Goestenkors, USA Women Golden With 79-74 Win Over Russia

Sept. 25, 2002

NANJING, China (September 25, 2002) - The USA persevered through a night when its top two veteran players couldn't buy a basket and still earned a 79-74 victory over Russia (7-2) to claim gold at the 2002 FIBA Women's World Championship Wednesday night in Nanjing, China.

The United States, through hard work and what has become a typical dominating defensive effort, successfully repeated as World Champions after having also won the title in 1998 in Berlin, Germany. The USA has now won 19 consecutive World Championship games dating back to the bronze medal game in the 1994 World Championship.

USA stars Sheryl Swoopes (Houston Comets) and Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles Sparks) scored 18 and 17 points respectively, but combined to make just 12-of-37 shots as the USA team as a whole managed to sink just 28-of-74 shots for a very chilly 37.8 shooting percentage.

"We had everything that you could humanly have to happen to get us beat tonight. We got Lisa (Leslie) in foul trouble. Lisa and Sheryl (Swoopes) shot 12 out of 37. We can't get anything to go, but we did find a way to win and that makes us a special team," said USA and Houston Comets head coach Van Chancellor.

"I thought the difference in the game tonight was when we absolutely had to, we found a way to defend them and keep them from scoring for the last minute and a half.. This team is as special a basketball team defensively that I've ever been around. I think this is the best defensive team that the USA could ever have."

The United States needed every bit of its defensive skill in order to be victorious in the gold medal game.

Although the U.S. carried a 10-point, 65-55, lead into the final 10 minutes, Russia quickly made things interesting. With Ilona Korstine scoring nine points, Russia made it a game after cutting the U.S. advantage to 72-69 with 4:39 to play. Elena Baranova pulled Russia within a point when she scored off a back door cut to make it 72-71 with 3:28 remaining. With the game on the line, the U.S. went into Leslie who was fouled, and after making one of two free throws, the U.S. had a little more breathing room and led 73-71 with 3:05 to play.

"We were going to go down inside to Lisa Leslie and win or lose it there. If she couldn't make it, we were going to go back out to Swoopes and that was the play we were going to make," commented Chancellor, about the play he called after Russia had pulled to within one point. Shannon Johnson (Orlando Miracle) made a steal for the U.S., which led to Leslie being fouled with 1:26 remaining, and after Leslie again made one of two free throws, the USA lead stood at 74-71. Russia missed on its next possession and Leslie came away with the rebound, then hit a 10' baseline jumper with 54 seconds left to push the U.S. lead to 76-71.

After Baranova made one of two free throws to make the score 76-72 with 37.1 showing on the clock, Swoopes was fouled on a drive and made one of two free throws to make it 77-72 . Russia's Maria Kalmykova made a pair of free throws with 12.1 seconds left to cut the deficit to 77-74, but on the USA's following possession, Swoopes was fouled with 8.9 seconds left and after making both charity shots, the U.S. moved ahead 79-74 and went on to post the win.

The game started with things going the USA's way.

Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever) scored six points as the U.S. edged out ahead 13-8, but Russia battled back to even the score 13-13 with 3:18 remaining in the first quarter. Outscoring Russia 12-2 over the final 3:18, the U.S. cushioned its lead to 25-15 at the end of the first quarter despite shooting just 37.5 percent from the floor.

Russia closed the gap to five, 27-22, with 8:18 to play in quarter two, but the USA reeled off seven straight points including Catchings' third straight 3-pointer, and the U.S. lead stood at 34-22 with 6:38 to go before half. The USA enjoyed its largest lead of the first half , 48-33, following a Dawn Staley (Charlotte Sting) 3-pointer and at halftime the Americans were ahead 48-35.

On a night when Leslie and Swoopes combined to shoot 5-21 from the floor in the first two quarters, the U.S. received strong support from Catchings who accounted for 14 first half points and from Johnson who added eight more.

Swoopes found her shooting touch in the third quarter and after scoring eight points in the quarter, the U.S. went into the final 10 minutes owning a 65-55 lead.

