Aug. 5, 2007
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Notre Dame sophomore guard Melissa Lechlitner (Mishawaka, Ind./South Bend St. Joseph’s) and her United States teammates won the gold medal at the 2007 FIBA U19 World Championships, defeating Sweden in the title game, 99-57, on Sunday at NTC Arena in Bratislava, Slovakia. Lechlitner had two points, one assist and one rebound in 14 minutes for the USA (9-0), which claimed its second consecutive title at the U19 tournament and third in the past four competitions (also 1997 and 2005), while also extending its winning streak at the U19 World Championships to 18 games, dating back to 2001.
“We’ve been through a lot, traveling to different countries and being on the road for a month,” Lechlitner said. “When they hang the medal on your neck, it all becomes worth it. It was definitely emotional. They’re playing your national anthem.”
Lechlitner becomes the fourth Notre Dame women’s basketball player to earn a gold medal in international competition, and the third in the past four years, joining Megan Duffy (2005 World University Games), Ruth Riley (2004 Olympics) and Beth Morgan (1997 World University Games) in that elite company. Lechlitner appeared in all nine games for the United States at this year’s U19 World Championships, averaging 4.6 points and 1.4 assists per game. She also finished third on the squad with 13 steals.
“Through every experience you always learn something new,” Lechlitner said. “I’m taking away a little more knowledge about the game.”
Maya Moore and Monica Wright led five U.S. double-figure scorers against Sweden with 19 points apiece, while Moore flirted with a triple-double in adding 13 rebounds and six assists. Jantel Lavender joined Moore in the double-double club with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and both Jasmine Thomas (13 points) and Angie Bjorklund (11 points) also ended up scoring in double digits. Louice Havarsson had a team-high 12 points and Frida Eldebrink, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, dropped in 10 points for Sweden (6-3), which was making its first-ever appearance at the U19 World Championships.
The United States was enormously successful at this year’s tournament, due in large part to its stingy defense that held its nine opponents to a combined .276 field goal percentage and just 55.4 points per game (compared to 90.0 ppg. and .455 FG% for the U.S.). In Sunday’s gold medal game, the Americans held Sweden to a .241 shooting mark (19-of-79) and claimed a massive 68-40 rebounding edge. The red, white and blue also looked sharp at the offensive end, shooting .465 (40-of-86) from the field, including 8-of-17 (.471) from beyond the three-point line.
The title contest was never in doubt, as the United States raced out to a 21-5 lead less than five minutes into the game and cruised from there. Wright, the American captain, scored seven points during the opening surge, which featured 11 consecutive U.S. points in a span of 80 seconds. Sweden never got closer than 11 points the rest of the way, as the Stars and Stripes took a 55-33 lead at halftime. In the second half, the Scandinavians only managed to cut their deficit inside of 20 points for a brief time in the third quarter before the USA once again began steadily widening the margin, with the final 42-point spread being the Americans’ largest lead of the night.
The U19 gold medal extends an impressive run for the United States in international women’s basketball competitions this summer, with the USA also going undefeated and taking home the gold at the U21 World Championships (8-0) and the Pan American Games (5-0) during the past month.
— ND —