Richardson Finalist for USA Basketball Pan-Am Team

Sept. 12, 2011

FULLERTON, CA - Cal State Fullerton senior guard Megan Richardson has been named one of 25 finalists for one of 12 spots on USA Basketball's 2011 Pan American Games Team that will compete in Guadalajara, Mexico, in late October.

"It is such an honor for Megan to be one of the finalists for the Pan American Games Team," Head Coach Marcia Foster said. "Her outstanding work ethic has made this opportunity possible and I am so pleased with the example of excellence she sets for our program. For one of our players to get this far on a national level is extremely exciting and it is a great indicator of where this program is headed."

A two-time All-Big West Conference First-Team honoree, Richardson has started every game for the Titans in each of the last two years, averaging 13.7 ppg in her three collegiate seasons - including a career-best 15.3 ppg as a sophomore that ranked third in the conference. Last season, she became the 19th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points with a 26-point outing against UC Irvine on Jan. 5 and enters her senior season at No. 11 on the school's all-time scoring list, just one point away from breaking into the top 10.

"This is a huge honor to be considered for a spot on the USA Pan American Team with all of the other talented athletes," Richardson said. "I think this is the right time to put Cal State Fullerton's women's basketball program on the map and it would be a privilege for me to represent this university and my country."

Fullerton has had a USA Basketball presence during its history as All-American Nancy Dunkle won a gold medal in 1975 while former head coaches Billie Moore (1975) and Denise Curry (1999) served as assistant coaches during Pan American Games competition. Dunkle and Moore were also a part of the 1975 World Championships squad and the 1976 silver-medal winning Olympic Team.

Dunkle (1973) and Brenda Martin (1977) were also selected as members of the United States World University Games teams while Moore was an assistant coach on that 1973 squad.

The 2011 USA Basketball Pan American Games Team will compete in Group A along with Argentina, Mexico, and Puerto Rico while Group B consists of Brazil, Canada, Colombia, and Jamaica. Preliminary round play runs from Oct. 21-23 with the tournament semifinals on Oct. 24 and the championship on Oct. 25.

The United States claimed the gold medal at the last Pan American Games in 2007, posting a perfect 5-0 record in Rio de Janeiro, with wins over Colombia, Argentina, Cuba, Canada, and host Brazil. They became the first U.S. team to claim the championship since 1987.

Started in 1951 for men and 1955 for women, the Pan American Games are held every four years (2011, 2015, etc.) in the year preceding the Olympics and are organized by the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO). The Pan American Games is a multi-sport competition open to men and women representing countries from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean.

Overall, the USA women have won seven of 14 gold medals, added four silver and two bronze medals, and rolled up a 72-12 overall record.

For more information, please visit USA Basketball by clicking here.