Publication Date: Wednesday, July 27, 2005
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Wiggins helps USA team to gold
Wiggins helps USA team to gold
(July 27, 2005) by Rick Eymer
Stanford sophomore Candice Wiggins added yet another accolade to her growing resume in women's basketball, earning all-tournament honors at the FIBA Under-19 World Championships in helping Team USA win its first gold medal in the event since 1997.
The Americans ended their run to the world title with a 97-76 victory over Serbia and Montenegro on Sunday in Tunis, Tunisia.
The U.S. went unbeaten in eight games, averaging 105.9 points a game, and winning by an average margin of victory of 46.3 points.
The Americans became the third team to go undefeated, and the first to win eight games, at the event.
Wiggins and tournament MVP Crystal Langhorne (a sophomore at Maryland) helped the U.S. set 10 team records: most points (842); highest scoring average; most field goals made (340) and attempted (567); highest field goal percentage (.600); most free throws made (118) and attempted (183); most rebounds (355); and most assists (183).
"Before the game we all got together and we were reminiscing about the six weeks and all the things we had been through together, all the two-a-days, all the time traveling, getting to know each other," Wiggins said. "This sort of symbolizes us all coming together which is a great feeling."
Langhorne averaged a team best 16.8 points, and 6.4 rebounds, while shooting 77 percent from the field.
Wiggins finished averaged 15.8 points, while shooting 57 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from 3-point range.
"It's great but I feel like anyone on our team could have made (all-tournament)," Wiggins said. "We have such a great team, we have such depth on our team, it's great to be recognized but I realize we have great players and it could have been anyone and I think that's the best part of our team."
The U.S. has a 32-10 overall record, and has captured two gold (2005, 1997) and one bronze medal (2001) in the history of the event, which has been held every four years since 1985.
"This feels great," U.S. coach Gail Goestenkors said. "I'm so proud of the kids. They worked so hard and put it all together. We played great team basketball again. Our depth was a factor; it has been all tournament. Our rebounding was another factor; we were relentless on the boards."
Eight different players scored in the first quarter alone, and the Americans used a 12-4 run to pull ahead 24-12 after the first quarter.
Team USA held an 85-45 lead going into the fourth quarter.
"For us to win the gold medal after having not won it for so long is really special," Langhorne said. "We did a whole lot of work, those two-a-days in Colorado really paid off. To represent our country and for us to win, to help America get another gold medal, will always be something special."
Wiggins scored eight of the Americans first 16 points in their 99-68 victory over China in the semifinals on Saturday. Her 3-pointer gave the U.S. a 16-13 edge, a lead they never relinquished.
Wiggins had 13 points in Team USA's 85-55 win over Hungary in Friday's quarterfinals.
WNBA
Nicole Powell seems to enjoy playing in California. The Stanford grad enjoyed her best night as a professional Sunday in leading the Sacramento Monarchs past the visiting Detroit Shock, 91-51.
Powell scored a career-high 25 points and matched her career best with five 3-pointers as the Monarchs (14-7) ended a two-game losing streak and secured their hold on first place in the Western Division heading into Tuesday night's game against Powell's former team, the Charlotte Sting.
Sacramento hosts Los Angeles on Friday.
Powell averaged 12.4 minutes a game as a reserve player for the Sting in her rookie year. She was traded to the Monarchs, along with Stanford grad Olympia Scott-Richardson, and has blossomed into one of the WNBA's top players.
Powell, who has started all 21 games for the Monarchs this season, averages 10.9 points and plays nearly 30 minutes a game. Against the Shock, she was 10 of 17 from the field and 5 of 7 from long range.
She hit a 3-pointer to open the second half, sparking a 17-2 run over five minutes that gave Sacramento a 50-29 lead.
Scott-Richardson has appeared in six games, averaging about six minutes.
College
Stanford grad Molly Goodenbour joins the USF program as the top assistant under coach Mary Hile-Nepfel.
"I am excited about the opportunity to work with Molly," Hile-Nepfel said. "She is an outstanding teacher of the game and a fierce competitor. Our players will benefit from Molly's playing and coaching experience."
Goodenbour initially joined the Dons staff as the program's first full time assistant prior to the 1994-95 season. She left to pursue a playing career with the Richmond Rage and the Portland Power in the American Basketball League. The Stanford All-American then played for the Sacramento Monarchs in the WNBA's inaugural season of 1999.
"I'm very excited to return to coach at the Division I level," Goodenbour said. "I am excited to be working with Mary again. She and I have a good relationship. It is a great opportunity for me to work with elite student-athletes again and I look forward to the challenges ahead."
Goodenbour helped Stanford to NCAA Championships in 1990 and 1992. During her four year career (1989-93) on the Farm, she helped Stanford forge a 114-16 record, including a 62-1 mark at Maples Pavilion.
As a junior, Goodenbour earned Final Four MVP honors after setting a NCAA Tournament record for most postseason 3-pointers made (18).
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