The two driving forces behind the runaway success of last year’s U women’s basketball team will get the chance to show off their skills at the Pan American Games this August.

Sophomore Kim Smith and second-year junior Shona Thorburn were selected this week to represent their home country of Canada as part of the Senior Women’s National Team. The Pan Am Games will run Aug. 1-9 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Smith and Thorburn, both repeat selections, were two of just 12 players chosen for this year’s squad, which will be coached by Oregon associate head coach Allison McNeill.

“I am very pleased and excited about the intensity and quality of play I saw at our first training camp,” McNeill said. “The players came in fit and eager to compete.”

The pair tried out earlier this month at the opening training session, which took place at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

The group was narrowed down to an elite 12 this week, and will meet as a unit from July 20-26 at Humber College in Toronto for the first part of the team’s “Phase II” training session. The women will then be off to Santo Domingo on July 27 for pre-competition training and a few exhibition games before the real tournament begins.

“We will play some tough competition, which will give us a good indication of where the team is at and what we will need to improve on before heading to Mexico for the FIBA Americas and Pre-Olympic Qualification Tournament,” McNeill said.

Smith and Thorburn established themselves as two of the top young women’s players in the nation this past season.

In her first year, Smith became the first player in Mountain West Conference history to earn both Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year honors in the same season.

She led the Utes in scoring, rebounding and shooting while leading them to a surprising 22-5 regular season record, including 12-2 in conference play, and a regular season MWC championship.

The team earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament and defeated DePaul convincingly in the first round, only to fall to national power Duke in Round 2.

During the post-season, Smith received numerous honors from across the country. She was one of four freshmen to be named an honorable mention All-American by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and was honored with a spot on the All Newcomer Team by Full Court Press.

Thorburn paired with Smith to form a lethal duo on both sides of the ball. Thorburn averaged 14.6 points per game and led the club in assists and free throw shooting, while earning a spot on the all MWC second team.

Also a strong defender, Thorburn snagged 1.5 steals per contest and was an integral part of the nation’s top scoring defense.

Smith and Thorburn will be joined on the team by the likes of Cal Bouchard (Boston College), Carolyn Ganes (University of Oregon), Isabelle Grenier (Laval University), Dianne Normal (Laurentian University, Nikki Johnson (BG Poco Dorsten, Germany), Leighann Doan (Clermont Ferrand, France), Michelle Hendry (Ciudad de Burgos, Spain), Claudia Brassard-Riebesehl (Townsville, Australia) and Susan Murray (Istres Sports BC, France).

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