ORU's Luper To Join Team USA At Pan American Games

NewsOn6.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – Oral Roberts University announced Tuesday that junior women's basketball player Kevi Luper has been selected to the 2011 USA Basketball Women's Pan American Games Team.

Luper and Team USA will compete Oct. 21-25 at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico and Luper is ORU's first ever Pan American Games selection.

"I am honored to represent both the United States and Oral Roberts University at the Pan American Games," said Luper. "This is truly one of the highlights of my basketball career, and I hope to bring a gold medal back to Tulsa next month."

Luper, a native of Adair, Okla., is a two-time Summit League Player of the Year, a two-time Summit League Defensive Player of the Year and a 2010-11 Associated Press All-American.

Last season she averaged 23.7 points and 3.7 steals per game and became the first player in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in both points and steals.

"This is huge news for our program and for the University," said ORU head coach Jerry Finkbeiner. "Kevi's Pan Am Games selection is a once-in-a-lifetime event for our program, and we're excited to see how it impacts her basketball career both at ORU and beyond."

The USA team will be led by head coach Ceal Barry alongside assistant coaches Jennifer Gillom and Debbie Ryan.

"We have a great variety of players, and I think the selection committee did a tremendous job in a tough time period," Barry said. "It's tough for college players to get away, but this is a group that is versatile and talented. We'll find out once we get to Houston how we are going to fit these pieces together, and I'm looking forwarding to working with all 12 players."

The U.S. squad will open training camp on Oct. 15 with an evening practice in Houston, Texas followed by two practices on Oct. 16 and 17, and a morning session on Oct. 18.

The team will depart for Guadalajara and the 2011 Pan American Games on Oct. 18, and will have a practice on Oct. 19 and 20 before the competition starts on Oct. 21.