USA Improves To 2-0 In Women's U19 World Championship With 101-60 Blowout Over China

Incoming Duke freshman Krystal Thomas (The First Academy / Orlando, Fla.) recorded her second double-double in as many nights, tallying a game high 17 points and collecting 11 rebounds.

'Our success is just coming from hard work,' Krystal Thomas said. 'I�m still focusing on catching the ball with two hands and making good decisions, and all the rest comes from that.

'Tonight we brought the same intensity and focus, but we applied it to a much stronger opponent. So now we know that playing a great team or a lesser team, we can always play well and still win by big margins.'

After a comparably modest 25-14 lead in the first period, the USA women allowed China just seven points during the second quarter, while seven Americans combined for 21 points during the 10-minute span, and the U.S. lead was 46-21 at halftime.

'There was a point in time when we held about a 12-point lead in the first half, and we could have let China continue to play with us,' Bruno said. 'But we really worked to keep them down, and we did a good job of understanding the concept of winning no matter your opponent. We really seized that opportunity, and that will really help us as we move forward to tougher and tougher competition.'

China continued to fight, but its comeback hopes were in vain as the USA completely controlled the interior, outrebounding China 68-40, including 25 offensive rebounds. Allyssa DeHaan (Michigan State / Grandville, Mich.) contributed four of the USA�s eight blocked shots, while adding six points and five rebounds.

'We have a lot of very, very talented, big players,' Bruno said. 'We have six post players who are all the complete package, and it�s hard as a coach to get all of them the time they deserve. Finding a role for everyone is still a work in progress.'

Maya Moore (Collins Hill H.S. / Lawrenceville, Ga.) added 12 points and seven rebounds; Jantel Lavender (Cleveland Central Catholic H.S. / Cleveland, Ohio) contributed 11 points and seven rebounds; and Kayla Pedersen (Red Mountain H.S. / Fountain Hills, Ariz.) and Italee Lucas (Centennial H.S. / Las Vegas, Nev.) scored 10 points each. Vicki Baugh (Sacramento H.S. / Sacramento, Calif.) and Krystal Thomas each grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

'We knew coming into the game number 13 was their top rebounder, and we knew she had 16 rebounds yesterday,' Baugh said. 'I was prepared for her game, and I knew that I was going to have to be dominate on the glass. I think the glass was where we were strongest today, and we really need to keep it up.'

The USA will conclude preliminary round play on July 28 against Lithuania. The second round will be contested July 30-Aug.1, the quarterfinals are slated for Aug. 3, semifinals will be held Aug. 4 and the gold medal will be contested July 5.

Bruno is assisted on the sidelines by Cynthia Cooper-Dyke of Prairie View A&M University (Texas) and Carol Owens of Northern Illinois University.

Sixteen countries will compete in the U19 World Championship for Women that will be held July 26-Aug. 5 in Bratislava, Slovakia. The draw for the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championship For Women was held by FIBA on March 6, and the USA was placed in Group B, along with China, Ivory Coast and Lithuania; Group A consists of Argentina, South Korea, Slovakia and Spain; Group C includes Canada, Czech Republic, Japan and Serbia; while Group D is comprised of Australia, Brazil, Mali and Sweden.

The USA qualified for the 2007 U19 World Championship after Bruno, as the USA�s head coach, led the U18 squad to a 4-0 slate and gold medal at the zone qualifier, the 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women. The event was hosted by USA Basketball at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Originally known as the FIBA Junior World Championship, the tournament is held every four years and was first held in 1985. USA women's teams are 32-10 in the U19/Junior World Championships, capturing gold with an 8-0 record most recently in 2005.