July 3, 2007

Moscow, Russia -

Box Score
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With one game remaining in preliminary play at the 2007 FIBA U21 Championship, the USA Basketball U21 World Championship Team (4-0) clinched the top spot in Group B after dropping Spain (1-3) 81-62 on Tuesday afternoon in Moscow. Another overall team effort saw every member of the team score, including nine from Auburn's DeWanna Bonner.

Bonner also grabbed seven rebounds and two steals and was a perfect 3-for-3 from the charity stripe in 14 minutes of action.

"Defensively we did some very good things as a team, especially in the first half," said USA U21 National Team and Duke University head coach Joanne P. McCallie. "I really felt that holding them to 24 points in the first half was good, solid defense. But also we got some great work against a zone. Our zone offense was moving the ball, creating more assists, creating more opportunities. I really thought we had a lot of good free throw opportunities, as well as getting the ball inside. We didn't capitalize on all of them, but that's a good sign and prepares us well for future zones."

The USA will conclude preliminary round play on July 4 with a 2:15 a.m. CT tip against Japan. Today's win assured the U.S. the top spot in Group B for quarterfinals action, where on July 6 the red, white and blue will go up against the fourth placed finisher from Group A. The semifinals will be held on July 7 and the finals are scheduled for July 8.

After a sluggish start from both sides, Essence Carson (Rutgers) made the second of two free throws at 7:57 for the game's first point. The young Americans, putting pressure on their opponents, held Spain scoreless for the first 4:36 of the contest and allowed the Spaniards their fourth and final field goal of the quarter at 1:27. The USA was ahead 15-9 at that point and the squad strung together a 9-0 run to close the quarter with a 24-9 lead.

Spain was able to chip away at the USA's lead and with 4:42 left in the half the USA's hold on Spain was 33-22. With its defense forcing Spain into turnovers and bad shots, the Americans once again closed out the quarter on a charge, receiving points from four different players in an 11-2 run and at halftime it was a 20-point, 44-24, ball game.

In what was an all-around first half effort, eight of the USA's players scored, including six with no less than five points apiece. The U.S. also already held a commanding lead on the glass, 28-11 and forced Spain into nine turnovers.

Spain started the second half by forcing the Americans into six turnovers in the third quarter and cut the USA's advantage down to 59-44.

However, Jolene Anderson (Wisconsin) hit a three with 9:05 to play against Spain's zone to jump-start the fourth quarter. Following a Spanish basket Candice Wiggins (Stanford) skipped a pass across the court to Anderson as she rendered Spain's zone ineffective by nailing her second consecutive three and with 8:18 to play as the U.S. went ahead 65-46. Continuing to keep Spain at bay, the young Americans closed out their fourth game in five days with another win.

The USA had its best 3-point shooting night of the tournament, making 7-of-18 from beyond the arc for 38.9 percent. The squad, which had six turnovers in the third quarter after giving up the ball a total of five times in the first half, finished with 12 and forced Spain into 20.

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.