Taipei, Taiwan -  August 16-23, 1997

The 1997 USA Women's R. William Jones Cup Team won four games decided by six points or less, but came up short 76-71 against South Korea in its final game to finished 6-1 and claim the silver medal at the 1997 R. William Jones Cup in Taipei, Taiwan.

1997 USA Women's R. William Jones Cup Team 1997 USA RESULTS (6-1) USA   73 ROC-Cathay Life 69 USA 100 Thailand 77 USA   83 Taiwan Power 62 USA   83 Russia 80 USA   76 Poland 70 USA   79 Japan 77 (OT) S.Korea   76 USA 71 1997 R. WILLIAM JONES CUP FINAL STANDINGS 1. South Korea (7-0) 5. Poland (3-4) 2. USA (6-1) 6. Japan (2-5) 3. Rep. of China - Cathay Life (4-3) 7. Thailand (1-6) 4. Russia (4-3) 8. Taiwan Power (1-6)

Opening the round-robin tournament against ROC Cathay Life, Jannon Roland scored 13 points and grabbed a team high nine rebounds and Stephaine White added a team best 15 points to lead the USA to a 73-69 victory.

Behind 6-6 center Michele VanGorp's 19 points the U.S. slammed Thailand 100-77 for its second win, then Tyish Hall rang in a game high 18 points to lead the USA contingent to a resounding 83-62 victory over Taiwan Power to improve the American's record to 3-0.

In its game against then unbeaten Russia, with four seconds left and the score knotted at 80-all, Iowa guard Nadine Domond dropped a three-point basket to lift the USA to an 83-80 win. Domond finished with 16 points, while Murriel Page led the team with 19 points.

Page again paced the USA offensive attack scoring a game high 24 points as the U.S. held off Poland 76-70. After Poland claimed a 60-59 lead with 6:30 to play, the U.S. responded with a 17-10 run to earn the victory.

The U.S. remained in contention for the gold medal after coming out on top of an overtime battle with Japan. Getting 20 points from Hall and 20 more from White, the USA made its free throws down the stretch to earn the hard fought 79-77 overtime win.

In the final game, and in a battle of previous unbeatens, the United States' gold medal hopes were dashed after South Korea rallied in the game's final minutes to capture a 76-71 victory and the gold medal.

The U.S. started the second half by opening up a six point lead, 43-37, with 17:36 to go, but South Korea would not allow the Americans to pull away further and with 11:12 to play the South Koreans had battled back in front, 51-49. Roland dropped a 3-point field goal to give the USA a 58-57 lead with 6:49 to play and then hit another field goal 40 seconds later to push the USA's advantage to 60-57 with 6:11 remaining.

Outscoring the U.S. 10-5 over the next four minutes, South Korea grabbed the lead for good following a 3-pointer with 2:20 to play, 67-65. Korea's lead stood at five, 71-66, with just over a minute to play and the Americans were unable to shut down South Korea as it went on to record the 76-71 win.

Roland led the USA offense with 20 points, while Page had an impressive showing of 19 points and a game best 13 rebounds.

The Republic of China - Cathay Life finished with a 4-3 record and the bronze medal.

1997 USA Women's R. William Jones Cup Statistics