SEVENTH PAN AMERICAN GAMES -- 1975
Mexico City, Mexico • October 12-26, 1975
The 1975 Pan American Games were marked by three changes of location. Originally set to be held in Santiago, Chile, the site was switched to Sao Paulo, Brazil, after Chile withdrew its offer to host, then was moved to Mexico City, Mexico, just 10 months prior to the start of the competition. For the U.S. women, the change in sites mattered very little, they had their sights set on regaining the Pan American gold.
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1975 USA RESULTS (7-0)
1975 PAN AM GAMES FINAL STANDINGS
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Compiling an unblemished 7-0 record to capture top team honors at the 1975 Pan American Games, the USA gold medal victory ended a 12-year drought for the Americans. Finishing second in 1971 and 1967, the United States rolled to the gold in 1975 for its first gold medal in Pan American Games competition since 1963.
Featuring the same USA team that two months prior to the Pan American Games had finished 4-3 and in eighth place at the 1975 World Championship in Colombia, coach Cathy Rush of Immaculata College (Pa.) had her U.S. team in full gear for the Pan American Games.
Led by the dominating inside play of Delta State's 6-foot-2 Lusia Harris, the '75 USA team featured both a high powered offense and a suffocating defense. Averaging 86.7 ppg. while allowing opponents just 52.3 ppg., the U.S. women were involved in only one contest that was decided by fewer than 19 points.
Opening against host Mexico, a team that had finished ahead of the U.S. in sixth at the '75 World Championship and a team that would go on to earn the Pan Am silver medal, the U.S. was impressive in a convincing 99-65 win.
The Americans followed that win with a dominating 75-56 victory over Canada, then thumped an over matched El Salvadore 116-28. In it's closest game of the tournament, the U.S. recorded a hard-fought 70-64 victory over eventual bronze medalist Cuba.
The Dominican Republic proved no match for the Americans as the U.S. sailed to a 99-50 win, and Colombia was easily handled 74-48.
Meeting Brazil, a team that had defeated the USA women in three consecutive Pan American Games confrontations and a team which had won the gold in 1971 and 1967, this time it was the Americans who came out on top, handing Brazil a convincing 74-55 loss.
With the win, the U.S. captured the Pan Am gold medal ending 12 years of frustration for the U.S. women and marking the end of Brazil's dominance in the Pan American Games.
1975 USA WOMEN'S PAN AMERICAN GAMES TEAM ROSTER
| NAME | POS | HGT | WGT | AGE | SCHOOL | HOMETOWN |
| Carolyn Bush | F | 6-2 | 145 | 23 | Wayland Baptist | Kingston, TN |
| Nancy Dunkle | C | 6-2 | 155 | 23 | California State -Fullerton | La Habra, CA |
| Rita Easterling | C | 6-5 | 134 | 20 | Mississippi College for Women | Morton, MS |
| Lusia Harris | F | 6-2 | 180 | 20 | Delta State | Minter City, MS |
| Pat Head | F | 5-10 | 155 | 23 | Tennessee-Martin | Seymour, TN |
| Charlotte Lewis | C | 6-3 | 155 | 20 | Illinois State | Peoria, IL |
| Nancy Lieberman | F | 5-10 | 140 | 17 | Far Rockaway H.S. | Far Rockaway, NJ |
| Ann Meyers | G | 5-9 | 135 | 20 | UCLA | La Habra, CA |
| Mary Ann O'Connor | F | 5-10 | 158 | 22 | Southern Connecticut State | Fairfield, CT |
| Cherri Rapp | F | 5-11 | 150 | 25 | Wayland Baptist | Estelline, TX |
| Sue Rojcewicz | G | 5-7 | 135 | 22 | Southern Connecticut State | Worcester, MA |
| Juliene Simpson | G | 5-6 | 156 | 22 | John F. Kennedy Coll. | Roselle Park, NJ |
| HEAD COACH: Cathy Rush, Immaculata College (PA) | ||||||
| ASSISTANT COACH: Billie Moore, Fullerton State University (CA) | ||||||
| MANAGER: Mildred Barnes, Warrensburg, MO | ||||||
1975 USA WOMEN'S PAN AMERICAN GAMES TEAM CUMULATIVE STATISTICS
| NAME | G | FGM-FGA | PCT | FTM-FTA | PCT | PTS/AVG |
| USA TOTALS | 7 |
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607/ 86.7 |
| OPP. TOTALS | 7 |
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366/ 52.3 |
NOTE: 1975 USA Women's Pan American Games individual player cumulative statistics are not available.
