Paris Leads USA In Medal Opener

TUNIS, Tunisia -- Team depth and game highs of 16 points and eight rebounds from Courtney Paris (Piedmont H.S./Piedmont, Calif.) kept the USA's (6-0) gold medal dreams alive as the Americans handled Hungary (3-3) 85-55 Friday in quarterfinals action at the FIBA Women's U19 World Championship in Tunis, Tunisia. With the win, the USA's sixth in as many games, the Americans advanced into the medal round semifinals. The U.S. will meet 5-1 China, who easily beat its quarterfinals opponent South Korea 93-72, in one of Saturday's two semifinal contest.

"China is going to be our toughest test by far," said USA head coach Gail Goestenkors. "They're an excellent team. They're very strong, very physical and they have a one-two punch that is incredible in number five (Bian Lan) and number 11 (Lui Dan). We haven't faced anyone on the perimeter or in the post that is as good as those two. So it is going to have to be a tremendous team effort on the defensive end of the floor and we'll have to do a great job offensively because they are very disciplined on defense."

Facing a Hungry team that handed the U.S. a 75-68 loss in an exhibition game on July 20 in Budapest, Hungary was able to hang with the U.S. for the game's first 13 minutes, then the USA's overall depth, talent and determination ultimately proved too much.

Box Score | World Championship Schedule | USA Central

"This was an excellent team effort and our depth was the difference in the game. They have seven good players and we have 12 excellent players. I felt like we wore them down, got them into some foul trouble. We started switching towards the end of the second quarter and that really increased the pressure and kept them from running their sets which I thought was the difference in the game," Goestenkors added.

Neither team shot well in the game's early goings. The U.S. started by making just one of its first seven shots, while Hungary made one of its first five and turned the ball over six times in the game's first four minutes.

With Hungary leading 13-10 with 2:23 to go in the first quarter, the U.S. finished the quarter up 20-15 after closing with a 10-2 run during which Paris scored six points and Nicky Anosike (Tennessee/Staten Island, N.Y.) added the other four.

Hungary started the second quarter by making its first three shots to regain the lead 21-20 with 8:39 until halftime. But after Erika Arriaran (Norco H.S./Norco, Calif.) scored on a short jumper, Crystal Langhorne (Maryland/Willingboro, N.J.) converted a traditional three-point play and the USA forged ahead 25-21.

Hungary added a hoop with 6:55 left in the second quarter to cut it to 25-23, and from there the USA's depth and talent overwhelmed Hungary.

USA guard Sharnee' Zoll (Virginia/Philadelphia, Pa.) got the USA started on a game clinching 12-0 run when she connected on a 3-pointer with 6:11 left until halftime. Getting points from five other players, the U.S. went on to open a 37-23 lead. Then, following a pair of free throws by Candice Wiggins (Stanford/Poway, Calif.) with 2.5 seconds left before halftime, the Americans retired to the locker room owning their biggest advantage of the first half, 39-25.

"I had to take it. As everybody knows I don't shoot that I often. I look to pass or penetrate and kick, but I was wide open and they were playing off our guards all game and I knew I had to take the shot," said Zoll about her successful 3-pointer. "Every time I go in the coaches tell me to set the tone and that's what I try to do, to come in and help the team get up."

"Sharnee' hit our only three of the first half and I think she sensed that we needed a lift," Goestenkors stated. "She has done an excellent job running the show for us and that was a shot we needed at that time. I'm really proud of Sharnee', she gave us a lift on both ends of the floor tonight."

The USA continued to surge in the opening minutes of the third quarter. With Langhorne contributing five points and Essence Carson (Rutgers/Paterson, N.J.) adding four points, the U.S. put up the first nine points of the third quarter to take charge 48-25. Pushing its lead to 31 points in the third, the U.S. led comfortably 66-37 at the end of 30 minutes of play.

The USA lead grew to as many as 36 points in the fourth quarter before finally settling for the 30-point victory.

The USA got offensive support from Langhorne, who despite early foul trouble, finished with 14 points, while Wiggins tossed in 13 points, Carson capped the evening with 11 points and Anosike added 10 points.

In Friday's other medal round quarterfinals games, China got out early and rolled on to a 93-72 victory over South Korea (3-3), while Russia (5-1) won its fifth straight, defeating Spain (3-3) 79-62. In the day's nightcap to be played, Group B No. 1 seed Australia (5-1) was facing Group A No. 4 seed Serbia & Montenegro (2-3). In the consolation play, Puerto Rico (2-4) beat Tunisia (0-6) , and Canada (2-4) recorded a 67-51 win over Congo (0-6).

Serving as assistant coaches to head coach Goestenkors are Felisha Legette-Jack, head coach at Hofstra University's (N.Y.), and Carol Ross, head mentor at the University of Mississippi.

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.

USA Game-by-Game : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Quarters

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