McCray Nets Nine Points In USA's 115-30 Win Over France In 2009 World University Games Opener
July 1, 2009
BELGRADE, Serbia –
Box Score in PDF Format
Kansas senior All-American Danielle McCray scored nine points and added two rebounds in just 16 minutes of play in helping lead her USA team to a 115-30 demolishing of France in its first contest of the 2009 World University Games on Wednesday morning in Belgrade, Serbia.
The USA Team (1-0) forced 44 turnovers and shot 56.1 percent from the field (37-66 FGs) to cruise to victory. McCray, who earned a spot in the starting line-up, was perfect from the field, making all three of her attempts and also knocked down 3-of-4 shots from the foul line.
“We wanted to focus on outworking teams, outrebounding teams significantly, which we did, and taking care of the ball,” said USA and Arizona State University head coach Charli Turner Thorne. “We wanted to be more patient on offense. I thought we did well in all of those areas.
“I was very pleased with our 3-point shooting and our field goal percentage in general, but I still want us to slice and dice a little more against zones.”
Tina Charles (Connecticut / Jamaica, N.Y.) led five U.S. players in double figures with 18 points, including 4-of-4 from the free throw line, and six rebounds. Jantel Lavender (Ohio State / Cleveland, Ohio) tallied a double-double with 16 points and 12 boards, Jacinta Monroe (Florida State / Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) added 16 points, three rebounds and three steals, Tiffany Hayes (Connecticut / Lakeland, Fla.) tallied 15 points and five steals and Alexis Gray-Lawson (California / Oakland, Calif.) contributed 14 points, including 6-of-6 from the free throw line, along with three rebounds and three assists.
With the score tied at 2-2 just two minutes into the first period, a bucket in the paint from Lavender sparked a 19-0 U.S. run that included eight points from Gray-Lawson and three U.S. 3-pointers, and by the 3:40 mark, the USA held a 21-2 advantage. In the first 10 minutes alone, France had coughed up 14 turnovers and was just 3-of-8 from the field.
The next three periods were more of the same as France was outsized and overmatched by the U.S. squad. Overall, the U.S. dominated the glass, grabbing 48 rebounds to France’s 21, racked up 31 points from turnovers, tallied 24 second chance points and scored 56 points in the paint.
The U.S. defense held its opponent to just 27.1 shooting from the field (13-48 FGs) and sent France to the line for a total of six free throw attempts.
McCray and her teammates will return to action on Thursday, July 2 when they take on Great Britain as they continue pool play. Great Britain also enters Thursday’s contest with a 1-0 mark Group A as they defeated Serbia, 76-67, in the opening round of action.
