Harberts Helps U.S. Claim Gold
USC Dornsife senior forward Cassie Harberts and the USA Women’s Basketball World University Games Team defeated Russia 90-71 on July 15 to capture gold in the 2013 World University Games in Kazan, Russia.
Harberts scored eight points in 25 minutes of action to help the squad claim the medal. Through six total games and one start in the tournament, Harberts averaged 7.0 points and 2.8 rebounds in an average of 18.8 minutes of work per game. She also had six steals, seven assists and two blocks. Overall she was 16-for-25 from the field and 10-for-12 from the free-throw line.
“It is the greatest feeling in the world to be able to represent your country and be with these 12 girls and the coaches for three weeks and come out here and win a gold medal,” said Harberts, who is earning her bachelor’s degree in human performance in the Department of Kinesiology.
The victory marked the third consecutive gold medal for the U.S. in the World University Games and the ninth gold for the team in the event’s history. Since 1973, the first year the U.S. women competed in the tourney, the U.S. has compiled a 101-15 record.
Harberts enters her senior season in 2013-14 after a stellar junior campaign in which she started all 31 games for the Trojans, averaging 18 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. She set the USC record for free throws made (207) and attempted (298) in a single season. She was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention selection in 2012 and excelled in the classroom as well, earning Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention accolades. Harberts is currently ranked No. 16 all-time in scoring at USC with 1,293 career points.
Harberts previously won a gold medal with the United States at the 2010 FIBA Americans U18 Championships.
Her major in human performance prepares students for careers in applied kinesiology, coaching, sports management, athletic training, sports law, sports communication, sports journalism, sports psychology and many other sport-related professions. Harberts plans to become a doctor, eventually practicing medicine as a volunteer in South Africa.