July 17, 2007
TAIPEI, Taiwan - Baylor's Rachel Allison recorded a double-double and led five players in double figures as the U.S. claimed a bronze medal with an 83-72 victory over Chinese Taipei (A) on the final day of the 2007 Women's William Jones Cup held Tuesday night at the Taipei Physical Education College Gymnasium.
Led by Texas A&M associate head coach Vic Schaefer, Team USA (4-2) tied for second place with Chinese Taipei-B (4-2), while the Australian National Team completed the tournament with an undefeated 6-0 record in pool play. The U.S. lost the head-to-head tiebreaker with a 70-63 loss to Chinese Taipei (B) in the tournament opener on July 11. It marked the fifth bronze medal for the U.S. at the Jones Cup coupled with nine gold medals and four silver medals won since 1977.
Leading the way for Team USA was Allison who notched a team-high 13 points and 10 rebounds against Chinese Taipei. Oklahoma's Leah Rush, George Washington's Sarah-Jo Lawrence and Arizona State's Briann January each poured in 12, while Iowa State's Heather Ezell added 11. January dished out a game-high six assists and seven steals for the game. Baylor's Jhasmin Player added eight points in the winning effort.
After leading 43-34 at halftime, the U.S. jumped out to an early 14-point lead in the second half of play. Chinese Taipei later trimmed that lead down to as many as two, 64-62, connecting on 6-of-9 three-pointers in front of its home crowd. Ultimately, the contest was won on the boards as the U.S. outrebounded Chinese Taipei, 50-23, with 27 coming on the offensive end of the glass. Team USA shot 35 percent from the floor (22-of-62), while Chinese Taipei shot 47 percent (17-of-36).
"I thought we showed tremendous courage and heart today," Schaefer said. "Our kids were able to survive in a very hostile environment against a highly-motivated team. Down the stretch, our team would not be denied. It is one thing to play for a gold medal knowing that if you don't win it, you are still going to get silver. It is another thing to know you are playing for one medal and you have to win. We were a little tentative at times, but in the end, we found a way to get it done and we showed tremendous character in the process."
Athletes In Action, an associate member of USA Basketball, sponsored this year's U.S. Jones Cup Team. The tour to Taiwan is just one of many for AIA. Between May and August, hundreds of college student-athletes and AIA staff travel the world to play competitive games, run clinics and attend sports camps. Each opportunity is used to share the matchless love of Jesus Christ as well as to teach the athletes how to be lifetime ministers of the gospel.
"Shine His light has been our motto for most of the tournament and today, it was very bright," Schaefer said. "These young people have accomplished an incredible task. They played in a highly-competitive tournament field versus veteran teams that have been playing with each other for years. It (our silver medal performance) is proof that all things are possible through Christ. I am blessed that I was able to come along for the ride, because it has been an incredible 17 days."
2007 WILLIAM JONES CUP
USA 83, CHINESE TAIPEI (A) 72
July 16, 2007 - 5:30 p.m.
Taipei Physical Education College Gymnasium
at Taipei, Taiwan
BOX SCORE - U.S. (4-2) JANUARY, Briann 3-7 3-4 12; LAWRENCE, Sarah-Jo 5-16 2-4 12; Player, Jhasmin 2-4 4-4 8; Allison, Rachel 6-11 1-3 13; RUSH, Leah 2-5 2-2 12; EZELL, Heather 0-3 2-2 11; MICHEAUX, La Toya 1-5 1-5 3; McFARLAND, Jackie 2-4 1-2 5; REED, Kendra 0-1 0-0 0; TAYLOR-JAMES, Brittany 1-4 3-3 5; NELP, Angie 0-2 2-2 2. TOTALS 22-62 21-31 83.
USA............................. 43 40 - 83
Chinese Taipei (A) ....... 34 38 - 72
3-point goals - 6-15 (EZELL, Heather 3-8). Rebounds - 50 (Allison, Rachel 10). Assists - 14 (JANUARY, Briann 6
