Welch Scores Nine Points For Team USA

USA women's basketball defeats Thailand, 104-63, to complete preliminary pool play

DAEGU, South Korea -- Oklahoma sophomore Chelsi Welch scored her first points of the World University Games as the USA women's basketball team defeated Thailand, 104-63, to round out preliminary pool play Saturday at Yeungnam High School. The Americans are 2-1 and will likely face Pool C champion China on Aug. 26.

Welch played a personal-best 15 minutes, producing nine points by nailing all four attempted free throws, a three-pointer and a layup. The 5-9 guard also was credited with two defensive rebounds and one defensive stop.

Four Americans scored in double digits, led by Heather Schreiber's (Texas) game-high 23 points. LaToya Davis (Texas Tech) tallied 20 points, while Evan Unrau (Missouri) and Anne O'Neil (Iowa State) added 13 points each. Unrau was USA's top rebounder, pulling down nine boards. Schreiber, who has been the team's top scorer in all three games, added seven assists in the game.

"We used our size to a great advantage and everybody got to score," head coach Bill Fennelly (Iowa State) said. "LaToya Davis gave us some good minutes, which was nice to see."

Every USA player scored, with the exception of Annissa Hastings (Texas), who sat out as a precaution due to heat exhaustion from Friday's game, and Erin Grant (Texas Tech), who tweaked her ankle early in today's game.

Thailand scored the first points of the game and the scoring remained balanced with a 7-7 tie at the 6:35 mark in the first quarter. Team USA's offense kicked in and went on a 23-7 scoring run to close out the period. Thailand pulled with 16 points (32-16) early in the second quarter, but would never get any closer. The Americans, who led 55-32 at the half, outscored Thailand 35-11 in the third quarter and 20-14 in the fourth.

"The most important factor was that it was a game we had to win to stay in contention for a medal," Fennelly said. "It gets much, much tougher now and we have to continue to pull together as a team."

Thailand's average height was 5-7, with no player taller than 5-11. The Americans, who average 6-0, outrebounded Thailand 49-19. Team USA's offense was fueled by fast breaks and 55.6 percent accuracy from within the arc.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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