Wirth, Team USA Dominate Serbia & Montenegro On Their Way to a Gold Medal

Wirth, Team USA Dominate Serbia & Montenegro On Their Way to a Gold Medal

7/25/2005

TUNIS, TUNISIA (July 24, 2005) – Vanderbilt incoming freshman Christina Wirth grabbed two rebounds in 12 minutes of action to help the 2005 USA U19 Team to a gold medal victory over Serbia & Montenegro, 97-76, Sunday night. The Americans finished 8-0 and won their game by an average margin of victory of 46.3 points a game.

Wirth played in all eight games and averaged 3.6 points while shooting 56 percent from the field (14-of-25). She averaged 12.1 minutes and 2.4 rebounds.

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 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.

“This feels great,” remarked U.S. head coach Gail Goestenkors. “I’m so proud of the kids. They worked so hard and put it all together. We played great team basketball again. Our depth was factor, it has been all tournament long. Our rebounding was another factor, we were relentless on the boards.”

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.