With Swoopes and Leslie combining for 35 points, the U.S. received some badly needed offensive production from Catchings, who recorded 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting, 3-4 from 3-point, and a team best 11 rebounds, while adding two assists and six steals. Johnson added 11 points and Staley finished with nine points.

Russia's Korstine led all scorers with 27 points and Baranova finished with 18 points and a game high 12 rebounds.

The USA defense forced Russia into 26 turnovers, while the USA was charged with just eight turnovers. Limiting Russia to 44.2 percent shooting from the floor overall, Russia outrebounded the U.S. 46 to 35, however, the U.S. had 16 offensive boards as compared to 14 for Russia.

Leslie was named as the World Championship's Most Valuable Player after leading the U.S. to the gold and averaging 17.2 points and 8.1 rebounds a game. U.S. guard Johnson joined Leslie on the five member All-World Championship Team. Also selected to the All-Worlds squad was Russia's Baranova, Australia's Lauren Jackson and Spain's Amaya Valdemoro.

Chancellor was assisted on the sidelines by three-time Olympian and Charlotte Sting head coach Anne Donovan, as well as collegiate head coaches Marianna Freeman (Syracuse) and Gail Goestenkors (Duke).

Held every four years, the 14th FIBA World Championship format featured 16 nations competing Sept. 14-25. The United States, which earned the gold medal at the inaugural World Championship in 1953, has now claimed seven gold medals and has won back-to-back World Championships and three of the last four. All told, the USA now owns a 80-20 overall record (.800 winning percentage) and in addition to its seven golds, he U.S. women have won one silver and one bronze medal as well.

In Wednesday's bronze medal game, led by 31 points from All-Tournament team member Jackson, Australia (7-2) walloped South Korea (4-5) 91-63. In the game to determine fifth place, Spain (6-3) rolled over host China (5-4) 91-72, and in the seventh place game Brazil (6-3) ended the World Championship with a 74-65 win over France (4-5).

Postgame Quotes
Sgeptember 25, 2002

Van Chancellor, USA head coach
Opening comments:
"I would first like to congratulate the Russian team for playing so well, especially in the second half. I want to say, to their head coach, that I've been really, really impressed with the way he's coached in this World Championship. I was really impressed with how he's coached, how he's brought his team back (after the 89-55 loss to the USA in the first game) and Ilona Korstine is one of the best young players that I've seen in a long time. From our side, they came after us and cut it down to one, we had great leadership out of (Sheryl) Swoopes, Dawn Staley and Lisa Leslie to make plays. I thought our depth tonight with DeLisha Milton and Shannon Johnson was the major difference. To play a team that played as well as Russia did tonight, I think the USA should be commended for being able to hold on and win the gold medal."

On Sheryl Swoopes' performance tonight
"Sheryl Swoopes and I have been in a lot of places and have been able to win a lot of things. I gave her a big hug tonight and I said, 'well, you carried me to a gold medal.' In the end she's just going to make plays. When you've got a player who can make plays and who has experience, that always makes the difference in a game."

Anne Donovan, USA assistant and WNBA Charlotte Sting head coach
You've won gold medals as a player and coach, do you get the same feeling each time?
"Each one gets more special I think. I think that as we struggled through the semifinals and the finals here to really get it together, make it happen and walk away with the gold, it makes it that much more special. This is a great collection of players and working on a coaching staff with Van (Chancellor), Gail (Goestenkors) and Marianna (Freeman) made it a really good experience for me. I'm walking away really proud."

Would you come back?
"Absolutely. Wouldn't miss it for the world."

Marianna Freeman, USA assistant and Syracuse University (N.Y.) head coach
"Two times, two golds! (referring to her assistant coach position with USA Basketball and the gold medal winning 1997 USA Junior World Championship Team). What can I say? It's been a great experience, we had a very, very good basketball team, a great coaching staff, it was a wonderful trip. It was an experience of a lifetime and I'm really happy to be here and to be a part of this."

Gail Goestenkors, USA assistant and Duke University (N.C.) head coach
"This is really exciting, I'm really proud of all the players. I've learned a great deal and thoroughly enjoyed every moment, getting to know Anne (Donovan), Van (Chancellor) and Marianna (Freeman), and what great people they are and also the entire team. It was a complete team effort. I'm going to take many wonderful memories home with me."

