USA BASKETBALL HISTORY
USA WOMEN’S U18 AMERICAS TEAM 1996 RESULTS
CHETUMAL, MEXICO • AUGUST 27-SEPTEMBER 1, 1996
The USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Team came up four points shy against Brazil and collected the silver medal with a 4-1 record at the 1996 COPABA Junior World Championship Qualifying Tournament in Chetumal, Mexico. Coached by head coach Rene Portland and featuring some of the United States’ top players 18-years-old and younger, the USA junior women posted a 26.2 point average margin of victory while racking up four wins in five days before falling to Brazil 82-78 in the gold medal game.
The USA began the tournament by defeating Cuba 94-68 with a balanced scoring attack led by Semeka Randall’s 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The outcome of the USA’s second game versus Costa Rica was never in doubt. Again led by Randall’s 15 points, the U.S. darted out to a quick 7-0 lead and did not look back as it registered seven players in double-digits and downed Costa Rica 97-35. The USA’s third game was more of the same with Randall repeating as the USA’s top scorer with 14 points as the U.S. juniors upended host Mexico 79-47 to earn a berth in the tournament semifinals. Argentina controlled the game at the outset but USA head coach Portland turned to her bench and Juana Brown, who checked in to ignite a 23-4 U.S. scoring spree that put the United States ahead 30-18 with 6:00 to go in the first half. The North American defense shut down Argentina as the U.S. went on to claim the 81-66 victory. The USA advanced into the finals with a 4-0 record and the Brazilians did the same. With 8:42 left in the first half, the U.S. launched a 17-5 attack that put them ahead by 12 points, 25-13, with 4:30 on the clock. Brazil bridged the gap with a 12-4 run of its own to grab a 46-44 half- time advantage. However, the USA chipped away at Brazil’s lead to close within a single basket, 77-75, late in the second half. Neither team managed a field goal in the waning moments and the outcome was decided at the line where the USA hit 3-of-4 and Brazil converted on 5-of-6 to edge the USA and claim the 82-78 gold medal victory.
1996 USA WOMEN’S U18 FIBA AMERICAS ROSTER
1996 USA RESULTS (4-1)
NAME
POS HGT WGT AGE AFFILIATION (SCHOOL)
HOMETOWN
Cuba
W, 94-63 W, 97-35 W, 79-47 W, 81-66 L, 78-82
Costa Rica
Juana Brown Keisha Brown
G G
5-9 5-8 6-0 6-0 5-11 6-4 6-6 6-5
130 138 165 170 150 160 175 195 170 130 125 165
17 17 17 17 18 18 18 18 17 17 17 18
Harding Acad.
Memphis TN Atlanta, GA Duncanville, TX Crofton, MD Norman, OK Winchester, CA Wayzata, MN Powers, OR Arlington, TX Cleveland, OH
Woodward Acad. (*Georgia)
Mexico
Tamika Catchings Chavonne Hammond Stacy Hansmeyer
F F F F
Duncanville H.S.
Argentina
Arundel H.S. (*Vanderbilt) Norman H.S. (*Connecticut)
Brazil
G/F
Maylana Martin Carolyn Moos Jennifer Mowe Semeka Randall Jackie Stiles Nicole Teasley Lynn Pride
Perris H.S. (*UCLA)
Blake H.S.
C
Powers H.S. (*Oregon) Sam Houston H.S. (*Kansas)
FINAL STANDINGS
G/F
6-1 6-1
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
*Brazil (5-0)
G G
Trinity H.S. Claflin H.S.
*United States (4-1)
5-10
Claflin, KS
G/F
6-1
St. John’s at Prospect Hall
Frederick, MD
*Argentina (3-2)
HEAD COACH: Rene Portland, Penn State University ASSISTANT COACH: Marianna Freeman, Syracuse University (NY) ASSISTANT COACH: Kay James, University of Southern Mississippi TEAM PHYSICIAN: Sally Harris, Palo Alto, California ATHLETIC TRAINER: Ellen Smilowitz, UNLV
Cuba (2-3)
Canada (1-2) Mexico (1-2) Costa Rica Ecuador (0-3)
*Qualified for the 1997 FIBA U19 World Championship
1996 USA WOMEN’S U18 FIBA AMERICAS CUMULATIVE STATISTICS
NAME
G
FGM-A
PCT
3PM-A PCT
FTM-A PCT
REB
PTS
AST
BLK
STL
USA OPP.
5 5
429/ 85.0 298/ 59.6
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