US Young Women Win Gold in Sibenik, Croatia
USA Young Women Advance To Gold Medal Game With 58-47 Semifinal Win Over France
Lady Lion Tanisha Wright nabs two steals in victory
SIBENIK, Croatia (August 2, 2003)- the USA Young Women’s National Team (6-1) advanced to the medal semifinals of the 2003 FIBA World Championship Young Women after defeating France (5-2) 58-47 on Saturday evening in Sibenik, Croatia.
The United States will meet up with Brazil (6-1) in Sunday night’s gold medal game (3:00 p.m. EDT). Brazil edged host Croatia (3-4) 73-65, setting up a Croatia-France bronze medal game. The USA’s lone loss at the World Championship For Young Women was to Brazil, 73-60, on July 27.
Lady Lion Tanisha Wright (West Mifflin, Pa.) registered one point and two steals while seeing 18 minutes of action.
“We knew from the outset that it was going to be physical game,” said USA and Ohio State University head coach Jim Foster. “I thought that Kendra Wecker (Kansas Statecame in and really gave us a boost. She got a lot of loose balls and played with a lot of energy. Tanisha Wright (Penn State) did some good things. The good thing about this team from the beginning is that we haven’t had to depend on one individual. It’s been a collective effort and it seems to be different people stepping up every night.”
Arizona’s Shawtinince Polk contributed a game high 15 points, 11 coming in a 5:27 span to start the second quarter.
TANISHA WRIGHT, Penn State University
On being in the gold medal game: “Coach Foster has been comparing this to being in the national championship, but better. If that’s the way the international world sees it, it gives me a good feeling to be here, being in the gold medal game.
On tonight’s game: “It was a fun game. It was a fun game to be in, a fun game to cheer for. All around, with them coming back and then us coming back, them coming back again and then us coming back and trying to hang onto the lead. It was just a real fun to be in and win.
On Shawntinice Polk’s game: “Oh she was great. She was getting aggressive, taking it straight to them and getting some easy buckets. She did great.”
Source: http://www.gopsusports.com/pressreleases/pressrelease.cfm?anncid=4676&spID=3