Rush Named Finalist for USA Team

NORMAN, Okla. - USA Basketball announced Sunday that Oklahoma forward Leah Rush is one of 16 finalists for a spot on the USA World University Games Team. The announcement was made following five Women's National Team Trials sessions that were conducted May 19-21 in Colorado Springs, Colo. The finalists were selected by the USA Basketball Women's Collegiate Committee, chaired by Sue Donohoe, NCAA vice-president for Division I women's basketball.

The finalists for the 2005 USA World University Games Team will reconvene July 28 for training camp in Colorado Springs, after which the team will be reduced to the official 12-woman roster. On Aug. 5, the squad will travel to Izmir, Turkey, and train there until the 2005 World University Games get underway on Aug. 10. The women's basketball competition games will run Aug. 10-19 and feature 21 teams from across the world. The World University Games is open to women between the ages of 17 and 28 (born between Jan. 1, 1977 and Dec. 31, 1987), who are, or have been within the past year, a student at a college or university.

Other finalists for the World University Games team are: Seimone Augustus (LSU); Alison Bales (Duke); Monique Currie (Duke); Jessica Davenport (Ohio State); Megan Duffy (Notre Dame); Candice Dupree (Temple); Sylvia Fowles (LSU); Erin Grant (Texas Tech); Brandie Hoskins (Ohio State); Ivory Latta (North Carolina); Shawntinice Polk (Arizona); Cappie Pondexter (Rutgers); Leah Rush (Oklahoma); Brooke Smith (Stanford); and Lisa Willis (UCLA).

Rush led the Sooners in scoring and finished second in rebounding during her sophomore season in 2004-05, averaging 15.5 points and 6.3 rebounds. She was named to the All-Big 12 second team and concluded last season with a career-high 28 points during the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

She also finished among the Big 12 leaders in four categories including sixth in scoring, 15th in rebounding and fourth in free throw percentage, shooting 84.7 percent. Rush moved into second on OU's all-time career chart with a two-year free throw percentage accuracy of 83.6 percent (768-201).

She had 25 double-figure scoring games, out of 30, and ended the year scoring 10-plus points in the last 15 games.

Rush produced three double-doubles and led the team with eight 20-point outings.

The World University Games, held every two years and organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), is a multi-sport competition. The USA, which did not participate in the 2003 World University Games, last participated in the event in 2001. Behind head coach Debbie Ryan of the University of Virginia, the team finished with a 7-1 record and the gold medal.

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 (.833 winning percentage) since beginning World University Games play in 1973.

Former Sooner Caton Hill played on the 2001 gold medal USA World University team, while Chelsi Welch was a member of the 2003 Big 12 All-Stars team that represented the US at the World University Games.

Quick Q&A with Leah Rush:
Did you get a little nervous before the announcement?
Not really, there's a great group of talent here. I did what I could in the past few days and it was up to the committee. I just waited to see what would happen.

How did you think your trials went?
I am happy with them. There was one session that I didn't feel I did so well but besides that I was happy with my performance.

What did you try to focus on?
Playing toward my strengths. I'm a pretty versatile player and I felt that was one thing I had an advantage with. Playing with energy, I wanted to make sure the committee knew I wanted to be here and I guess they saw that.

The ultimate goal is to win a gold medal but other than that, what are you looking to gain this summer?
Playing with a group like this my individual skill and performance will just go up, you can't play with great players without improving. It's fun to be in this atmosphere and make new friends.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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