Sue Bird
How does it feel to win your first major international gold medal?
"It was a great honor to be on this team. I've had a great experience both on and off the court, and I'm just very excited about getting that first gold medal. To stand up there on the podium was an amazing feeling, and one I'll remember forever. This was an incredible group of players to be with, and it was an honor to be a part of this."

Tamika Catchings
How did it feel out there tonight?
"I just felt good coming out tonight, more than anything knowing this was going to be our last game together for a long time -- hopefully I'll make the Olympic team. I wanted to come out and make sure I gave everything I had before I got on that plane tomorrow."

What was working so well tonight for you?
"The three. It always helps to hit that first shot, and then once you hit that first shot you keep going. They kept giving me the ball and leaving me open, so it was an opportunity to step up and make the shot."

What was the turning point in the fourth quarter?
"I think our defensive intensity. We definitely picked it up. They started getting closer and it was one of those things where we had to start stepping up and making some defensive moves. One of the things we knew we had to do was to deny [Elena] Baranova, and when she got the ball to run different people at her, and that's what we did.

"Russia is a great team. We knew that they were going to keep coming at us with different runs and it was a matter of how we answered them, and I think we did a great job. Even though they went on a run and almost tied it up, we were able to pick it up defensively first of all, put Lisa [Leslie] back and get the ball inside, and once she started hitting those shots, along with Sheryl [Swoopes] driving to the hole, that really helped."

What was the best moment tonight?
"Winning, the confetti coming down."

Tamecka Dixon
Talk about the emotions of winning the gold medal tonight.
"It was an incredible honor to be a part of this team. It was a learning experience for me, and definitely something that I'll cherish forever."

Jennifer Gillom
At this point in your career, is this gold especially meaningful?
"How many 38-year-olds can say they won a gold medal? Not many. It's been a wonderful experience for me. I had no idea that I would experience as gifted a team effort as I saw tonight. It's been great chemistry on this team, it's been fun overall, and I think I've enjoyed that more than just the basketball. To me, that means a lot, especially to end it like this. I know I'm right at the tail end of my career, and what a great ending. I can't picture a better ending than this. To me, this is one of the highlights of my career."

Shannon Johnson
Were you surprised to make the All-World Championship Team ?
"I was very surprised considering the players we have on this team. I think we're led by two of the great players in the world with Sheryl Swoopes and Lisa Leslie, and just having an opportunity to play with those two was an honor for myself. To be able to play along with Dawn Staley and the rest of the players on this team was special. I think this team has definitely left its mark by going out there and playing every game, and then going out there and staying focused and being able to win the gold medal."

How does this feel considering that winning a gold has been a goal of yours for so long?
" It feels great right now, but I think I'm going to wait for a moment when I'm by myself to let it all out. I'm very excited and a little emotional about it. It's something I've worked very hard for and been very patient for. Now that it's finally happened, I'm very excited about it.

Lisa Leslie
How did Russia get back in the game?
"I think fatigue really caught up with us today. I played 38 minutes yesterday and I just felt like I was tired from the beginning. Our shots were a lot shorter than usual, and Sheryl and I probably missed more shots tonight than we did the whole tournament. We didn't have our legs under us as far as the offense goes. Russia's a very good team and they have a lot of offense. No. 10 [Ilona Korstine] just killed us. She was coming off of cuts, she hit shots from the outside and she was able to get inside. I thought we did a pretty good job on [Elena] Baranova for the most part. She was able to get to the foul line too much and we fouled too much. Otherwise, I think I struggled a little bit offensively, as well as Swoopes, and that was probably the biggest difference as far as the game being close.

Were you surprised to win MVP?
"I thought I had played well enough to win the MVP, but it's still a great honor to win the award among this type of talent. I wasn't shocked to receive the award, but I was shocked as far as the ceremony. We couldn't hear the speakers overhead, so I didn't know what they were saying. They were speaking Chinese along with the translation, and then with the gym being so loud, I didn't hear it."

