Aug. 12, 2005
IZMIR, Turkey – Notre Dame senior point guard Megan Duffy (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne HS) and the USA World University Games Team won for the third time in as many outings and clinched a spot in the medal round with a 107-54 Pool B preliminary round thrashing of China on Friday in Izmir, Turkey. Duffy started for the third consecutive game, scoring five points on 2-of-4 shooting, including the USA’s only three-pointer of the game.
For the second game in a row, the United States (3-0) took advantage of a smaller opponent and pounded the ball inside against China (1-2) with tremendous success. LSU’s Sylvia Fowles led the way for the Americans with 23 points and nine rebounds, hitting 11-of-13 shots in the contest. The U.S. posted a .593 field goal percentage (48-of-81) and rolled up a 47-16 edge on the glass, highlighted by 20 offensive rebounds. Through its first three games, Team USA is averaging 95.7 points per game on 55.7 percent shooting — Duffy, the team’s co-captain, is carding 6.3 ppg. and owns a team-best .500 three-point percentage (5-of-10).
One day after setting U.S. World University Games records for the fewest points allowed (22) and most assists (27) in a 92-22 win over South Africa, the Americans fired up their offense and posted their highest scoring output in the World University Games since a 134-37 pasting of South Africa in 2001. Against China on Friday, the U.S. took the lead early and never gave it up, moving in front 27-15 after one quarter and 50-32 by halftime. The second half only saw more of the same, as Team USA outscored the Chinese, 57-22 in the final 20 minutes to secure its largest victory of the tournament thus far.
In the other Pool B contest on Friday, Poland moved to 2-0 with a 79-39 win over South Africa. The remaining games on Friday saw three teams improve to 3-0 and grab the upper hand in their respective pools — Australia dealt host Turkey its first loss in Pool A (70-48), while Russia locked up the top spot in Pool C with a 70-45 win over Lithuania, and Serbia & Montenegro stayed ahead of the pack in Pool D with an 87-62 conquest of previously-unbeaten Taiwan. In addition, Canada crushed Lebanon, 75-19, Germany squeezed past Japan, 70-65 and Sweden toppled Thailand, 90-60.
Team USA will have the weekend off before closing out preliminary round play Monday at 12:45 p.m. local time (4:45 a.m. EST/CDT in South Bend) against Poland, with the winner of that contest clinching first place in Pool B.
— ND —
2005 USA World University Games Team Schedule/Results (Izmir, Turkey)
Aug. 10 Czech Republic W, 88-64 (Pool B play)
Aug. 11 South Africa W, 92-22 (Pool B play)
Aug. 12 China W, 107-54 (Pool B play)
Aug. 15 Poland 12:45 p.m. (Pool B play)
Aug. 16 Quarterfinals
Aug. 17 Semifinals
Aug. 19 Finals
All times local and subject to change (NOTE: Turkey is eight hours ahead of South Bend’s current EST/CDT time zone)