FIFTH FIBA WOMEN'S U19/JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP -- 2001

Brno, Czech Republic - July 14-22, 2001

2001 Junior World Championship Team 2001 USA RESULTS (6-1) USA 89 Lithuania 71 USA 84 China 52 USA 83 Brazil 71 USA 97 Mali 29 USA 99 Russia 80 Czech Rep. 92 USA 88 USA 77 Australia 72 2001 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMP. FINAL STANDINGS 1. Czech Republic (6-1) 7. Brazil (4-3) 2. Russia (5-2) 8. Lithuania (2-5) 3. USA (6-1) 9. China (3-4) 4. Australia (5-2) 10. Poland (2-5) 5. France (5-2) 11. Japan (1-6) 6. Cuba (3-4) 12.Mali (0-7)

The USA opened play on July 14 by downing Lithuania 89-71. Beard, Pondexter and Taurasi all scored 18 points each in the win.

Behind 13 points from Ann Strother, the U.S. defeated China 84-52 on July 15 and Beard paced the USA with 23 points as it earned an 83-71 victory over Brazil on July 16.

The United States trounced Mali 97-29 on July 18 in a record setting victory. Taurasi scored a team high 18 points as the USA's 68-point margin of victory went into the U.S. record books as the largest margin in Junior World Championship play.

Beard scored a U.S. Junior World record 28 points as the United States closed preliminary round play with a 99-80 win over Russia.

Despite receiving 25 points from Taurasi, the defending Junior World Champions were unseated by host Czech Republic as the U.S. dropped its semifinal match to the Czechs 92-88 on July 21. The Czechs held an 81-72 lead with 6:14 remaining in the game and with 30 seconds to go, the U.S. had closed the gap to 91-86. Pondexter scored the USA's final two points of the contest to cut the game to 91-88 with 12.9 seconds to go. The USA's defensive pressure prevented the Czech team from inbounding the ball and the U.S. regained possession. But, before the Americans could get the game started again, Pondexter was called for an offensive foul to give the ball back to the Czechs. Making one of the two free throws, the game was put out of reach 92-88.

The United States rebounded from its semifinal loss to claim the bronze medal with a 77-72 victory over Australia on July 22. Taurasi led the U.S. with 23 points. The game was evenly matched from the start and at halftime the score was knotted at 43-43. With the score standing 47-47 at 6:49 in the third, the USA went on 13-2 run to open up the contest 60-49. The Aussies converted on 2-of-4 attempts from the line to close the gap to 61-51, but the United States extended its lead to 12 points, 67-55, by the end of the third quarter. Australia battled back to 75-70 late in the fourth, but it was too late as the United States went on to claim the bronze.

Host Czech Republic edged Russia 82-80 to capture the gold medal.