Double-Double for Paris, Rout for USA

TUNIS, Tunisia -- In a game in which U.S. game records fell like the USA 3-pointers, behind a record tying 28 points on 7-of-10 shooting from 3-point from Candice Wiggins (Stanford / Poway, Calif.) and a record 15-of-25 shooting as a team from behind the 3-point line, the USA (2-0) put away Congo (0-2) early and rolled on to an overwhelming 124-37 win Saturday in Tunis, Tunisia. The U.S. continues preliminary round play in the 2005 FIBA U19 World Championship on Sunday, meeting 1-1 Serbia & Montenegro.

The USA's 124 points were the most scored by an American team (surpassing the previous mark of 109 versus Japan in 1993) in the FIBA event since it was held in 1985. All told, the U.S. broke or tied seven team records, while Wiggins tied the USA mark for most points in a game (also held by Alana Beard versus Russia on 2001) and set the record for made 3-point field goals (the previous record of four was done seven times).

As a team the U.S. established new team single game records for highest field goal percentage after sinking 47-0f-78 shots for a 60.3 field goal percentage, most 3-point shots made (15) and attempted (25), highest 3-point shooting percentage with a 60.0 percent shooting accuracy, most assists (31) and the U.S. tied the record for most rebounds (66).

Box Score | World Championship Schedule | USA Central

Wiggins gave an indication early that it was going to be her night when just six seconds into the game she drained the first of seven 3-pointers.

"Coach Jack (USA assistant coach Felisha Leggette-Jack) is the coach for the guards and she was talking about just being relaxed. The offense we run is really focused on our post players and getting the ball inside. In this game I just relaxed and for me if I relax I shoot pretty well. It was nice to be in a rhythm," stated Wiggins, who earned Pacific 10 Conference Player and Freshman of the Year honors after averaging 17.5 points and shooting 33.6 percent from three while a frosh at Stanford

Falling behind 5-3 in the game's early going, the U.S., with Wiggins accounting for five points, scored 12 straight points in the course of 3:19 to grab control 15-5. Holding a 24-15 lead, University of Virginia guard Sharnee' Zoll (Virginia/Philadelphia, Pa.) connected on a short jumper with 18 seconds left in the second quarter, then proceeded to drain a long three at the buzzer to push the USA lead to 29-15.

Opening the second quarter with a 15-0 run that was propelled by Wiggins' eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, the USA was well in control and leading 44-15 with 5:38 left before half. Taking a 66-22 lead to the locker room at halftime, the Americans whipped off 11 straight points to open the third period and were four points shy of the 100-point mark after three quarters, owning a 96-32 lead.

All 12 USA players scored at least three points and five players made at least one 3-pointer. In addition to Candice Wiggins performance, the USA's effort was aided by 16 points and 11 rebounds from Courtney Paris (Piedmont H.S. / Piedmont, Calif.). Paris is averaging 12.5 points per game and a team high nine rebounds despite being the youngest player on the squad.

Jolene Anderson (Wisconsin, ) added 14 points, Crystal Langhorne (Maryland / Willingboro, N.J.) was credited with 14 points and eight boards, and Erlana Larkins (North Carolina / Riviera Beach, Fla.) tossed in a double-double of 11 points and a game high 13 rebounds. Abby Waner (ThunderRidge H.S. / Highlands Ranch, Colo.) led the USA's record setting passing effort with five assists as 11 of the 12 U.S. player were credited with at least one assist.

"Our team played extremely well. I thought initially we were over aggressive with our man-to-man defense so we played a zone and I thought that caused some problems," said USA and Duke University (N.C.) head coach Gail Goestenkors. "It was a great team effort for us. We shot well from the outside and our posts played well on the inside.

"The good thing we take from this game is we are continuing to move the ball well, to penetrate gaps, hit open shooters and allow them to shoot within their rhythm and I think that's making all the difference in the world for them. Our shooting has improved so much. For us to be successful and come away with the gold we've got to have a great inside-outside attack and in these first two games we finally are seeing that. We knew we had great shooters, we just weren't shooting the ball well so its nice to see them shoot well," Goestenkors added.

While the U.S. was shooting lights out, Congo was in a deep freeze, making just 11-of-70 shots (.157), and only 2-of-26 (.077) from 3 point.

"Our team is so hard to defend because we can have scoring come from everyone. Every game someone is going to step up, today it was my day, the next game who knows who it is going to be. That's the best part of our team," added Wiggins.

In other preliminary round play Saturday, in Group A action, Serbia & Montenegro (1-1) handled Puerto Rico (1-1) 84-67, and in Group B play, China (2-0) remained undefeated after disposing of Spain (1-1) 85-66, and Australia (2-0) had an easy time with host Tunisia (0-2) 68-47.. In the evening nightcaps, South Korea (1-0) will take on Russia (0-1), and Canada (1-0) faces Hungary (0-1)

To be eligible for the 2005 USA U19 World Championship Team, an athlete must have been born on or after Jan. 1, 1986 (19-years-old or younger).

Formerly known as the FIBA Women's Junior World Championship and held every four years since 1985, the U.S. boasts of a 24-10 overall record and has captured one gold and one bronze medal. In 2001, at the most recent tournament, a USA Basketball team piloted by University of Connecticut's Geno Auriemma and featuring players like Alana Beard and Diana Taurasi collected the bronze medal with a 6-1 record.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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