July 20, 2009
BANGKOK, Thailand – In a warm-up for the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship, every member of the USA U19 World Championship Team scored, including five in double digits, as the U.S. defeated France 86-46 in a friendly exhibition contest on Monday evening in Bangkok, Thailand.
Shenise Johnson and C’eira Ricketts led the balanced scoring charge against France with 12 points each; while Kelsey Bone, Skylar Diggins and Chay Shegog posted 11 points each. Johnson and Shegog just missed out on double-doubles with nine boards apiece, while Nnemkadi Ogwumike also hauled in nine rebounds to go with her six points.
As the two-time defending U19 World Championship gold medalists, the USA will attempt to make it three straight golds at the ’09 U19 Worlds, which begin on July 23 and run through Aug. 2 in Bangkok, Thailand. The U.S. will scrimmage Australia on July 21, followed by practice on July 22 and begin U19 World Championship play against Spain on July 23.
The USA jumped out to an early 10-point lead, 14-4, with 3:18 to play in the first quarter and never looked back. By the end of the first stanza, the gap was 14 points, 20-6, as seven U.S. team members scored in the opening period. Just three minutes into the second quarter, the American women were up 31-8 and cruised to a 44-19 halftime lead. During the first half, the USA’s defense held France to 6-of-33 (.182) shooting from the field.
The USA’s lead continued to grow as the Americans outscored the French 18-11 in the third quarter and 24-16 in the fourth for the eventual 40-point victory.
