1994 WOMEN'S R. WILLIAM JONES CUP

Taipei, Taiwan - August 4-12, 1994

Packing more excitement and drama than a Godzilla movie, the 1994 USA R. William Jones Cup Team parlayed a one point win over the defending champion, three come-from-behind victories and a 90-89 overtime win over South Korea in the gold medal game into its sixth title at the Jones Cup in Taipei, Taiwan.

1994 USA Women's R. William Jones Cup Team 1994 USA RESULTS (8-0) USA 78 ROC-Nan Ya 63 USA 82 ROC-Cathay Life 81 USA 87 Japan 57 USA 86 Kazakhstan 66 USA 76 Canada 67 USA 77 South Korea 57 USA 72 ROC-Nan Ya 64 USA 90 South Korea 89 (OT) 1994 R. WILLIAM JONES CUP FINAL STANDINGS 1. USA (8-0) 5. Canada(2-4) 2. South Korea (6-2) 6. Japan (2-5) 3. Kazakhstan (4-4) 7. Rep. of China-Cathay Life (0-6) 4. Rep. of China-Nan Ya (3-5)

Behind double-digit scoring from 5'10' Charisse Sampson, 18 points, 5'6' Latina Davis, l7 points, and 6'2' Wendy Palmer, 13 points, the U.S. opened the competition with a 78-63 win over Republic of China - Nan Ya.

In the USA's second contest, against defending Jones Cup champion Republic of China - Cathay Life, Davis' free throw with 8.7 seconds to play lifted the Americans to an 82-81 win. Palmer led the U.S. cause with a huge 31 point, 10 rebound effort, while Sampson and 6'2' La'Keshia Frett added 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Japan proved to be no match for the surging USA squad as the U.S. collected an easy 87-57 victory.

Another dominating second half was key as the USA earned its fourth consecutive victory after defeating Kazakhstan 86-66. Trailing 47-45 at halftime, the U.S. out scored Kazakhstan 41-19 in the second half to earn the win. Palmer paced the U.S. comeback with 20 points, while Frett added 15 points, 12 coming in the second half, Sampson finished with 14, and Tracy Connor recorded 13 points.

Behind a 21 point performance from Frett and 16 points from Davis, the USA overcame a two-point halftime deficit to beat Canada 76-67 and earn its fifth straight win. The U.S. concluded its preliminary play with an impressive 77-57 win over previously unbeaten South Korea.

In need of a victory if the U.S. was to advance to the gold medal game, the Americans defeated Republic of China - Nan Ya 72-64 as Palmer led the U.S. with a stellar 19 point, 12 rebound performance.

The gold medal game against South Korea featured a gutsy effort by the USA, who trailed 87-86 with just over a minute to play in overtime. Palmer's basket with 1:08 remaining gave the U.S. an 88-87 advantage, and Sampson's two free throws with 30 seconds to go gave the USA a 90-87 lead. The Koreans scored with 20.3 seconds to play, closing the U.S. lead to 90-89, and had the game's final possession, but failed to put up a shot before time expired.

Palmer finished the competition averaging team highs of 18.9 ppg. and 9.3 rpg., while Frett accounted for 14.9 ppg. and 5.0 rpg., and Sampson added 12.4 ppg. Davis was the USA's only other scorer to average in double figures, averaging 10.6 ppg.