University of Oklahoma Athletics

Robinson, USA Win Gold

Robinson, USA Win Gold

July 11, 2009 | Women's Basketball

By: Athletics Communications

July 11, 2009

BELGRADE, Serbia -- Oklahoma's Danielle Robinson added her first gold medal to her trophy case Saturday.

Robinson scored three points and added two assists and two steals in an 83-64 victory of Russia as the United States captured its record seventh World University Games championship.

“I'm excited,” Robinson said about winning a gold medal. “We definitely worked hard; we've been through a lot as a team. We've really grown and I'm definitely excited about this gold medal.”

Led by a 28-point, 18-rebound performance from Tina Charles (Connecticut), Team USA completed its run in the tournament undefeated with seven wins.

Follow Robinson on Twitter | More at USA Basketball |  Box Score

"I'm really proud of this team," USA head coach Charli Turner Thorne said. "They stayed tough, kept working hard. These are some of the best college players in the country, and they showed it tonight.

“That Russian team has been playing together for years. I coached against them two years ago (at the 2007 FIBA U21 World Championship). For these young ladies to come together in a couple of weeks, be so responsive to what we asked them to do as coaches, to give everything they have for their country, that was awesome."

The USA dominated the glass, outrebounding Russia 52-32 and scoring 22 second-chance points to Russia's four. Jantel Lavender (Ohio State) added 14 points, and Kayla Pedersen (Stanford) 11 points and nine rebounds.

Baskets were traded early and Russia led the first period 22-20 and pushed the lead to 28-20 with a 6-0 run to start the second quarter. The U.S. then launched a 19-3 run for the remainder of the segment and took a 39-31 lead to halftime.

The United States opened the second half with a 9-0 run and led for the remainder of regulation time.

“Playing with such an elite group of players,” Robinson said, “even just practicing with them makes you a better player. You have to work hard every day. You see what they go through and you hear about their stories. I think the experience, as a whole, makes you not only a better player but a better person.”

 

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