July 9, 1998

CETNIEWO, Poland — Notre Dame’s RUTH RILEY (Macy, Ind.) scored six points and grabbed nine rebounds in helping the 1998 USA Women’s Select Team to 55-45 victory against Poland’s 1998 National Team. The win avenges last night’s one-point setback (72-71) to this same Polish squad. With the win, the Select Team improves its record to 4-1 overall during its 15-day tour of Puerto Rico, Poland and Spain.

Virginia’s DeMya Walker led the US squad with game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Michigan’s Stacey Thomas added four points and a team-high 13 boards.

The U.S. held Poland to just 19 first half points and led 271-9 at the break. In the second half, Poland pulled to within six, 27-21, with 17:32 remaining in the game, but the USA followed with an 11-4 run to take control 38-25 with 10:51 left in the contest. With the U.S. leading 47-31 with just over seven minutes to play in the contest, Poland fought back and cut the deficit to 50-42 with 3:16 to play. The U.S. defense stiffened after that point and held Poland to just three points for the remainder of the game.

“It was a great defensive effort,” USA Select Team head coach Carol Ross said. “To hold Poland’s National Team to 19 points in the first half and 45 in the game is a great achievement for our team. “We had a great effort from our bench tonight. The team made some very good game adjustments after the previous night’s loss.”

The USA Select Team will conclude its eight-game tour with three games against Spain, July 12-14.

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

DeMya Walker (Virginia) 18 points, 10 rebounds
Ruth Riley (Notre Dame) 6 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 blocked shot
Stacey Thomas (Michigan) 4 points, 13 rebounds, 3 steals
Ukari Figgs (Purdue) 7 points, 2 assists
Jackie Stiles (Southwest Missouri State) 4 points, 5 rebounds
Katie Douglas (Purdue) 6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Tynesha Lewis (North Carolina State) did not score
Jamie Redd (Washington) 4 points, 1 rebound
Brooke Wyckoff (Florida State) 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Andrea Garner (Penn State) 4 rebounds
Laura Meadows (Kentucky) DNP
Michele VanGorp (Duke) DNP