FIFTH WOMEN'S JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING TEAM -- 2004

A star-studded roster of top 18-and-under players made up the USA Women's Junior World Championship Qualifying Team, and after becoming a true team, the American squad rolled over its opposition and to gold. The American juniors finished a sparkling 5-0 and qualified the U.S. for FIBA's 2005 Junior World Championship in Tunisia.

2004 USA Junior World Championship Qualifying Team 2004 USA RESULTS (5-0) USA 128 Argentina 43 USA 143 Bolivia 24 USA 124 Puerto Rico 49 USA 99 Brazil 38 USA 121 Puerto Rico 56 2004 COMPETITION FINAL STANDINGS 1. *USA (5-0) 5. Argentina (3-2) 2. *Puerto Rico (3-2) 6. Guatemala (2-3) 3. *Canada (4-1) 7. Dominican Rep. (1-4) 4. Brazil (2-3) 8. Bolivia (0-5) * Qualified for the 2001 FIBA Junior World Championship

As a group, the U.S. not only outscored its opponents by a whopping 81 points a game, but the USA averaged its eye-popping 123.0 points a game on 62.7 percent shooting from the field, and limited opponents to just 42.0 ppg. and 24.8 percent shooting overall. The Americans also dominated the glass, outrebounding its opponents 53.8 rpg. to 19.0 rpg., and forced its opposition into 50 more turnovers, 78-to-138.

Six of the USA's 12 players finished averaging in double figures in scoring. Candace Parker led the team averaging 16.6 ppg. and added a team second best 8.8 rpg., while Courtney Paris scored 15.8 ppg., and added a team best 9.0 rpg. Candice Wiggins averaged 15.2 ppg., Laura Harper added 12.8 ppg., Abby Waner tossed in 12.0 ppg. and 3.8 apg., while Chardé Houston finished averaging 10.4 ppg.

The USA opened preliminary round play at the FIBA Americas Junior World Championship Tournament on Aug. 4 with a dominating 128-43 victory over Argentina as eight USA players finished the game in double figures led by Houston's 17 points on perfect 7-of-7 shooting. Just 22 hours later the U.S. followed their first victory with an even more convincing win, recording a team record 143 points in the 143-24 win over Bolivia. Waner tallied 26 points and Paris added 22 points and 10 rebounds in the rout. Meeting host Puerto Rico on Aug. 6, Wiggins scored 16 and Paris accounted for 14 points and 13 boards as the U.S. steamrolled to a 124-49 win

Facing Brazil in the Aug. 7 semifinals, the U.S. rolled to a 99-38 victory and moved on to the finals as Parker finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Harper chipped in 15.

In a rematch with Puerto Rico for the gold medal, the USA opened the game with a 23-6 run and again proved way too much, storming to a 121-56 victory on Aug. 8. Parker scored 13 points in the first half and finished with 29 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three blocked shots and four steals. Wiggins aided the U.S. scoring effort with 23 points, Paris added 16 points and 13 rebounds for her thrid double-double of the tournament, Harper chipped in 11 and Waner added 10.

2004 USA Junior World Championship Qualifying Team Roster

2004 USA Junior World Championship Qualifying Team Cumulative Statistics