Paris & USA Golden For 4th Time

July 8, 2007

Paris' Blog | Box Score | USA Recap | Final Team Stats

MOSCOW, Russia - Oklahoma center Courtney Paris is coming back to Norman as a gold medalist for the fourth summer in row after the USA U21 Team defeated Australia, 96-73, on Sunday afternoon in the title game of the 2007 FIBA U21 World Championships.

Paris and the USA have gone undefeated and collected four gold medals over the last four summers. Rutgers guard Essence Carson and Paris are the only players that have played on all four teams.

For Paris, it brings to an end a portion of her international career. She will no longer be eligible to play age group basketball for the red, white and blue.

Now she will have to compete for a spot on the USA Senior National Team.

Paris is currently part of the pool of players, which is largely made up by WNBA stars, on the Senior National Team. She will return to training with the Senior National Team in September as they attempt to qualify for the Olympics in 2007 FIBA Americas Championship. The Americas Championship will be held in Valdivia, Chile, from Sept. 25-29.

"This was a priority for me this summer," said Paris. "I wanted to play with all these girls. I have grown up with all of them the last four summers. We all wanted to come together and win another gold medal during our last go around as a group.

"The basketball is getting better as we move up. Australia is a great team and they gave us everything they had. It was great preparation for my goal of making the Senior National Team and eventually the Olympic Team, but for the time being I am just going to enjoy this gold medal and continue to celebrate with my teammates."

Paris has been joined three of the last four summers by Stanford's Candice Wiggins, Duke's Abby Waner, Wisconsin Jolene Anderson and Carson.

Against the Aussies in the FIBA U21 Championship Game, Paris had six points, seven rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes.

She was third on the team with a scoring average of 10.9 points and second on the team with 8.0 boards per game. The U21 Team won all eight of its tournament games and three exhibition games against France.

Paris has played 39 official games within the USA age group program and has never suffered a defeat.

"That's amazing to me," said Paris. "I know that some of the scores make it seem like these games are all blowouts, but that isn't really true. The competition level here is tremendous and to go four summers without a loss says a lot about the coaches and my teammates."

Paris is the only athlete in USA Women's Basketball history to play with her age group team and the Senior National Team during the same calendar year.

"USA Basketball will always be a top priority of mine," said Paris. "There is nothing like playing for the red, white and blue and it would be a dream come true to play in the Olympics one day."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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