July 6, 1999
ANDRATX, Spain – Notre Dame junior center Ruth Riley (Macy, Ind.) scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds in 16 minutes of action to help the 1999 USA Women’s World University Games Team defeat China 107-89 to open play at the 1999 World University Games.
LaQuanda Barksdale (North Carolina) led the way with 15 points as six players scored in double figures. Helen Darling (Penn State) and Coco Miller (Georgia) each recorded 14. Brooke Wyckoff (Florida State) and Riley, both of whom got into foul trouble early, scored 13 points in 12 and 16 minutes, respectively. Camille Cooper (Purdue) chipped in with 10.
The victory was bittersweet due to the fact that University of Florida’s Brandi McCain sprained her right knee and will not return to the court for the remainder of the tournament.
The game opened with six lead changes and four tied scores and at 10:40, the score was knotted at 24 apiece. Behind the scoring of five different players, the United States took off on a 12-4 run during the next 2:22, climbing to a 10-point, 38-28, advantage. After swapping baskets for the remainder of the half, the United States was ahead 61-49 with 5.5 seconds to go following two free throws by China’s Lijie Miao. The U.S. squad quickly ran up the court and with one second remaining in the half, McCain drove to the basket, but twisted her knee and went down.
After pulling away 67-51 in the second half’s opening 1:45, the United States faltered and China, hitting six-of-seven free throws and three-of-four field goals, managed to cut its deficit to six points, 67-61, at the 15:20 mark. However, sparked by seven points from Darling, the Americans regrouped and pulled away with a 13-4 spurt to go up 80-65 with 11:20 remaining. China took off on a run of its own and closed to 84-76 at 7:58, but that was as close as the Chinese squad would come as the United States began to increase its lead and with 3:31 to go in its first contest, held a 95-82 advantage and cruised to the eventual 107-89 win.
The United States (1-0) faces South Africa (0-1) on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. (11:00 a.m. CDT).