SIXTH WOMEN'S FIBA AMERICAS U18 CHAMPIONSHIP FOR WOMEN -- 2006

Colorado Springs, Colorado - June 28 - July 2, 2006

Using a suffocating defense that held opponents to an average of 50.8 points per game, the 2006 Women's U18 National Team defended its gold medal at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship For Women June 28-July 2 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. By finishing in the top four in the tournament the USA qualified for the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championship, which will be held in Bratislava, Slovakia. The gold medal was the third consecutive, and fourth overall, for the U.S. at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship.

2006 USA U18 National Team 2006 USA RESULTS (4-0) USA 121 Paraguay 56 USA 75 Brazil 48 USA 81 Argentina 47 USA 87 Canada 52 2006 COMPETITION FINAL STANDINGS 1. *USA (4-0) 5. Paraguay (2-2) 2. *Canada (4-1) 6. Puerto Rico (1-3) 3. *Argentina (3-2) 7. Costa Rica (0-4) 4. *Brazil (1-3) * Qualified for the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championship

The ball-hawking defense head coach Doug Bruno of DePaul University, along with assistants Carol Owens of Northern Illinois University and Jennifer Rizzotti of the University of Hartford (Conn.), urged the team to employ forced the U.S. opponents to average shooting just 25.9 percent from the floor throughout the tournament. The defense was also aided by a fast-breaking offense which outscored its opponents by an average of 40.3 points per game.

The U.S. began the tournament on a positive note with a 121-56 win over Paraguay on June 28. The team was led throughout the tournament by different players every night, but against Paraguay it was a combination of Victoria Baugh and national player of the year Tina Charles. Baugh tied a USA FIBA Americas U18 Championship record with 13 rebounds and contributed 14 points for the U.S., while Charles led the team in scoring with 20 points and also brought down 10 rebounds.

In the second match-up on June 30 the U.S. took it to Brazil, winning 75-48 behind outstanding efforts from Khadijah Rushdan and Kayla Pedersen. Rushdan dished out nine assists, which tied a USA FIBA Americas U18 Championship record and Pedersen led the team in rebounding with 12, while also scoring eight points.

The U.S. then handled Argentina 81-47 on July 1 in the semifinals to advance to the gold medal game. Leading the way on that night was Maya Moore's all-around effort, which produced nine points, nine rebounds and four assists. Additionally. Rushdan paced the U.S. offense with 14 points on the night.

In the gold medal game the U.S. proved early on that Canada was outmatched as it cruised to an 87-52 victory on July 2. Leading the way to claim the gold medal was Charles with her second double-double of the tournament with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Also contributing in a big way in the gold medal game was Italee Lucas, scoring 11 points and dishing out six assists.

The 2006 USA U18 National Team members made their mark all over the USA U18 Qualifying Tournament record book for individual and team records set in this event. As a team the 2006 squad broke U.S. records for highest rebound average with 66.2 per game, and most blocks per game with 8.8 per game. Individual U.S. competition records were set by Charles and Rushdan. Charles set the record for highest rebound average in this tournament by averaging 9.5 rebounds per game. Rushdan set the record for highest assists average in this tournament with 6.0 per game.

The U.S. paced the 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship by placing in the top two in 17 statistical team categories in the seven-team tournament. The U.S. led the tournament in 14 statistical categories, including scoring offense (91.0 ppg.); scoring defense (50.8 ppg. allowed); scoring margin (+ 40.2); field goal percentage (.421 ); free throw percentage (.674); rebounding offense (66.2 rpg.); rebounding defense (33.5 allowed pg.); rebounding margin (+ 32.8); blocked shots (8.75 bpg.); assists (19.5 apg.); steals (17.0 spg.); turnover margin (+ 6.25); assist/turnover ratio (0.86) and offensive rebounds (30.25 pg.).

The U.S. also had individuals scattered all over the statistical leader board among the 84 participating athletes in the tournament. The U.S. had seven of its 12 players finish among the top thirty leading scorers for the tournament, led by the 12.0 ppg. Charles averaged. Also finishing in the top 30 were Jayne Appel (7.0 ppg.), Baugh (11.8 ppg.), Kelly Cain (6.5 ppg.), Lucas (10.8 ppg.), Moore (9.5 ppg.) and Rushdan (11.0 ppg.). The U.S. had three of the tournament's top 10 rebounders in Charles (9.5 rpg.); Appel (9.0 rpg.) and Baugh (8.0 rpg.). The top three leaders in field goal percentage were all Americans, led by Baugh (.606); Cain (.579) and Rushdan (.571). Rushdan led the tournament in assists (6.0 apg.), also in the top 10 was Lucas (3.0 apg.), ranking ninth. Lucas and Rushdan were also the tournament's assist/turnover ratio leaders as Rushdan (1.85) was first and Lucas (1.71) was second. The U.S. also had two of the top three steals leaders in Moore (3.75 spg.), who was second and Rushdan (3.0 spg.), who was third. In addition, Appel and Cain tied for the tournament's lead in blocks (1.75 per game).

As a team the U.S. also led the 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in six single-game categories. The U.S. set the high mark for points scored in a game with 121 against Paraguay. The U.S. had the most field goals made in a game with 48 also against Paraguay. The U.S. also led with most field goals attempted in a game (102) against Brazil; highest field goal percentage for a game (.544) against Argentina; most rebounds in a game (79) and blocks in a game (10) both set against Paraguay.

Individually the U.S. had two players post tournament game highs in a certain category. Charles shot 80.0 percent (8-10 FGs) from the field against Paraguay to lead all players, and Rushdan's nine assists against Brazil was also a tournament high.

2006 USA U18 National Team Roster

2006 USA U18 National Team Cumulative Statistics