How does it feel to bring home another gold with Dawn, Sheryl and the other veterans of this team?
"I think we've done it so much now, I think it would be really hard for us not to win gold. At the same time, we still get excited. But I think over time, we show our emotions less and less. Before we were crying and we were all over the floor. Now we're at a point where this is what we're expected to do and anything less is unacceptable."

DeLisha Milton
Opening comments:
"Tonight I want to commend both teams for playing hard and giving their best effort. We knew that tonight was going to be a tough game for us because we met Russia in '98 in the World Championship and it was a hard game to win. And we knew that tonight they were going to come out focused and they were going to be very physical. I think the USA did a great job of staying mentally tough the entire time, no matter what type of situation we were in."

On winning another gold medal, the only type of medal ever won by Milton in international competition:
"I feel great knowing that anytime I'm in a USA Basketball competition, we come out winners. I have another gold medal to add to my display of medals and I think that the team that USA Basketball put together this year was very fierce. There was a great deal of chemistry, even though we were only together a short time. Coach Chancellor came in, he's a great motivator, he came in and really got everybody ready to play. Another key to our success was the veterans that we have on this team in Dawn (Staley) and Lisa (Leslie), they've been in this game for a long time and they responded well tonight for us.

Tari Phillips
How does it feel to win your first gold medal?
"Coming into this, I wasn't quite sure what would be expected. I've played internationally, but this is different. As the last two games transpired, and how we came to be standing there on the podium was just a blessing. I didn't know what kind of emotions I'd have up there, but it was very emotional. When they raised the flag, with all that's happened over the past year and me being in New York City, I just felt this overwhelming pride, and joy, and unity, and grace to be in China and be a part of this. Sometimes words elude me, but tonight was special, and I am very thankful to be a part of it."

Katie Smith
You set out with a goal and you met it.
"It feels great. The last two competitions I've been in - the World Championship and Olympics - we've been able to win a gold medal. To come back and continue our dominance, with two tough games at the end, was great. To go out there and continually take care of business feels good. It's fun because coach Chancellor made it a lot of fun. He's very easy going, but he made us work hard and made us want to get out there and play hard. To have some new people on this team, along with the vets, was a great mix. I think this group will do some great things in the next two years."

At what point did you feel secure tonight?
"I don't think we ever felt secure, but I don't think we were ever to the point where we thought we were going to lose. We had confidence in ourselves to make plays on both ends of the floor. They definitely gave us a game. They gave us a great shot. I can't say we played our best game, but that's just the way it goes. We took care of it, we finished it off when we had to, and everybody made big plays at different times. It felt good because we proved to ourselves that we're going to come through when times are tough."

Sheryl Swoopes
You've been part of USA Basketball for a long time, but the emotions are still apparent when you win the gold.
"We were all very excited about accomplishing what we set out to do, to win the gold medal. Having coach Chancellor here, he's just a great guy and I thought he was very deserving of being chosen to coach this team this year. It was wonderful for him to get a gold medal.

"I look back to where I was this time last year, to come back and have the kind of season I did in the WNBA and to finish it off with a gold medal with 11 of the best players in the league - in the world - is something I am very excited about. It is a huge honor to come here to China with a great group of women and to go back home with a gold medal."

Dawn Staley
How does this one feel?
"I had one of the unfortunate experiences of getting a bronze medal in the '94 World Championship. That was the worst feeling I've ever had, and I don't want to ever experience it again. So getting gold medals is always something that's on the top of my list, especially this year. This is probably my last World Championship, and I wanted to go out with a bang."

Natalie Williams
How does it feel to win the gold?
"I thought we did a great job, and you could tell we had a veteran team this year. Russia played a great game, but our poise and experience pulled it out. We're just very excited to have the gold."

How is it for you to have your twins Sydney and Taurasi here to share this experience with you?
"It was great. This is going to be something that myself and they can look back on forever. They'll love seeing themselves paying on the floor with all the confetti, and all their experiences with the team. They're going to miss all the girls a lot."

Goestenkors, USA Women Golden With 79-74 Win Over Russia

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