USA : Croatia - 83 : 58

Story last updated at 11:37 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, 2003

Thomas scores eight, U.S. wins

Staff Reports

   SIBENIK, Croatia - Georgia's Christi Thomas scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds for the U.S. Young Women's National Team in its 83-58 win over Croatia in the FIBA Young Women World Championships on Wednesday.

   With the win, the U.S. improved to 4-1 in pool play. The Americans finished third in the Group A standings as both France and Brazil compiled 4-1 records as well. The ties were broken by point differential in games between the tied teams, making France and Brazil the first and second seeds, respectively.

   The United States will now face Australia, which finished second in the Group B standings, in Friday's quarterfinals. The Americans defeated Australia twice in a pair of exhibition "friendlies" in Boston the week before the World Championships.

   LSU's Seimone Augustus and Kansas State's Nicole Ohlde led the U.S. on Thursday, scoring 14 points apiece. No other Americans reached double digits, but Thomas was one of four U.S. players to score eight points.

   The U.S. looked like it would win in a rout early on, building an 11-0 lead before the Croatians bounced back to pull within 20-14 at the end of the first quarter. The Americans built a nine-point lead in the second quarter before Croatia closed the gap to 40-36 at the half. Croatia but the lead to two twice in the first minute of the second half before a 12-0 gave the U.S. control.

    Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Thursday, July 31, 2003.

Source: http://www.athensnewspapers.com/stories/073103/dog_20030731046.shtml