July 1, 2007

Moscow, Russia -

Box Score
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The USA Basketball Women's U21 World Championship Team (3-0) prevailed over Hungary (1-2) with a 93-70 victory on Sunday afternoon at the 2007 FIBA U21 World Championship in Moscow, Russia. Auburn's DeWanna Bonner saw action in 11 minutes, contributing five boards.

"I think in the second half we got more serious about our defensive rebounding," said USA U21 National Team and Duke University head coach Joanne P. McCallie. "I think in the first half we weren't as serious about it as we should have been. We're learning how to put the quarters together and put the games together. This has been a string of three games and we've learned an awful lot from each game, which puts us in a much better position going into the next game. It's a process of growth and maturity of this team and everybody figuring out what they can and cannot do, and also understand that defense and rebounding trump everything else."

The game was tough from the get-go with 10 lead changes and five knotted scores through the bulk of the first half. With 1:24 to play in the first half, however, Ashley Houts' (Georgia) swished a three to give the U.S. a 38-36 lead, one it would never relinquish. Candice Wiggins (Stanford) closed out the half with five more points and the whistle blew with the U.S. on top 43-36.

Both teams battled to start the second half and with 13:53 to play, Hungary came within four points, 55-51. With Hungary playing zone defense, Jolene Anderson (Wisconsin) helped break things open with a 3-pointer at 13:39 to start a 10-3 run. Wiggins followed that by going coast-to-coast for an uncontested layin and Anderson hit another three on the USA's next possession. With 47 seconds to play in the third quarter Kia Vaughn (Rutgers) capped the run with a layup, putting the USA a double-digit 65-54 lead.

Following a Hungarian basket, Wiggins made a pair of free throws to not only close the third quarter with the USA in the lead 67-56, but also start the Americans on a 13-2 run that ended with the USA in command 78-58 with 6:37 to play. Hungary was never able to counter the attack and the United States came away with its third win in as many days.

Following a day off, the USA resumes preliminary round play on July 3 against Spain at 4:30 a.m. CT and on July 4 the squad will celebrate the country's birthday with an 2:15 a.m. CT tip against Japan. Quarterfinals are slated for July 6, the semifinals will be held on July 7 and the finals are scheduled for July 8.

The USA is hoping to defend its world title in this age group, open to athletes 21-years-old or younger (born on or after Jan. 1, 1986), at the 2007 FIBA U21 World Championship, which runs through July 8.