Herbert Makes National Team
Sugar Bears standout Megan Herbert has been selected by USA Basketball as an alternate for the national women's basketball team that will compete in the 2011 Pan American Games later this month in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Herbert, who was the 2010-2011 Southland Conference Player of the Year, did not make the 12-player roster but will be available at her position if a replacement is needed. The team consists of collegiate players, except for one high school senior, and includes three players with previous USA Basketball experience.
The Pan American Games are a multi-sport competition held every four years in the year before the Olympic Games. The games are open to men and women representing countries from the Americas and the Caribbean.
The USA women's basketball teams have won seven of 14 gold medals in the Pan Am Games competitions along with four silver and two bronze, compiling an overall record of 72 and 12.
"To be considered by USA Basketball on any level is a great honor," said head women's basketball coach Matt Daniel. "To be an alternate for the Pan Am games, I believe shows people are taking notice of what Megan is doing. Obviously, that is extending beyond just the college ranks now.
"She would have been out a week for practice, but we would have gladly let her in order to represent her country and this university. As I've said in the past, our coaching staff believes our main responsibilities is to help these young people find their passion and chase it. Basketball is just the avenue to do so."
Herbert and the team will begin practice Oct. 15 in Houston and leave for Guadalajara Oct. 18. Their first game is Oct. 21 against Argentina. They face Puerto Rico on Oct. 22 and Mexico on Oct. 23. The semifinals for the medals begin Oct. 24 with the championship game on Oct. 25.
Former USA Pan Am team members include Cynthia Cooper, Anne Donovan, Teresa Edwards, Pat Summitt, Nancy Lieberman, Cheryl Miller, Dawn Staley, and Sheryl Swoopes.
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