The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ross and USA Women Take Home Gold
7/25/2005 | Women's Basketball
July 25, 2005
TUNIS, Tunisia - On a night when USA posts Erlana Larkins (North Carolina/Riviera Beach, Fla.) and Crystal Langhorne (Maryland / Willingboro, N.J.) combined to score 34 points on perfect 16-of-16 shooting from the floor, the USA (8-0) left no doubt who was the best team at the 2005 FIBA Women's U19 World Championship was after dismantling Serbia & Montenegro (4-4) 97-76 in the gold medal contest Sunday night in Tunis, Tunisia. Ole Miss head coach Carol Ross helped guide the USA Women to gold as an assistant coach with the team.
The USA was led in the win by Larkins, who finished with 20 points on perfect 9-for-9 shooting, while Langhorne tossed in 14 points on also perfect 7-for-7 shooting. Abby Waner (ThunderRidge H.S./Highlands Ranch, Colo.) added 12 points and four assists, while Courtney Paris finished with 10 points and a team high seven boards. Essence Carson (Rutgers/Paterson, N.J.) was credited with seven points, and team highs of six assists and four steals.
Langhorne, who averaged a USA best 16.8 points a game and 6.4 rebounds a game, while shooting a gaudy 77.5 percent (55-71 FGs) from the field and 79.3 percent (23-29 FTs) percent from the foul line, was named MVP of the 2005 FIBA U19 World Championship. Also named to the five-member All-U19 World Championship Team was Candice Wiggins (Stanford/Poway, Calif.), who finished averaging 15.8 points a game, while shooting 57.1 percent (44-77 FGs) from the field and 42.9 (18-42 3pt FGs) from 3-point.
"This means a lot (winning the MVP award), I feel honored. There were so many great players in this tournament and on our team, to be named MVP is overwhelming," said Langhorne.
"It's great (being named to the All-World Championship Team) but I feel like anyone on our team could have made it. We have such a great team, we have such depth on our team, it's great to be recognized but I realize we have great players and it could have been anyone and I think that's the best part of our team," stated Wiggins.
Formerly known as the FIBA Women's Junior World Championship and held every four years since 1985, the USA's capturing of gold in 2005 marks just the second time the American women have claimed gold in the six U19 World Championships. The U.S. now boasts of a 32-10 overall record and has captured two gold (2005, 1997) and one bronze medal (2001).
Whatever suspense the gold medal game was suppose to have, it was quickly removed as the USA broke away early and never looked back.
