Paris Has Second Double Figure Scoring Game For Team USA

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- USA center and Oklahoma bound Courtney Paris scored 10 points and had eight rebounds to help the USA (2-0) women to an 82-74 win over Australia Thursday evening at the 2005 International Sports Invitational. Paris has scored 10-or more points in each of team USA games. Forward Crystal Langhorne (Maryland / Willingboro, N.J.) posted a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead the club. The win improved the U.S. to 2-0 and insured the Americans of a spot in Saturday's gold medal game. In Thursday's first women's game, Russia (1-1) claimed its first win after out gunning China (0-2) 81-64.

Crystal Langhorne was unstoppable inside against Australia.

The tournament's preliminary round action concludes Friday with Australia meeting Russia at 4 p.m. and the USA facing China at 6 p.m. The winner of Friday's Australia-Russia game will meet the USA in the women's gold medal game that will be held Saturday at San Diego State University's Cox Arena.

The women's basketball competition is being held June 8-11 in San Diego as a part of the multi-sport 2005 International Sports Invitational.

The 2005 International Sports Invitational is the opening training for the 15 finalists for the 2005 USA Basketball U19 World Championship Team. Following a two week break after finishing the International Sports Invitational, the U.S. will regroup in Colorado Springs, Colo., for a June 28- July 2 training camp, then head to Washington, D.C., to train July 3-6. Following five additional days (July 7-11) of training and two exhibition games against Hungary's U19 Team in Budapest, Hungary, the 2005 USA U19 Team will travel to Tunis, Tunisia, for the July 15-24 FIBA U19 World Championship Tournament.

USA 82, Australia 74
Although the U.S. led the majority of the game, the two teams battled from start to finish in a game that saw them just two points apart with 3:06 remaining. But an 8-0 American run in the game's final three minutes earned the United States the 82-74 win.

Marissa Coleman drives past Australia's Renae Camino in a game the U.S. captured 82-74. (Danny Mattie Photo)

With the USA clinging to a 74-72 lead after Australia's guard Renae Camino made one free throw to complete a three-point play, U.S. guard Candice Wiggins (Stanford / Poway, Calif.) pushed the U.S. cushion to four following a drive to the basket with 2:51 left. Langhorne made two free throws at 2:08 to up the U.S. advantage to six, and Quianna Chaney (LSU / Baton Rouge, La.) added a jumper at 1:45 to make it 80-72 and end any doubt there was on the outcome of the game. The U.S. held Australia two just two free throws in the game's final 3:06.

The USA enjoyed a seven-point lead late in the first quarter but only led 22-20 after one quarter, and after Wiggins scored the last two points of the second quarter, the USA had a 43-39 lead at half.

Ahead 53-51 with 3:37 to play in the third quarter, the U.S. repeatedly went inside to Langhorne and she responded by scoring the USA's final 10 points of the stanza as the U.S. led 63-56 after three periods.

Langhorne enjoyed a remarkable night, sinking all nine of her shots from the field, while converting on 3-of-4 free throws. Grabbing six offensive rebounds, she added three assists and two steals in just 19 minutes of action.

"I think the offense we are running really gets the post open and our guards and our other posts were getting me the ball," said Langhorne, who earned Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year honors after averaging 17.2 ppg. and 10.2 rpg. last season for the University of Maryland. "We have so many good players whoever gets the ball gets the ball. Someone else might score 20 one night, I might score 20 one night, so if it happens, it just happens."

Also aiding the U.S. victorious cause was forward Erlana Larkins (North Carolina / Riviera Beach, Fla.) who finished with 15 points and five rebounds. Wiggins contributed 13 points and Courtney Paris (Piedmont H.S. / Piedmont, Calif.) tossed in 10 points and added eight rebounds.

"We continue to learn about ourselves as a team. Our post game was very, very good. In particular Crystal Langhorne just took over in the third quarter and her teammates did a great job helping her, getting her the ball in the right places. We're getting better each game which is important," said U.S. and Duke University mentor Gail Goestenkors.

"Australia is a tremendous running team so I thought we did a pretty good job with our transition defense. We still have a ways to go but again we're getting better with each game," she added.

Australia was led by Kathleen MacLeod's 14 points, and Camino finished with 13 points.

For the second straight game the U.S. finished shooting above 50.0 percent from the floor, making 51.6 percent (32-62 FGs). Earning a 43-33 advantage on the glass, the U.S. committed 20 turnovers to Australia's 17. The U.S. limited Australia to just 45.2 percent (28-62 FGs) shooting, including 30.8 percent from 3-point.

PRELIMINARY ROUND SCHEDULE (times are PDT)
Wednesday, June 8
USA 89, Russia 69

Thursday, June 9
USA 82, Australia 74

Friday, June 10
6 p.m. USA vs. China

FINALS
Saturday, June 11
Cox Arena (San Diego State University)
2 p.m. Bronze Medal Game
6 p.m. Gold Medal Game

STANDINGS
USA 2-0
Australia 1-1
Russia 1-1
China 0-2

2005 USA Basketball U19 World Championship Team Finalists
No. Name, Pos., Ht., High School or College/Hometown
17    Jolene Anderson, G, 5-8, Wisconsin / Port Wing, WI
14   Nicky Anosike, G, 6-3, Tennessee / Staten Island, NY
04    Erika Arriaran, G, 5-10, Norco / #Texas / Norco, CA
16    Keshonda Carrier, C, 6-7, LaGrange / #Auburn / Lake Charles, LA
09    Essence Carson, G, 6-0, Rutgers / Paterson, NJ
12    Quianna Chaney, G, 5-11, LSU / Baton Rouge, LA
08   Marissa Coleman, G/F, 6-1, St. Johns College H.S.
        /#Maryland/Cheltenham, MD
13   Crystal Langhorne, F/C, 6-2, Maryland / Willingboro, NJ
11   Erlana Larkins, F/C, 6-2, North Carolina / Riviera Beach, FL
15    Courtney Paris, C, 6-3, Piedmont / #Oklahoma / Piedmont, CA
05    Abigail Waner, G, 5-11, Thunder Ridge / #Duke / Highlands Ranch, CO
07   Candice Wiggins, G, 5-10, Stanford / Poway, CA
18    Earnesia Williams, F, 6-0, Sapulpa / #Texas / Sapulpa, OK
10    Christina Wirth, F, 6-1, Seton Catholic / #Vanderbilt / Mesa, AZ
06   Sharnee' Zoll, G, 5-7, Virginia / Philadelphia, PA

Roster and story are compliments of USA Basketball. For a box score and additional information please visit www.usabasketball.com.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Paris Has Second Double Figure Scoring Game For Team USA

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