career points this past season, despite missing eight games with an injury. She will enter her senior campaign with 1,047 points. Futrell was also tabbed a 2002 second team all-conference pick and named the A-10's Most Improved Player.
The two 12-member rosters and alternates will be chosen during trials held May 22-25 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Spring, Colo. The World Championship for Young Women roster will consist of elite athletes 21-years-old or younger and will mainly be comprised of collegiate undergraduates.
The Pan American Games are held every four years in the year prior to the Olympics and organized by the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO). It is a multi-sport competition open to men and women representing countries from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean. This women's basketball competition of the event will be held this summer from Aug. 2-9, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Virginia Head Coach Debbie Ryan has been selected as this year's coach.
Ohio State's Jim Foster will guide the eventual 12-member World Championship team looking to capture the inaugural FIBA World Championship For Young Women gold medal. The event is scheduled to take place July 25 - Aug. 3 in Sibenik, Croatia.
For more information on the history of the teams, please visit the USA Basketball web site at www.usabasketball.com.
