July 6, 1998

CAROLINA, Puerto Rico – Notre Dame sophomore center RUTH RILEY (Macy, Ind.) posted her second double-double in three games scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in leading the 1998 USA Women’s Basketball Select Team to a 72-70 victory over Puerto Rico’s National Team.

In the three-game series with Puerto Rico, RILEY scored in double figures in all three contests and twice grabbed 10-plus rebounds. She currently is the team’s leading scorer and rebounder averaging 15.0 points and 6.7 rebounds.

The U.S. squad proved dominant in the first 20 minutes of the outing going up by 20 points before Puerto Rico cut the lead to nine points 39-30 at the half. Puerto Rico tied the game at 42-42 midway through the first half. Jamie Redd’s (Washington) three-pointer gave the U.S. team the lead with 10 minutes to play in the contest. With one minute remaining Purdue’s Ukari Figgs made two free throws to seal the victory for the U.S. squad.

“It was a very exciting game tonight,” USA Select Team head coach Carol Ross said. “It was good to have played a close game because you actually learn so much more in those type of situations. Ruth once again was our most consistent player inside. To go 3-0 on the first leg of the tour is a great way to keep our confidence going for the rest of the tour. This game will help us im more difficult situations when we compete against Poland and Spain.”

DeMaya Walker (University of Virginia) provided another strong performance for the U.S. as she added 15 points, grabbed seven rebounds, while Southwest Missouri State’s Jackie Stiles tallied 10 points and grabbed three rebounds.

The USA Select Team will travel to Poland for two games against Poland’s Select Team on July 8 and 9, and then will conclude its tour with three games against the Spanish Select Team July 12-14.

USA Player-By-Player (Scoring-Rebounding-Assists)

DeMya Walker (Virginia) — 15 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist
Ruth Riley (Notre Dame) — 20 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists
Stacey Thomas (Michigan) — 5 rebounds
Ukari Figgs (Purdue) — 8 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
Jackie Stiles (Southwest Missouri State) –10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Katie Douglas (Purdue) — 2 points, 1 rebound
Tynesha Lewis (North Carolina State) — 3 points, 3 rebounds
Jamie Redd (Washington) — 9 points, 3 rebounds
Brooke Wyckoff (Florida State) —
Andrea Garner (Penn State) — 8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
Laura Meadows (Kentucky) —
Michele VanGorp (Duke) — 2 rebounds